Hot Miami’s legal market is attracting another major law firm | Media Pyro

(Reuters) – Venable is the latest major law firm to plant a flag in Florida, gaining offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa through a merger with 30-lawyer firm Genovese Joblove & Battista that will take effect in January 1.

The Miami location gives Venable access to the Washington, DC-based city that has drawn attention from other out-of-town firms this year, including Kirkland & Ellis, King & Spalding, Winston & Strawn and Sidley Austin.

Los Angeles-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan set up shop in Miami in 2021.

Leaders from new industries in 2022 reported the growing number of clients in Miami’s technology and financial sector and the decline of lawyers during the remote work period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Venable said in a statement Monday that Genovese Joblove & Battista “is well established in Florida, where the legal market, population, and economy continue to grow.”

The Florida company’s website lists practice areas, including bankruptcy, probate law, real estate, securities and commercial litigation.

Venable currently has 820 attorneys across 10 offices, according to a spokeswoman.

Florida has long been home to major local law firms including Greenberg Traurig, Holland & Knight and Akerman, and many out-of-town firms have set up shop in Miami in the past. But inflows have been increasing, with businesses targeting customers in South Florida’s economy and startups.

The major firms entering the market in 2022 have various expansion strategies, with some moving lawyers from other offices and others hiring local talent.

Smaller law firms have also opened locations in Miami, including Washington, DC-based Akrivis Law Group last week.

The combination between Venable and Genovese Joblove & Battista is one of many that will take effect in the new year.

Morrison & Foerster will join IP litigation and technology litigation firm Durie Tangri on Jan. 1, and Hawkins Parnell & Young will bring more than 50 attorneys from Selman Breitman.

Read more:

Miami is a new destination for big law firms

Sidley will open a permanent Miami office after hiring a lawyer in the city

Kirkland, Winston & Strawn joins major law firms entering Miami

Midsize Florida law firm Gunster will merge with a small Tampa firm

Armstrong Teasdale of Midwest is the newest law firm to enter the Miami market

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