Alan C. Nash

Co-Chair, Premises and Retail Liability Practice Group
Shareholder

    Alan Carroll “A.C.” Nash is a senior civil defense attorney and business leader whose practice focuses on the defense of insureds, corporations, and public entities in complex, high-exposure litigation. He concentrates on negligent security, wrongful death, product liability, automobile and commercial transportation claims, liquor liability, construction liability and premises liability matters.

    A.C. also maintains a substantial public-sector and municipal defense practice, representing municipalities and law enforcement agencies in state and federal civil rights litigation, including claims alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, and excessive force. His experience in this space includes defending matters throughout Florida in both trial and appellate courts.

    A.C. serves as the Casualty Supervisor of the Fort Lauderdale office of Marshall Dennehey, where he oversees the day-to-day operations of the casualty department and leads a large team of attorneys handling complex and catastrophic-loss cases. In this role, he is responsible not only for legal strategy and quality control, but also for client relationships, attorney development, and overall practice performance.

    Before joining Marshall Dennehey, A.C. was a trial associate at a Fort Lauderdale–based law enforcement and municipal defense firm with more than 30 years of history. Working closely with firm leadership, he played a key role in defending public entities and law enforcement officers in high-stakes civil rights litigation across Florida.

    A.C. earned his juris doctor from Florida State University College of Law in 2007. While in law school, he served as a certified legal intern with the Second Judicial Circuit, trying approximately 40 jury and non-jury criminal cases. He was a member and coach of the Mock Trial Team, served as a student ambassador and traveling recruiter, sat on the Dean’s Cabinet, acted as the Fifth Circuit Governor for the American Bar Association, and received the Distinguished Pro Bono Award upon graduation.

    A South Florida native, A.C. earned his undergraduate degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida, graduating early. Prior to law school, he worked in public relations and marketing, including managing state and national accounts for a Miami-based firm and later executing advertising and marketing programs for two Fortune 100 companies. This background continues to inform his approach to client development and litigation strategy.

    A.C. is deeply committed to mentorship and community involvement. He mentors students at the elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and law school levels and has served in leadership and advisory roles with multiple professional and civic organizations. 

    Significant Representative Matters

    Grant of judgment as a matter of law for the Sheriff's department and individual deputy in an excessive force federal trial involving the shooting death of a suspect.

    Defense verdict in a federal trial for the Sheriff's department and individual deputy in an excessive force case involving the use of a canine.

    Grant of dismissal in a federal case involving the alleged interference of a prisoner's rights to access the courts and to free speech.

    Grant of dismissal in a federal case wherein plaintiff alleged that a private corporation acted under color of law and violated his 8th Amendment Rights.

    Classes/Seminars Taught

    Negligent Security Claims - Premises Under Attack, Marshall Dennehey Client Seminar, July 25, 2025

    Florida’s New Civil Procedure and Rules, Florida Tampa Bay RIMS Chapter, May 21, 2025

    The Yellow Brick Road to Litigation Success – What Happens When Carriers and Defense Counsel Team Up? CLM Annual Conference, Dallas, TX, April 10, 2025

    Relevant Procedural Rule Changes for Risk Manager, Broward County RIMS Chapter Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, January 15, 2025

    DE&I – Your Ally in the War for Talent, Florida RIMS Educational Conference, August 1, 2024

    New Florida Tort Reform Changes Under HB 837, Tampa Bay RIMS Chapter Meeting, Tampa, FL, October 18, 2023

    Civil Rights for Uncivil Times, International Association of Claims Professionals (IACP) 2023 Conference, June 22, 2023

    Claims Inflation in Property & Casualty Litigation, ILG 360º London Annual Conference 2023, March 15, 2023

    Talkin' Bout My Generations, RIMS - Broward County Chapter Meeting & Presentation, October 19th, 2022

    Talkin' Bout My Generations, 2022 Florida RIMS Educational Conference, Naples, FL, July 27th, 2022

    Successful Strategies for Effective Mediation, Marshall Dennehey Client Seminar, July 20, 2022

    Roundtable Discussion: Civil Litigation and Nailing On-Campus Interviews, FSU College of Law - Black Law Students Association, November 8, 2021

    Litigation & Trial Considerations When Representing/Defending Law Enforcement, NAPO’s Annual 2021 Legal Seminar, West Palm Beach, FL, October 4, 2021

