Gregory D. Podolak

Vice Chair

Biography

Gregory D. Podolak is the founding Partner of the Florida office and a member of the Global Board of Directors. He is a nationally recognized insurance coverage and risk transfer attorney whose more than 20-year career has been devoted exclusively to representing corporate policyholders. A longtime leader within the firm, Greg helped establish and expand SDV Fenchurch’s presence in Florida and today maintains a national practice serving organizations across a broad range of industries.

Known for his strategic and practical approach, Greg advises businesses on complex insurance, risk management, and recovery matters, helping clients align legal, operational, and financial objectives. He is frequently engaged as a trusted advisor during the earliest stages of significant claims and risk-related events, providing guidance that combines deep technical knowledge with sound business judgment.

Greg is also widely recognized as a thought leader in the insurance and risk management community. He regularly publishes and speaks on insurance coverage and risk transfer issues, collaborates with leading brokers and industry organizations, and serves as a contributing columnist for IRMI. In recognition of his contributions to the field, he was elected a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel, an invitation-only organization composed of leading lawyers, judges, and academics dedicated to advancing the practice of insurance law. His professional accomplishments have earned numerous distinctions, including recognition as a Distinguished Leader by the Daily Business Review and repeated honors from Super Lawyers. Greg is known for thoughtful advocacy, practical problem-solving, and a steadfast commitment to achieving favorable outcomes for his clients.

Experience

Greg’s practice encompasses virtually every line of commercial insurance coverage, including builders risk, commercial general liability, property, business interruption, directors and officers liability, and cyber-related risks. He counsels clients on insurance program design, contractual risk transfer, claim presentation, coverage disputes, and appellate matters, helping organizations maximize the value of their insurance assets while effectively managing risk.

Over the course of his career, Greg has represented policyholders in some of their most significant and high-stakes matters, including catastrophic construction losses, major property damage events, government investigations, cyber incidents, and high-exposure liability claims. His litigation and appellate experience includes landmark cases involving additional insured coverage, construction defect insurance, builders risk recovery, and other issues that have shaped insurance law in multiple jurisdictions.

In addition to litigating complex coverage disputes, Greg works closely with clients, risk managers, and insurance professionals to develop sophisticated risk transfer strategies and pursue complex insurance recoveries. His experience spans both proactive risk management and successful advocacy in precedent-setting insurance matters, making him a trusted resource for corporate executives and industry stakeholders nationwide.

Insights by Gregory D. Podolak

IRMI Expert Commentary: NY Highest Court Confronts Downstream Risk Transfer for Subcontractor Bodily Injury Claims

Originally published on IRMI.com, copyright 2026 International Risk Management Institute, Inc. Subcontractor employee bodily injury claims (so-called action over claims) are a staple of construction risk management in the Empire State—so much so that the phrase “labor law” instinctively invites a shudder among the most experienced general contractors. The savvy among them intensely monitor case […]
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SDV Southeast Attorneys Named as 2023 Top Lawyer Honorees by Naples Illustrated

SDV’s Southeast Office was bestowed a great local honor recently. Gregory Podolak, Kelly Johnson, Holly Rice, and Stephanie Giagnorio were named as 2023 Top Lawyers in Southwest Florida by Naples Illustrated. They were nominated in the insurance law category and were featured in the magazine’s September 2023 edition. We are proud of your accomplishments and dedication to representing […]
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Critical Updates in Builders Risk Claim Recovery: Staying Ahead of the “Satisfactory State” Argument and Getting the Most Out of LEG 3

Builders risk claims routinely involve complicated and aggressive debate about the interplay between covered physical loss and uncovered faulty work. However, denials on this front have recently experienced a noticeable uptick in frequency, creativity, and aggressiveness. The insurer arguments concentrate in two key areas with a common theme – that any damage associated with a […]
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Admissions

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U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
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U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
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U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
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U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit