Greenberg Traurig ranges a $2bn revenue milestone, reveals its lifestyle-oriented development to Long Island

Greenberg Traurig ranges a $2bn revenue milestone, reveals its lifestyle-oriented development to Long Island

As Miami's biggest company opens two offices in the nation's 'first suburb', early glimpses of 2021 finances emerge

It is now the first time in the company's 55-year history that it has cracked $2 billion in revenue, as Greenberg Traurig opens offices in Bridgehampton and Garden City in Long Island.

A Miami-based firm has hired four partners from Long Island law firm Farrell Fritz as well as two other senior partners who have local connections to lead the initiative, which is being supported by around 20 associates who are relocating from Manhattan.

The firm said that its move to the suburbs is part of a strategy to adapt to the new normal by establishing a hybrid office model that enables attorneys to have a greater balance between work and personal life while providing more access to legal services for local clients.

In addition to its original members Brian Doyle and John McEntee, the Farrell Fritz team joining Greenberg consists of a commercial litigator and a transactional attorney. Each will serve as a co-managing shareholder of the firm. McEntee will be located in Garden City, while Doyle will work in Bridgehampton.

In addition, David Gilmartin and Kathryn Cole are joining the firm from Farrell Fritz. Cole concentrates his practice in complicated commercial matters including contract disputes, product liability claims, torts and class actions, whereas Gilmartin practices land use, zoning, real estate, commercial matters, and related litigation.

Two other senior attorneys with strong ties to the local area were hired by Greenberg – Deputy Attorney General Mark Lesko, who previously headed the National Security Division of the US Department of Justice and James Miskiewicz, who worked for the Long Island Power Authority as deputy general counsel.

As of 24 January, Lesko will be working in the DoJ's Bridgehampton office after spending less than a year as an acting US attorney for the Eastern District of New York. In March 2021, he moved from first assistant US attorney to US attorney.

The former US attorney for the Eastern District of New York worked in various positions before going in-house at Garden City. Prior to that Miskiewicz worked in the US attorney's office for the same district between 2009 and 2017.

Having a substantial presence in Long Island makes Greenberg the first global law firm to do so. In addition to its Manhattan, White Plains and Florham Park, New Jersey offices, the firm also has three sites throughout the New York metropolitan area.

According to Richard Rosenbaum, the firm saw the expansion into Long Island as a "huge and timely opportunity."

Technology advances have led to significant shifts in business and work practices in the workplace, allowing business decision-makers and the legal advisors who service them to work wherever they prefer, not only in major cities, but also increasingly in suburbs, resort towns, second homes and other locations more conducive to their businesses. This trend, which was accelerated by the pandemic, is set to remain," he added.

Rosenbaum also announced its 2021 revenues surpassed $2 billion for the first time, alongside a "substantial rise in profits." The early indicators of the company's performance point to an increase of at least 16 percent from the $1.73bn revenue it reported in 2020.

As part of the Greenberg team, a number of eye-catching hires were made in 2021. With the addition of six individuals from Mishcon de Reya during the Covid-19 pandemic, its London disputes group reached around 50 lawyers and the litigation practice reached almost one-third of the London office in October 2021.

Having lost 10 lawyers to CMS in November, 2021, Greenberg also added a seven-strong group of real estate lawyers including two senior associates from Dentons to increase its Warsaw real estate team. In addition, Holland & Knight added a seven-employee team to its Mexico City office to build a labour and employment practice.

In addition, Quinn Emanuel this week released further details of its 2021 financials, expressing satisfaction with an unchanged revenue performance for its London office in light of a record 2020 and the loss of its highly-reputed competition team in 2021.