    Anti-Social Practical Strategies Insurers Can Implement – panel member, 2021 DRI-IADC Virtual Roundtable, September, 2021

    Civil Litigation State of Affairs – The Impact of COVID-19 in Florida & What’s Next, Marshall Dennehey Client Webinar, June, 2021

    Negligent Security: Foreseeable Crime - Believable Risk, ILG Virtual Conference, March 22, 2021

    56 Feds are Coming: Strategies Using the Upcoming Florida Summary Judgment Standard, Marshall Dennehey Client Webinar, January 15, 2021

    Negligence 101 - A Pennsylvania and Florida Legal Overview, Marshall Dennehey Client Presentation, December 15, 2020

    Negligent Tenants Expose Negligent Landlords, Marshall Dennehey Florida Claims Symposium – Casino Royale, Tampa, FL, September 20, 2018

    Moderator: In-House Counsel Roundtable, DRI Retail & Hospitality Conference, Chicago, IL, May, 2018

    Panelist: Broward County Bar Association - Young Lawyer's Section Boot Camp, June 6, 2017

    Featured Speaker/Panelist: Making The Career Decision That Is Best For You, Atlantic Technical College 2017 College & Career Summit , Ft. Lauderdale, FL, January 26, 2017

    Defending Negligent Security Claims, RIMKUS' 9th Annual CLE/CE Seminar, October 21, 2016

    Negligent Security Claims: If the Crime is Foreseeable, the Risk is Believable, RIMS - Central Florida Chapter, November 19, 2015

    Using Crime Grids in Negligent Security Claims, Marshall Dennehey Florida Claims Symposium - The Best Defense is a Good Offense, Orlando, FL, September 17, 2014

    Diversity for Success Seminar, DRI, Moderator, 2013

    Stand Your Ground Forum, Nova Law School, Moderator, 2012

    Paralegal Program - Professor of Contracts, Legal Research/Writing and Constitutional Law, Brown Mackie College, 2009 - 2010

    Published Works

    "Removing That Slip and Fall Case to Federal Court," For The Defense, February 2016

    "Negligent Tenants Leave Room for Exposed Landlords," Daily Business Review, Personal Injury Special Report, July 27, 2015

    "Let’s Have A Look At The Footage," Law Enforcement Technology, March 2014, co-author

    "You Slip. You Fall. You Lose. Florida's Updated Transient Foreign Substance Statute," Defense Digest, Vol. 19, No. 4, December 2013

    Pro Bono Activities

    Fort Lauderdale Community Development Corporation, Vice President, 2012

    Fort Lauderdale Community Development Corporation, Board Member, 2008 - Present

    Admissions
    Florida
    2007
    U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
    2008
    U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
    2008
    U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
    2008
    U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
    2008
    Education
    Florida State University College of Law (J.D., 2007)
    University of Florida (B.S., 2003)
    Honors & awards
    "Best Mentors Award" by the Daily Business Review
    2022
    The Florida Bar Leadership Academy, Fellow
    2013 - 2014
    Florida Legal Elite
    2010, 2012
    Florida Super Lawyer
    2019-2025
    Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star
    2012-2018
    Rated for Civil Litigation by Lead Counsel, a service of Thomson Reuters, 2015
    "Rising Star" by the Daily Business Review
    2014
    Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Panel
    2017-2025
    South Florida Legal Guide, Up & Comer
    2018-2021
    Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyer
    2025
    Associations & memberships
    Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
    DRI - Diversity for Success Seminar and Expo, Expo Chair 2016 - 2018
    DRI - Diversity for Success Seminar and Expo, Marketing Chair, 2013 - 2015
    DRI - Diversity Committee, Chair to the Marketing Subcommittee
    DRI - Diversity Committee, Liaison to the Aviation Law Committee
    DRI - Retail and Hospitality Seminar, Committee Member 2016 - Present
    Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Member
    Florida Association of Police Attorneys, 2010
    The Florida Bar - Student Education/Admissions to The Bar Committee
    Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Board Member, 2017 - 2019
    Florida Sheriffs Association, 2020 - present
    RIMS Broward County Chapter, Board of Directors, 2021
    Chair, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee "H", 2018 – 2021
    T.J. Reddick Bar Association, Executive Board, 2012 - 2013
    Year joined
    2010