Gerald B. Cope, Jr.

Gerald B. Cope, Jr.


Akerman LLP

Recognized since 2013

Miami, Florida

Practice Areas

Appellate Practice

Bet-the-Company Litigation

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A former Chief Judge of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal and member of the court for 22 years, Gerald Cope is the chair of Akerman’s Appellate Practice. He represents clients in appellate litigation at the state and federal levels. Ranked by Chambers USA, peers say “He’s superb and doing great work.” He is a founding member of Akerman Bench, an innovative practice including former appellate and trial court judges providing the perspective of both sides of the bench. He conducts practice oral arguments for attorneys appearing in state and federal appellate courts, serves as a consultant on appeals, and provides support to trial counsel.

Mr. Cope serves as an arbitrator in cases administered by AAA and its international division, ICDR, where he has been appointed in commercial and maritime matters. He was recognized by the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar for his contributions toward the 2013 enactment of the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act in Florida. As a member of the Court of Appeal, he participated in approximately 60 appeals involving arbitrability of disputes, interpretation of arbitration clauses, proceedings to enforce or vacate awards, and comparable proceedings involving appraisal clauses in insurance contracts.

He has served as an adjunct professor teaching federal and Florida arbitration at the University of Miami School of Law. He is a member of the Executive Council of the Florida Bar’s International Law Section and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section. Mr. Cope also serves as a special master and as a mediator.

Location
  • Three Brickell City Centre, Suite 1100
    98 Southeast Seventh Street
    Miami, FL 33131
Education
  • Yale University, BA, cum laude, graduated 1968
Bar Admissions
  • Florida, The Florida Bar
Affiliations
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • International Bar Association - Member
  • International Council for Commercial Arbitration - Member
  • Miami International Arbitration Society - Member
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Akerman LLP
Miami, Florida

228 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

122 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

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Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Appellate Practice
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Appellate Practice, Miami (2024)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Miami (2024)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation, Miami (2022)
  • Appellate Practice, Miami (2021)
  • Appellate Practice, Miami (2018)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Appellate Practice
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
Awards:
  • Mediator
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
  • Mario P. Goderich Legal Ethics Award 2006
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Honorary Fellow
  • Florida Trend's Legal Elite 2016, Listed for Appellate Practice
  • Super Lawyers Magazine 2015-2016, Listed in Florida for Appellate
  • Chambers USA 2013-2016, Ranked in Florida for Litigation: Appellate
  • LCIA (formerly London Court of International Arbitration) database of neutrals
  • Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association and International Centre for Dispute Resolution

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Publications

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