Atty. Gerald B. Cope, Jr.
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.
Profile Summary
About Gerald B. Cope, Jr. at a glance
Gerald B. Cope, Jr. is a litigation and appellate attorney based in Miami, Florida, practicing at Akerman LLP. Admitted to practice in Florida, The Florida Bar. Educated at Florida State University (J.D., 1977) and Yale University (BA, 1968). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Bet-the-Company Litigation (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Awards: (2026). Serands clients in Miami, FL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- 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
Practice Areas Explained
Gerald B. Cope, Jr.'s Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Gerald B. Cope, Jr. handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Gerald B. Cope, Jr. is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Florida →
Appellate attorneys for civil and criminal appeals at state and federal court.
Gerald B. Cope, Jr. is one of 86,319 appellate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse appellate attorneys in Florida →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Florida
Practicing law in Florida. Legal matters in Florida are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Miami are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Florida state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Florida brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Florida courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Florida attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Miami or all attorneys in Florida.
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