Holly A. Rice maintains an active nationwide practice dedicated to representing policyholders in a wide range of industries and complex insurance claims, with a particular focus on advocating for commercial policyholders within the construction industry. Her practice includes policy reviews, claim preparation, litigating against insurers after coverage denial, and more. Holly advises and consults on matters to develop comprehensive strategic approaches that maximize client negotiation leverage and substantive positions in litigation and trial. With nearly 15 years of litigation experience at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal courts, she has recovered millions of dollars for policyholder clients under various types of insurance policies, including Commercial Property, Builders Risk, Owners’/Contractors’ Professional & Protective, Directors & Officers, Cyber-Risk, and Life Insurance policies.

Holly also offers a broad range of legal and educational services to insurance brokers and risk management teams. She provides comprehensive analysis of risk management programs, which includes identifying and eliminating coverage gaps, maximizing risk transfer opportunities through contractual insurance and indemnity provisions, and mitigating overall operational exposures.

Notable representative matters include:

• Successful negotiation of a multi-million-dollar builder’s risk claim on behalf of the general contractor on an apartment complex project with parking garage and retail space.
• Substantial settlement in a hotel renovation where the property owner filed suit against the general contractor claiming over $15 million in construction defect damages. With several carriers involved, during mediation, Holly successfully secured a settlement whereby the carriers agreed to pay the full policy limits, so the contractor client had no out of pocket liability.
• Complete recovery of a property damage claim and attorney’s fees in a matter involving a property owner who was wrongfully denied insurance coverage.
• Co-led a team of attorneys in a complex and unique broker malpractice case where creative arguments had to be developed to deal with an issue of first impression.

Holly began her career as a prosecutor in the State Attorney's Office in Clearwater, Florida, before relocating to Naples and focusing her practice on the representation of high-net-worth clients in complex family law and real estate litigation matters. Her background lends a unique perspective to the firm's Private Client Services Focus Group. While in law school, Holly was a Senior Research Editor for the Journal of Law & Public Policy and received three Book Awards in recognition of her top academic performance.

Holly is a regularly published author and is frequently invited to speak on insurance and risk management topics at conferences throughout the country. She has published important articles that discuss the strategies and tactics of litigating construction insurance claims, and in 2023, was named as a “Top Lawyer” in Southwest Florida by Naples Illustrated.

Through the firm’s Mentorship Program, Holly serves as a mentor to attorneys, law clerks, and legal support staff, offering education and support surrounding the practice of insurance coverage law. Along with other members of SDV, she often volunteers for charities such as Habitat for Humanity.
Based in SDV’s Southeast office, Holly resides in Naples with her two children and dog. In her spare time, she enjoys coaching soccer, cooking and creating new twists on old recipes, reading, fitness, and photography.