Maria Charles McGuinness, an attorney in KHL Law’s Miami office, is a litigator with extensive experience and a diverse practice focused on complex commercial disputes involving contracts, construction, insurance, surety bonds and title insurance. She is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell®.

Prior to joining KHL Law, Maria served as a career judicial law clerk to former Chief United States Magistrate John J. O’Sullivan in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida for over 17 years. She was assigned predominantly civil cases including high profile and consent cases involving civil and constitutional rights, contracts, copyright and trademark infringement, employment disputes and equitable relief claims.

Maria’s extensive judicial clerkship provided invaluable insight and deepened her understanding of judicial decision-making. Her clerkship experience continues to strengthen, shape and enhance the strategy she brings to her practice. Both professionally and personally, she advocates with integrity, passion and purpose.

Before that, Maria spent 14 years in private practice. As a shareholder in the Miami office of a national law firm, her practice concentrated in commercial litigation including appeals. She successfully represented individuals, businesses, contractors, subcontractors, property owners, insureds, insurance companies and surety/bonding companies in state and federal trial and appellate courts in Florida. She also defended clients in actions involving aviation, medical malpractice and products liability.

Maria earned her J.D., with honors, from Florida State University College of Law in 1990, where she served on the Executive Board of the Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law. She received her undergraduate degree from Wofford College in 1986, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is admitted to practice in Florida state courts, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Maria is a member of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association as well as the Appellate Section and the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar. Maria has authored, co- authored, published and/or presented numerous articles, chapters and papers on various topics including: construction, suretyship, fidelity, insurance and arbitration.

Maria is a South Florida native who is very active in her community. She currently serves in leadership roles and as a catechist in her church. Maria is an advocate in the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami. Additionally, as a volunteer co-leader of a resident- created group, she educates and motivates residents to engage civically. This group achieved key outcomes, including the municipality’s adoption of comprehensive plan amendments and zoning regulation amendments that protect and preserve her community’s character and quality of life.