Sarah Burke | Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP

When Sarah Burke takes a case, clients reap the benefits of her ability to save them time and money. A Partner in the Tampa office, Sarah practices in defense of first-party property insurance coverage and extra-contractual matters. Her genuine interests are client-centric, as evident when she provided a pre-suit legal analysis of a novel, complex, multi-million dollar commercial, multi-layer policy. Her thorough research of the application of hurricane deductible and rigorous analysis of extra expenses prevented costly litigation of the claim and suit. Her clients appreciate her responsiveness and tenacious nature, so she was selected to join a defense team handling Assignment of Benefits cases, ultimately resulting in a successful District Court of Appeal decision.

Sarah gets to the heart of the matter by building great client relationships. Years of traveling and living in different cities have exposed her to different cultures and people from all walks of life. Each experience has given her a new world perspective, enabling Sarah to read her opponents and strategically negotiate for a favorable result. Clients know that they can depend on Sarah’s genuine interest in their case, and she is always conscientious of her client’s expenses and needs.

A dynamic author, Sarah has contributed to the American Bar Association’s annual Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal on the topic of Business Interruption/Civil Authority. Sarah is also actively involved in the Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB) and holds a leadership position on the organization’s Affiliate Board. She is also the Firm liaison for PLRB and coordinates Butler’s speaking and attendance decisions.

With a strong passion for helping others, Sarah eagerly volunteered to serve on the Firm’s Community Service Committee. As a member, Sarah helps make important community outreach decisions regarding events and funding initiatives that greatly impact those in need. Outside of the Firm, she directs her efforts towards the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, where she volunteers to walk and socialize the animals so that they can have the best chance at finding loving homes. She also provides donations to help the facility care for the many animals in the shelter.

Admissions

Florida
New York

Recognitions

Best Lawyers, 2025

Education

Emory University
Bachelor of Arts
University of Florida, Levin College of Law
Doctor of Jurisprudence

Media

Best Lawyers – 2025 Edition

Join us in congratulating our attorneys who were recognized in the Best Lawyers 2025 publication! Click on their icons to learn more. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal ...

Butler Presents the Stetson Insurance Law Book Award for 2024

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP proudly sponsored the Insurance Law Book Award for 2023-24 at Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. This prestigious award recognizes the student who achieved the highest grade in the class, distinguishing them as the course's most outstanding scholar. Stetson University College of Law student Richard Shockley received the Insurance Law Boo...

New Appleman Florida Insurance Law (2024 Edition)

Butler congratulates its Partners on the 2024 New Appleman Florida Insurance Law Edition. This book was edited by Partner John Garaffa and co-authored by Partners Sarah Burke, Ryan Hilton, Julius “Rick” Parker III, Carol Rooney, Jason Seitz, James Michael Shaw, Jr., and J. Blake Hunter. LexisNexis Practice Guide: New Appleman Florida Insurance Law provides the practitioner with immediate ac...

How Attorney Wellness Leads to Attorney Retention: Tips + Tools for Your Firm

Tampa Hiring Partner Sarah Burke and co-presenters Patrick R. Krill (Krill Strategies) and John F. Floyd, Jr. (Wicker Smith) presented for the DRI latest webinar, which addressed the topic of why attorneys are leaving their firms and how law firm leaders can retain valuable talent by prioritizing wellness. ...

Best Lawyers – 2024 Edition

Join us in congratulating our attorneys who were recognized in the 2024 Best Lawyers publication! Click on their icons to learn more. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal ...

Butler At Stetson University College of Law Job Fair

On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, Managing Partner Scott Katz, Hiring Partner Sarah Burke, and Law Clerk Joseph Kim attended the Stetson University College of Law Job Fair where they engaged with students and shared valuable information for their professional careers. We wish to thank all of our friends at Stetson for their warm hospitality. [modula id="10821"]...

Butler Presents the Insurance Law Book Award for 2023

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP proudly sponsored the Insurance Law Book Award for 2022-23 at Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. This award is given to the student who received the highest grade in the class, and who is deemed the course’s most outstanding student. Stetson University College of Law student Kaitlyn Harrison received the Insurance Law Book Award fr...

Butler Presents at the Stetson University College of Law

Managing Partner Scott Katz and Tampa Partner Sarah Burke gave two presentations at the Stetson University College of Law on October 27, 2022. Sarah spoke at Stetson’s Insurance Law Association’s “Lunch and Learn.” Her topic was “First Party Property Insurance” and focused on standard homeowners coverage issues in Florida. Afterwards, Scott Katz was the guest lecturer in Professor P...

