King Risk Partners adds two Florida professional liability specialists

The fast-growing Gainesville broker is buying agencies in St. Petersburg and Lakeland that focus on cover for law firms, accountants and financial planners
King Risk Partners adds two Florida professional liability specialists
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
By Josh Recamara
Oct 20, 2026

King Risk Partners has acquired two Florida agencies specializing in professional liability and cyber insurance for professional services firms: Risk Avoidance Managers of St. Petersburg and Coastal Insurors of Lakeland.

Terms were not disclosed.

Risk Avoidance Managers was founded in 2000, and Coastal Insurors in 1994. Both agencies write professional liability and cyber cover for law firms, accounting firms, financial planners and individual professionals across Florida.

“Building specialized expertise is an essential part of our long-term growth strategy,” said Scott Popilek, King Risk Partners’ chief executive.

Michael Halfast, a producer for both agencies, said joining King Risk Partners would give the team broader capabilities, wider market access and more resources while keeping the client relationships they have built.

From regional generalist to specialist

The deals mark a change in emphasis for King Risk Partners. Most of its recent acquisitions have been generalist personal and commercial agencies, expanding its footprint along the East Coast. This year it has bought Conover Beyer Associates in New Jersey, Perry Insurance Agency in Massachusetts, PRL Associates in New York and the Hanc Group in Georgia.

The Gainesville-based broker has grown quickly. Insurance Business reported in February that its affiliation with the Ten Eyck Group in Albany was its 36th acquisition, following 14 deals in 2025, its most active year. The firm now describes itself as the 36th largest US brokerage, up from 51st earlier this year.

Gaining carrier relationships and expertise

Professional liability for small law firms, accountants and financial planners is a niche that rewards specialist knowledge. Coverage forms, retroactive dates and claims-made triggers vary between carriers, and errors in placement can leave clients exposed. Cyber cover for these firms, which hold sensitive client data, has become an essential add-on.

By buying two established specialists rather than building the capability itself, King Risk Partners gains carrier relationships and expertise it can offer across its wider network. For independent agencies in Florida competing for professional services accounts, it means a larger competitor with specialist knowledge and the resources to support it.

The deals also fit a wider trend among acquisitive brokers. Once they reach scale through regional acquisitions, they often look for specialist books that bring higher margins and stronger client retention.

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