Dinsmore & Shohl Merges with Mateer Harbert: Launches Second Office in Florida

Dinsmore & Shohl Merges with Mateer Harbert: Launches Second Office in Florida

U.S. law firm Dinsmore & Shohl has launched its Orlando office by merging with local firm Mateer & Harbert, expanding Cincinnati-founded Dinsmore's presence in Florida.

Dinsmore, ranked No. 114 in the Am Law 200, joined with 19-lawyer including Managing Partner Tom Harbert of Mateer Harbert in Orlando, which focuses on health care, real estate and civil litigation.

Dinsmore said that Florida’s robust labor market and pro-business policies made it an attractive target for growth, adding that both firms viewed the merger as a win for long-term clients as well as new companies looking to relocate or expand their operations in central Florida.

“The firms that follow economic development will likely start paying more attention to Orlando,” said Josh Lorentz, of Dinsmore, which combined with an Orlando law firm.

He added, “More and more businesses are attracted to central Florida’s explosion in growth and development and they want to be a part of it.... As we grow, we are conscious of preserving an environment where everyone works hard, but enjoys being with each other. Our clients feel it and are excited to be a part of it.”

Mateer & Harbert was founded more than 60 years ago and offers legal services to clients focused on healthcare, civil litigation, commercial real estate, eminent domain and construction law.

According to Dinsmore, the new arrivals would work closely with its established Tampa teams to service healthcare industry clients as well as handle business transactions and commercial litigation matters.

Harbert commented, “Florida, and particularly central Florida, is a booming region and combining with Dinsmore will enable us to better serve our clients’ needs as their businesses continue to grow. Like Mateer & Harbert, Dinsmore is a well-established firm that has been around for a long time. As well as the common shared values between the firms, from the outset of merger discussions there was a mutual, positive connection and ‘feel’ which became stronger as discussions progressed.”

Dinsmore now has more than 750 lawyers spread across 30 US offices. The firm started off the year by merging with San Diego firm Mulvaney Barry Beatty Linn & Mayers, a move that saw it add 10 lawyers and a team of eight business professionals to its offices in Southern California.

Am Law 200 law firms are continuing to combine with smaller firms to grow market share this year, with Dinsmore & Shohl completing the latest boutique merger.