PE Tech Report

NEWSLETTER

Like this article?

Sign up to our free newsletter

Akerman opens two new new offices

US law frm Akerman has opened new offices in Atlanta and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, marking the establishment of the firm’s 24th and 25th offices within seven months. 

The expansion is part of a national growth strategy to meet increasing client demand in major financial and business centers across the United States and in areas of core strength.

Akerman is expanding its presence in Atlanta with the addition of Corporate Practice Group Partners R William “Bill” Ide and Amanda Leech. Ide and Leech bring robust transactional and governance experience, having represented numerous large corporations, Fortune 100 companies, and boards of directors in merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions, general corporate governance and compliance, and board risk management reviews. Ide’s background as a former in-house counsel gives him strong insight into the day-to-day needs and demands confronting clients.

Ide and Leech join Healthcare Partners Sidney Welch, Jeremy Burnette, and Amy Jeon McCullough, who formally launched Akerman’s Atlanta office in September 2018. The team has dedicated experience in healthcare litigation, transactions and regulatory compliance for a range of providers, including healthcare systems, specialty physician practices and associations, and technology companies. Welch serves as the Atlanta Office Managing Partner.

“We continue to aggressively expand in major business centers across the country to accommodate the needs of our growing client base,” says Andrew Smulian, Akerman Chairman and CEO. “Atlanta is a vital market for many of our clients and is home to a broad range of sectors that will benefit from Akerman’s extensive capabilities across the United States and Latin America. We expect the office to grow quickly in the years ahead, both in size and service offerings.”

Akerman also welcomes Paul Foley as chair of the Investment Management Practice. Foley joins Akerman in Winston-Salem, bringing substantial experience in investment fund formation and fund offerings. He is adept at advising hedge funds, mutual funds, and venture capital funds on investments, compliance and securities law. Associates Caroline “Kiki” Scarff and Shea “Bree” Ward also join Foley in the Winston-Salem office.

“Paul is an excellent lawyer and a much desired addition to Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group,” says Jonathan Awner, co-chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. “Paul’s extensive experience in fund formation, investment adviser regulation and securities matters further advances our capabilities in serving private funds, sophisticated institutional investors and other corporate clients nationwide.”

The opening of the Atlanta and Winston-Salem offices are the latest examples of Akerman’s strategic expansion in new markets throughout the United States. In recent years, the firm has established offices in Austin, Chicago, Houston, New Orleans and San Antonio. In 2018, Akerman more than doubled the size of its Chicago office space to accommodate its rapid growth. Headcount has grown from eight lawyers when the office opened in 2014 to more than 50 today. Headcount in Texas has grown to nearly 60 litigation and transactional lawyers in four offices. The momentum is also seen in Los Angeles, where Akerman expanded its downtown office space and tripled headcount to nearly 40 lawyers and real estate professionals in less than three years. In New York, the firm’s second largest office, headcount has grown to 120 lawyers and business professionals, more than tripling in size over a four year period.

Like this article? Sign up to our free newsletter

MOST POPULAR

FURTHER READING

Featured