Emilia A. Quesada

Emilia A. Quesada is a founding partner of the firm and co-chair of its Commercial Litigation and Life, Health, Disability & ERISA practice groups. With three decades of litigation experience, Ms. Quesada delivers strategic counsel and trial-tested advocacy to healthcare organizations, insurance companies, national corporations, and financial institutions in high-stakes, complex commercial matters. Clients value her deep industry knowledge, thoughtful risk assessment, and relentless focus on achieving results that align with business objectives.

Ms. Quesada offers specialized knowledge in first-party insurance litigation including life, health, and disability insurance claims involving ERISA and non-ERISA matters. In the healthcare sector, Ms. Quesada regularly represents managed care organizations and providers in disputes regarding Medicare, Medicaid, HMO/PPO, emergency services, the No Surprises Act, HIPAA compliance, and in- and out-of-network claims, including rate v. right statutory claims and common law causes of action.

In the life and disability insurance space, Ms. Quesada represents insurers related to annuities, agent and independent contractor issues, interpleader actions, structured settlement disputes, STOLI matters, short and long term disability issues, and issues related to reinsurance and subrogation matters. She also represents insurers offering long term care insurance, supplemental and AD&D insurance and other products in first party claims.

Her broader litigation experience includes defending pharmaceutical, banking, financial, oil and gas, and product companies in complex civil litigation including business torts, negligence and fraud claims, commercial contract disputes; consumer protection claims involving FDUTPA, FCRA and TCPA claims; and director and officer liability litigation in state and federal courts throughout Florida, Georgia and New York, as well as before arbitration tribunals throughout the country.

Ms. Quesada is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings, the highest rating possible, and an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association listed on the Commercial, Consumer and Healthcare rosters. She is the managing partner of the firm’s Florida office.

Prior to founding d’QM, Ms. Quesada was a founding partner of SMGQ Law in Miami where she chaired the Insurance Practice group for over 18 years. She previously worked at national law firms, including Hunton & Williams LLP (n/k/a Hunton Andrews Kurth) and Steel Hector & Davis LLP (n/k/a Squire Patton Boggs). Ms. Quesada started her legal career through a federal clerkship as an Honors Attorney through the Attorney General Honors Program for the U.S. Department of Justice in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was selected from over 2,500 applicants for one of eight positions.

Ms. Quesada is admitted to practice in Florida, including the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; in Georgia, including the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia; in New York; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Notable Recognition

Ms. Quesada served as one of 12 commissioners appointed to the ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession by the president of the ABA and was the first Hispanic appointed from Florida. Ms. Quesada has been featured in Attorney at Law magazine’s Women in Law edition, Law360’s series Minority Powerbrokers Q&A, the MCCA’s Diversity & the Bar magazine, and Diversity Inc. magazine. She has also been highlighted as a Hispanic leader by Miami Today and South Florida CEO magazine, and honored as a Super Lawyer for Insurance, Top Lawyer in Insurance by the South Florida Legal Guide and Best Lawyer in America for Insurance Litigation. Ms. Quesada is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a prestigious association where less than one-half of one percent of American trial lawyers have been invited to join.