National law firm Dinsmore & Shohl LLP is excited to announce that only three years after its first expansion into Florida, the Firm is growing again through a merger with the highly regarded Mateer & Harbert. With the addition of Mateer’s 19 attorneys and nearly two dozen business professionals in the Florida region, Dinsmore expands its office count to 30 and builds on the footprint established in Tampa in 2020. With its foot on the accelerator, Dinsmore is executing on its strategy to identify opportunities that meet client needs and grow the Firm under the leadership of Joshua Lorentz, who took over as managing partner in January 2023.

“Like Mateer & Harbert, Dinsmore is a well-established firm that has been around for a long time,” Tom Harbert said. “In addition to the common shared values between the firms, from the outset of merger discussions, there was an undeniable, mutual, positive connection and ‘feel’ which became stronger as discussions progressed.” Josh added, “As we grow, we are especially conscientious of preserving an environment where everyone works hard, but really enjoys being with each other. Our clients feel it and are excited to be a part of it.

Florida’s robust labor market, pro-business policies and global connectivity make it an attractive target when exploring opportunities for growth. From college students to snowbirds, to those looking to take advantage of Florida’s affordable cost of living and job opportunities, the Sunshine State offers fertile ground for continued expansion. Both Dinsmore and Mateer acknowledge the collaboration is a win-win for loyal, long-term clients as well as new companies looking to relocate or expand their operations in central Florida.

“Florida, and particularly Central Florida, is a booming region,” Tom Harbert said. “Combining with Dinsmore will enable us to expand our footprint in the State to allow us to better serve our clients’ needs as their businesses continue to grow.”

For more than 60 years, Mateer & Harbert attorneys have offered a wide range of legal services to clients with a particular focus on healthcare, civil litigation, commercial real estate, eminent domain and construction law. “More and more businesses are attracted to central Florida’s explosion in growth and development and they want to be a part of it,” Josh said.

The Dinsmore-Mateer team of attorneys looks forward to joining forces with the established Tampa teams to help clients navigate the highly regulated and complex healthcare industry, as well to handle major business transactions and commercial litigation matters. Under the leadership of Robert Sickles, Dinsmore’s Tampa office has proven to be a tremendous asset to clients in southwest Florida and beyond. From contracting to compliance, risk management and financing, clients will have access to a network of board-certified attorneys across Dinsmore’s national footprint, trusted for their skill and integrity.

“Not only does this merger expand Dinsmore’s footprint and service capabilities in Florida,” Josh said, “it also makes us an attractive option for companies and attorneys looking for a law firm that has a proven record of success, with a client-first and growth-oriented mindset.”