Geoffrey Bichler Lawyer Reviews & Ratings - Maitland

Geoff Bichler is the founding member and managing partner of Bichler & Longo, PLLC and represents first responders around the State of Florida with work related disability issues. Mr. Bichler received both his M.A. and J.D. from the University of Miami and has been handling workers’ compensation and pension matters for firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and correctional officers for more nearly thirty years.. Mr. Bichler speaks frequently to first responder groups, lawyers, and law school classes about the unique occupational health and safety issues facing first responders and special legislation protecting these groups. With a unique focus on First Responder occupational injury and disease, Mr. Bichler and his firm have played a prominent role in many of the most significant cases involving heart disease, hypertension, PTSD, cancer, and repetitive trauma injuries in these populations. In 2016 two of the firm’s cases involving First Responders resulted in findings that Florida workers’ compensation law was unconstitutional and in 2018 an adverse decision related to PTSD coverage for a client of the firm provided an impetus for successful legislative action.. Mr. Bichler spends a great deal of time in Tallahassee supporting legislation specific to first responders and was instrumental in the passage of the PTSD bill for Florida first responders during the 2018 legislative session. He continues to work for the passage of legislation that will make certain types of cancer presumptively work-related in fire service, and for positive legislation that will enhance benefits and improve safety and wellness for injured workers more generally.. Mr. Bichler is a member of the Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group, the Executive Council of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar, and Florida Workers Advocates. He was also recently appointed to the Board of Directors for Kids Chance Florida which provides scholarships for children of parents who suffer catastrophic work injuries. He has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers in America, is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, and has appeared in both Florida Trend’s Legal Elite Edition and Orlando Magazine’s Best Lawyers Edition for the last fifteen years. Mr. Bichler was named Claimant “Lawyer of the Year” for 2014 and 2017 in the State of Florida.. When he is not practicing law Mr. Bichler enjoys travel, sports, and time with his family.