John S. Riordan
Partner
John Riordan is a Partner and Business Unit Leader at Kelley Kronenberg, focusing his practice on general liability and third-party insurance defense, premises liability, auto liability, and complex civil litigation matters, as well as the defense of first-party property claims. He is an AV rated trial attorney who defends and assists carriers in defending policyholders in varying aspects of coverage disputes.
In addition to the tort work referenced above, John assists insurance carriers in insurance coverage disputes, including civil remedy notices of insurer violations, Special Investigation Unit investigations, pre-suit investigations and coverage evaluations, declaratory judgments, and bad faith litigation. He represents policyholders and insurance companies throughout Florida.
Prior to joining the firm, John was the managing partner of a boutique law firm where he focused his practice on civil litigation and criminal defense. He proudly served as an Assistant State Attorney with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, prosecuting misdemeanor and felony crimes. John has tried more than one hundred fifty jury and non-jury trials in criminal and civil matters in both state and federal court.
John earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Miami. He received his Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University School of Law.
- Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D., 2002
- University of Miami, B.A., 1997
- Florida
- United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
- United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
- United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
- Palm Beach Media, “Top Lawyers,” Insurance Law, 2023
- Palm Beach Illustrated, “Top Lawyer,” Insurance Law, 2023
- Super Lawyers Magazine
- Florida “Super Lawyers,” Insurance Coverage, 2022-2023
- Florida “Rising Stars,” Insurance Coverage, 2012-2013
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent ™
- South Florida Business Journal, Florida Top Young Lawyer, 2012
- Certified Water Damage Restoration Technician – Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)
- Windstorm Insurance Network, Member
- Palm Beach Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
- Florida Association of Defense Lawyers, Member
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member
- South Florida Claims Association (SFCA), Member
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Palm Beach County Chapter
- Board of Directors, 2021 – Present
- Hanley Center, Former Board Member
- CJ Foundation for Children in Need, Former Board Member
- The Village of Royal Palm Beach, Chairman, Recreation Advisory Board
- Wrongful Death Defense – Nominal Settlement Achieved for Uninsured Landlord: Retained to defend an uninsured landlord in a high-exposure wrongful death action involving allegations that a tenant was electrocuted due to dangerous electrical conditions on the property. The case presented significant emotional appeal and substantial damages exposure. Through aggressive discovery, strategic expert development, and targeted motion practice, Defendant positioned the case for summary judgment. Immediately before the scheduled MSJ hearing, Plaintiff agreed to resolve the matter for a nominal $5,000.00 settlement—an extraordinary result in a wrongful death case involving alleged electrocution. This result eliminated catastrophic personal exposure for the uninsured client and avoided the risks and expense of trial.
- Speaker: “General First-Party Case Law Updates and the new MSJ Standard,” February 2024
- Speaker: “The Future of Non-Binding and Binding Arbitration in First-Party Property Claims” January 2023
- Speaker, “11th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp”, Pincus Professional Education Series, June 2022
- Speaker, “Bad Faith Pitfalls and Handling EUP/SIU Pre-Suit Investigation,” February 2022
- Speaker, “Adjusting Claims During COVID,” Wind Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2022
- Speaker, “Changes in 1.510 Summary Judgment Standard,” May 2021
- Speaker, “Introduction to Bad Faith, Pincus Professional Education Series, May 2021
- Speaker, Law & Ethics: 2021 Case Law and Legislative Update, 2021 Annual Windstorm Conference, February 2021
- Speaker, “Caselaw and Legislative Update,” Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2020
- Speaker, “CSI Irma, Forensic Meteorology First-Party Property,” Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2019
- Speaker, Catastrophic Construction Collapse: Critical Issues from an Adjusting, Engineering, and Legal Perspective, 2017 Windstorm Insurance Conference, January 2017
- Speaker, “Litigating Catastrophic Construction Collapse Cases,” Windstorm Insurance Network Annual Conference, January 2017
- Speaker, Coverage B, Indemnity, and Immunity, October 2016
- Speaker, Law and Ethics Update, August 2016
- Speaker, Juvenile Law Basics Recent Florida Bar Graduates, October 2014
- Lecturer, “Basic Criminal Law” Seminar, Introduction to Juvenile Law Segment, Florida Bar, October 2014
- Lecturer, “RICO from criminal defense attorney perspective,” Florida Atlantic University, 2010
- Quoted, “IBHS Study Shows Smaller Hail May Be More Damaging to Roofs Than Once Believed,” Insurance Journal, October 2025
- Featured “Few Florida Carriers Filed for Arbitration in 2022, Attorneys Say” Insurance Journal, January 2023
- Featured “Few Florida Insurers Compel Arbitration, but Attorneys Say that Will Change” Claims Journal, January 2023
- Featured, “People on the Move“, South Florida Business Journal, June 19, 2013
- Featured, “Kelley Kronenberg Attorneys John S. Riordan and Amy B. Siegel Named in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine 2013 as Rising Stars“, CityBizList, June 13, 2013
- Featured, “New Partners“, Daily Business Review, March 11, 2013
- Featured, “On the Move“, Florida Bar News, January 1, 2013
- Featured, “Legal People“, Daily Business Review, December 11, 2012
- Featured, “Local Business People to Watch“, Palm Beach Post, December 10, 2012
- Featured, “People on the Move“, South Florida Business Journal, December 3, 2012
Publications
- Author, How Forensic Meteorologists are Assisting with Florida First-Party Property Cases, Insurance Journal, January 30, 2019
- Author, Another Leg Cut from Fourth Amendment Table, Daily Business Review, October 4, 2013
- Author, “DNA Can Be Taken Without a Warrant,” Daily Business Review, October 2013
- Author, Expert advice when testifying as a witness in a criminal trial, Expert Beacon, July 12, 2013
- Author, “Do’s and Don’ts When Testifying at Trial,” Expert Beacon, July 2013
- Author, Computer Fraud Law’s Language encourages Abuse by Federal Government, Daily Business Review, June 7, 2013
- Author, “Computer Fraud Laws Encourage Abuse By Federal Government,” Daily Business Review, June 2013
- Author, Misconceptions about Criminal Defense Attorneys, Laws.com, May 23, 2013
- Author, Know the basics of plea bargaining before you waive your right to a trial, Expert Beacon, May 3, 2013
- Author, “Hoffa Found?” Nakedlaw.AVVO.com, October 2012
- Author, “Police Fire 16 Shots Injuring 9 Bystanders,” Nakedlaw.AVVO.com, September 2012
- Author, “Were James Holmes’ Actions Premeditated?” Nakedlaw.AVVO.com, July 2012