We give our clients individual attention, loyalty and compassion.
At McGovern Gerardi you work with a partner - John McGovern or Kristina Gerardi - not a paralegal, investigator, assistant or an associate.
John T. McGovern
“You have the right to fair and just compensation for your injuries, working with an attorney directly - from Day 1 - will help ensure you get it.”
PASSION! This one simple word defines our managing trial attorney, John T. McGovern, Esq. John McGovern is passionate about his representation of his clients, passionate in his devotion to his family, and passionate about bettering his community.
McGovern, who was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2000, has spent his entire 20+ year legal career exclusively representing individuals and families injured by the improper / negligent conduct of others. He is admitted to practice in all Courts of the State of Florida and before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Yes, he has handled high profile cases involving wrongful death, airplane crashes, medical malpractice, improper operation of tractor trailer trucks, unsafe products, premises liability, and even the recount of the 2000 Presidential Election, but, MOST OF ALL, John McGovern's career has been distinguished by his tireless representation of those injured in car crashes.
EXCELLENCE. John McGovern has excelled at every stage of his life. He graduated in the Top 10 of his class at Wellington High School in 1992, was admitted to the Honors Program of the University of Florida (GO GATORS!) and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from UF in 1996, after being inducted into both the prestigious Florida Blue Key leadership Honorary and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. McGovern then attended the University of Florida's Levin College of Law, obtaining his Juris Doctorate in 1999. During law school McGovern was elected President of the University of Florida Student Body, served as Chairperson of the Florida Council of University Student Body Presidents, and was inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame.
SERVICE. McGovern is a leader within the legal profession and in the community at-large. John McGovern wakes up every day determined to help others. First and foremost, he is available to his clients 24/7 to do whatever it takes to make sure BIG INSURANCE Companies do not take advantage of them! McGovern is creative and relentless in fighting those BIG INSURANCE Companies, until they pay every penny required to fully compensate his client for ALL the injuries / damages inflicted. McGovern is also committed to seeing that all trial lawyers exhibit the highest standards of professionalism and legal excellence. To achieve this important mission, John McGovern dedicates time to the Palm Beach County Justice Association, f/k/a The Palm Beach County Trial Lawyers Association, where he has been past president (2017), served multiple terms on the executive committee, and is a longtime member of the Board of Directors (2013-Present). McGovern has also served on the Pro Bono Committee of the 15th Judicial Circuit, hosted numerous events to raise funds for the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, and volunteers regularly with Feeding South Florida.
COMMUNITY. If you see John McGovern outside the office, you will likely see him with his family in his hometown of Wellington, where he serves as a member of the Village Council. McGovern was appointed to Seat 3 on the Wellington Village Council in 2015, having been unanimously selected out of more than 20 applicants; he was then elected without opposition in 2016, and re-elected in 2018 by the widest percentage margin of victory in Wellington history. McGovern was recently re-appointed by his colleagues as Wellington's Vice Mayor, a position he previously held from 2016-2018. Vice Mayor McGovern also serves as Chairman and Wellington's representative on the Western Communities Council.
FAMILY. John McGovern is a devoted husband and father. John has been married to his wife, Michelle Oyola McGovern, since 2002. John and Michelle are the proud parents to their daughters, Emilia and Victoria, and the family dog, a cocker spaniel, Maggie.
Kristina Gerardi
“I am committed to caring for the needs of my clients and their families.”
Attorney Kristina “Nina” Gerardi may come off as a chihuahua, but she can be a pit-bull when necessary – always defending her clients with integrity and professionalism.
As a litigation attorney for more than a decade, Nina specializes in litigating personal injury cases with a strategic, precise, and intentional focus. Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, she graduated Valedictorian from John I. Leonard High School. In 2006, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Business from the University of Florida, while also completing the university’s full sign language program and volunteering for numerous A.D.A. events. Nina then attended Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, where she received her Juris Doctorate and graduated Summa Cum Laude in the top 11 students in her law school class (going from a Gator at UF to a Shark at NSU… to now a litiGator!). She earned the position as the Sources Editor on Nova’s Law Review and worked as a legal writing and torts teaching assistant for two law school professors.