Litigating Tile Roof Claims

Hurricane Irma’s landfall in Florida produced an avalanche of property insurance claims throughout the state, the majority of which involved reported damage to roofs. Though many of these claims were legitimate, enterprising public adjusters, contractors, and other policyholder advocates presented claims for wind-damaged roofs when, in fact, no such damage existed. Predictably, these claims ...

Hurricane Ian Webinar Series Episode 2 – Litigating Tile Roof Claims

Our latest webinar series will inform you on issues that may arise during adjustment of Hurricane Ian claims. In the second part of this series, Partner Sarah Burke and Senior Associate Gray Kelly, along with Rimkus' Paul Marsenison, will provide a discussion on ways to navigate tile roof claims and avoid potential pitfalls. Learn the real truths versus the common myths of tile roof damages and r...

Butler Presents the Insurance Law Book Award

Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP proudly sponsored the Insurance Law Book Award for 2021-22 at The Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. This award is given to the student who received the highest grade in the class, and who is deemed the course’s most outstanding student. Stetson College of Law student Lucia Leoni received the Insurance Law Book Award from Butler’s ...

New Property Insurance Litigator’s Handbook (3rd Edition)

Butler congratulates its Partners on the release of the 3rd Edition of the ABA's Property Insurance Litigator's Handbook. This book has contributions from Partners SARAH BURKE, RICH GABLE, BILL LEWIS. Property insurance disputes make headlines when they are catastrophic in nature. Our society wants to see communities, businesses, and individuals rebuilt and insurance provides a great mechanis...

New Appleman Florida Insurance Law (2022 Edition)

JOHN V. GARAFFA, SARAH R. BURKE, RYAN K. HILTON, JULIUS F. "RICK" PARKER III, JASON M. SEITZ, J. BLAKE HUNTER, CAROL M. ROONEY, JAMES MICHAEL SHAW, JR. Butler congratulates its Partners on the 2022 Edition of the New Appleman Florida Insurance Law. This book was edited by Partner John Garaffa and co-authored by Partners Sarah Burke, Ryan Hilton, Julius "Rick" Parker III, Carol Rooney, Jason Seitz...

New Appleman Florida Insurance Law (2020 Edition)

JOHN V. GARAFFA, SARAH R. BURKE, RYAN K. HILTON, JULIUS F. "RICK" PARKER III, JASON M. SEITZ, J. BLAKE HUNTER, CAROL M. ROONEY, JAMES MICHAEL SHAW, JR. The 2020 Edition of the New Appleman Florida Insurance Law is now available. This book was edited by Partner John Garaffa and co-authored by Partners Sarah Burke, Ryan Hilton, Julius "Rick" Parker III, Carol Rooney, Jason Seitz, James Michael Sh...

International Women’s Day – 2019

In celebration of International Women's Day, Butler's female attorneys came together to discuss important female figures in US history. Watch the video below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CTfgnj51So&feature=youtu.be[/embed] ...

Sarah Burke Appointed to the Property & Liability Resource Bureau’s Affiliate Board

Congratulations to Sarah Burke for being appointed to the Property & Liability Resource Bureau’s Affiliate Board. ...

International Women’s Day

"LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT MAKING OTHERS BETTER AS A RESULT OF YOUR PRESENCE AND MAKING SURE THAT IMPACT LASTS IN YOUR ABSENCE." -SHERYL SANBERG (COO OF FACEBOOK) ...

Our Newest Partners

Join us in celebrating our newest Partners! Congratulations to Sarah Burke, Aaron Jacobs and Jason Seitz!...

Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, Winter 2017

This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or downloaded or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association. I. Business Interruption/Civil Authority In National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania v. Trans-Canada Energy USA, Inc.,1 the insurers s...

Florida Valued Policy Law, Co-Insurance & Update On Recent Property Statutes

Tracy Jurgus and Sarah Burke presented on "Florida Valued Policy Law Co-Insurance and an Update on Recent Property Statutes" on Friday, May 13th...

Is A Claim For Breach Of Implied Warranty Of Good Faith And Fair Dealing Distinct From A Bad Faith Action In A First-Party Insurance Claim In Florida?

This is one of a series of articles under "Property Insurance Law Committee" originally published in ABA Committee News, Winter 2010...