Gina Smith

Biography

Gina G. Smith is a Chief Legal Counsel with the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), Office of the General Counsel, Criminal Law and False Claims, in Tallahassee, Florida.  In that capacity, she is the chief legal advisor to the DFS Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureaus of Insurance Fraud, Workers Compensaion Fraud and Fire, Arson and Explosives Investigations. Prior to returning to public service, she was a Partner at Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP devoting her practice to first party property coverage matters, primarily those involving suspected arson and fraud. Prior to joining Butler, she was a prosecutor for twelve years, prosecuting white collar crime, health care and insurance fraud. She has considerable trial experience, was board certified in criminal trial law until shifting to civil practice, and is Martindale-Hubbel AV-rated.

Ms. Smith received her Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, graduated, with honors, from the Florida State University College of Law. She has beenadmitted to The Florida Bar since 1987 and is admitted to practice before all Florida federal district courts, the 4th and 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Ms. Smith has been a DFS certified instructor since 2002 for continuing education courses in adjuster law, policy and ethics.  She is a former Co-Chair of the CLM Insurance Fraud Committee, a CLM Certified Litigation Management Professional, past president of FACAP, a member of the Florida Property and Casualty Insurance Fraud Task Force, and the Florida State University College of Law Board of Visitors.

Her article, "Keys to Good Faith Fraud Referral", appeared in the August 2013 CLM’s Claims Management magazine.

Education

• Berkeley, Bachelor’s Degree
• University Of Southern California, Master’s Degree
• Florida State University, Juris Doctor

Admissions/Licenses

• Bar Admissions: FL