Kristina had always wanted to be a Personal Injury attorney – it’s in her blood! She grew up and spent countless hours at a local law firm, the Law Office of Charles A. Williams, P.A., where her Uncle was the lawyer, and her dad was the office manager. In the afternoons after school, Kristina would go to the office and help with simple tasks and secretarial duties for fun! Through high school and law school, she worked for her uncle, where individual’s and their rights were always put first, searing these values into her core. Even though she received multiple job offers at large firms, Kristina Gerardi chose to work for the family business, which was the natural fit, right out of law school – wanting to focus more on helping people than just getting billable hours. Kristina began her career handling Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation and Family Law cases – all Plaintiff’s ONLY, never working for any insurance company. In 2016, Kristina and John joined forces to form their own law firm and build upon their respective prior years of successfully representing hundreds of injured workers and car-accident victims. Having also handled over 100 Family Law matters, Mrs. Gerardi is familiar with the special legal requirements and the intricacies involved in handling matters that include children (minors), particularly child passengers, in car accidents. To this day, Nina only represents those that are injured and wronged from the negligence of others, handling matters from small property-damage rear-end accidents, to complex cases involving roof collapses, daily. She is a member in good standing of the Florida Bar and is also admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Kristina is also very involved in her community, active in numerous organizations and causes. She is a Past-President of her local Network Professionals, Inc. (“NPI”) chapter where she has been an active member for 12 years, mentoring others and speaking to groups, and is committed to helping small businesses thrive in the Western Communities. Nina, her husband Mark, and their three young sons, Sebastian, Oliver and Sullivan (S.O.S.), live in West Palm Beach with goats, chickens and their family dog, a mini golden doodle named Honey, and you can find her most nights and weekends at Okeeheelee Baseball fields or at travel baseball games. She is a die-hard sports fan; you can read her law review article, “Tackles that Rattle the Brain,” which was published in the Spring 2011 edition of The Sports Law Journal at the Tulane University School of Law. She is an avid reader and has a book blog on Instagram @NinaNeedsNovels.
Sharp, witty, approachable, down-to-earth, and personable, Kristina will quickly make you feel like a friend – not just another client – while getting you the best result possible on your case. Nina Gerardi has the uncanny ability to be a very serious lawyer, while putting her clients at ease as they proceed through the crazy, stressful, lively and at times exasperating, legal/insurance process. Kristina prides herself on being an advocator and a mom – a real person for real clients.
Our Community
A big part of our firm's focus is giving back to our community. We volunteer our time to critical local efforts such as helping residents complete the Census or navigate COVID-19 challenges as well as:
Legal Aid Society
Adopt-a-School
The School District of Palm Beach County
Wellington Parks & Recreation and other Youth Sports
Hurricane Preparedness
Local Festivals & Events
If you've joined us at an event as a volunteer or recipient, tag us in your photos with…
#DedicatedToTheInjured
#DedicatedToTheCommunity
#McGovernGerardiLaw
Experience the individualized difference at McGovern Gerardi as your case is handled directly by John McGovern or Kristina Gerardi.
We were both raised right here in the western communities of Palm Beach County, are products of the Palm Beach County schools and the state University system and have chosen to raise our families here. We know Palm Beach County’s roads because we drive them every day. We demystify the legal experience by listening to your questions and explaining your options in direct, understandable terms. While we are easy to talk with, know this: WE FIGHT TIRELESSLY against the insurance companies. Choose your attorney wisely. Look for honesty, transparency, direct lawyer contact, and client respect, not flashy billboards, or TV ads. Hopefully you will never need our services, but McGovern Gerardi Law is ready to fight for you if you do.