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Christopher E. Varner

Managing Partner

Christopher E. Varner, managing partner in our Pensacola office, is a member of the general liability and workers’ compensation practices. An accomplished trial attorney who joined the firm in 2011, he has represented clients in more than 2,000 cases in a wide range of litigation matters including workers' compensation, longshore and harbor workers’ compensation, first party property and pre-suit fraud investigation coverage, general civil liability, tort liability, construction law, criminal defense, labor/employment law, landlord/tenant, civil rights, and contracts.

Chris has appeared before courts in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, Bay, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. In addition to trying federal cases in the Northern District as well as state court cases in Florida, he has appeared before administrative agencies throughout the state including Judge of Compensation Claims, Federal Administrative Law Judges, Public Employee Relations Commission, DMV Bureau of Driver Improvement, and Florida Commission on Human Relations. 

Practice Areas:

Admitted to Practice:

  • Florida State Courts, 1998
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, 2004
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2017
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2008

Education:

  • Nova Southeastern University, Juris Doctorate, 1998
  • University of Arkansas, Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy, 1995      

Professional Affiliations:

  • Florida Bar
  • Escambia/Santa Rosa County Bar
  • Gulf Coast Association of Insurance Professionals

Speaking Engagements: 

  • "First Party Property Claims, Start to Finish," Co-Presenters, Escambia/Santa Rosa County Bar, June 2022  
  • “The Fall Guy: Fumbles, Falls and Football," Co-Presenter, Conroy Simberg Webinar, April 2022 
  • "Understanding Social Media and Making It Work For You In Your Case," Co-Presenter, Conroy Simberg Webinar, July 2021 
  • "Late to the Party Challenges in Defending Late Report Claims, STOL and Case Law Update," Conroy Simberg Webinar, July 2021 
  • "Claims Professional Ethics," Co-Presenter, Conroy Simberg Webinar, April 2021 
  • "The "I's" Have It: Idiopathic Falls, Increased Hazard And Independent Contractor/ Employee," Co-Presenter, Conroy Simberg Webinar, April 2021 
  • “Attorney's Fees & Proposals for Settlement," Co-Presenter, Conroy Simberg Webinar May 2020 
  • “Special Requirements for Compensability," Co-Presenter, Conroy Simberg Webinar, May 2020 
  • "5 Hour Law and Ethics Update Course for Adjusters," Co-Presenter, July 2019
  • "Rules of the Road," Co-Presenter, Conroy Simberg Webinar, April 2019
  • "Overview of Subrogation and Liens," Co-Presenter, Conroy Simberg Webinar, April 2019
  • Human Resource Law from Start to Finish
  • Successful Hiring & Recruitment Steps
  • Controlling Unemployment Compensation Costs

Representative Experience: 

  • Jury trials. Federal Court: Northern District of Florida
  • Jury trials. State Courts: Escambia; Okaloosa; Dade; and Broward Counties
  • Judge trials. State Courts: Escambia; Okaloosa; Santa Rosa; Dade; and Broward Counties
  • Administrative Hearings. Judge of Compensation Claims: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Bay Counties
  • Administrative Hearings. Public Employee Relations Commission
  • Administrative Hearings. DMV Bureau of Driver Improvement.
  • Administrative Hearings. Florida Commission on Human Relations
  • Administrative Hearings. Federal Administrative Law Judges
  • Administrative Hearings. Federal Longshore