CHICAGO, Aug. 15, 2013 — Eugene G. Beckham of Miami recently began a one-year term as chair of the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section.

Beckham is founder and partner of Beckham Beckham P.A. His practice focuses on defending transportation, motor vehicle, insurance coverage and general liability claims, and prosecuting subrogation actions.

“I am honored to serve as 2013-14 chair of TIPS, the ABA’s third-largest section,” Beckham said. “TIPS brings together lawyers involved in tort claims and jury trials for plaintiffs, defendants and insurers to advance the civil justice system and ensure that it remains independent, strong, fair and available to protect the rights of all parties. As chair, I will see that our 31 general committees continue to provide networking opportunities and educational content covering all aspects of tort trial and insurance practice. Our members’ diversity of thought, background and practice setting is our most fundamental strength, and I invite every member willing to serve to join our leadership. I encourage anyone involved on either side of a tort claim to make sure his or her lawyer is a TIPS member.”

Beckham has held numerous leadership positions in TIPS, including chair-elect, vice chair, Governing Council member, co-chair of the Women and Minority Involvement Committee, chair of the Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee and member of the Commercial Transportation Steering Committee. He is also a member of the Defense Research Institute, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Trucking Industry Defense Association, Transportation Lawyers Association and Federation of Defense Corporate Counsel.

He earned his J.D. in 1982 from the University of Miami School of Law in Coral Gables and his B.A. in 1979 from Emory University in Atlanta. Beckham was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1983, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Bar in 1984, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Trial Bar in 1992, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Bar in 1996 and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar in 2013.

Beckham has also received many awards throughout his legal career. He is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a fellow and board member of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Foundation. He is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in A.M. Best’s Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys for general defense and subrogation.

Beckham has spoken on many panels and published various works. Some of his clients include FedEx Freight Inc., Vanliner Insurance Co., Gallagher Bassett Services Inc., State Farm Insurance Cos., Harco Insurance Services, National Interstate Insurance Co. and Ruan Logistics Corp.

The ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section unites plaintiff, defense, insurance and corporate counsel to advance the civil justice system. TIPS is a national source of expertise in tort, trial and insurance practice and brings lawyers together to share information and speak out on issues of importance. The section has about 25,000 members and over 30 general committees that focus on substantive and procedural matters in areas across the broad spectrum of civil law and practice. For more information, visit the TIPS website, www.americanbar.org/tips.

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