McDermott is making it happen in Miami, where a unique legal market and an "ultimate melting pot" provide ample opportunity for associates to be a part of something special.
Welcome to Miami. Sandy beaches, warm weather, and a famed nightlife scene await – and with easy access to pieces of paradise like Cuba and the Bahamas, what more could you want? Granted, we here at Chambers Associate are not travel agents by any means, but there is plenty to both see and do in La Capital Del Sol. After all, Will Smith said it best: This the type of town I could spend a few days in, Miami the city that keeps the roof blazin'.
As much as you may know Miami as the quintessential party city, it’s not all play and no work. In fact, with a thriving legal market, Miami is the place to be for more reasons than one, and who better to enlighten us about what’s happening in Miami than healthcare hotshot McDermott? Being a Chicago native, the firm’s smaller Miami office offers a unique associate experience with lean staffing that allows for juniors to jump in headfirst across a number of practices and sectors, including M&A, litigation, private client and tax, and technology and innovation.
To discuss more about McDermott’s Miami presence and what’s hot in the wider market, we caught up with Adam Rogers, healthcare partner and office managing partner in McDermott’s Miami office, who was sure to emphasize that “there is a lot more to Miami than what you hear in a Will Smith song…”
Chambers Associate: What do you think makes Miami’s legal market unique to others in the region?
Adam Rogers: Honestly, I don’t think there is another similar market in the region. Miami is the ultimate melting pot. And there has always been a lot of money and excitement and some great legal talent. But, over the last decade or so, leading up to, and then accelerated by, the pandemic, Miami has really come into its own in terms of becoming a much more diverse and robust business and investment hub. It is a bridge to Latin America and other international opportunities, and it does not take a lot of arm-twisting to get clients and contacts to want to meet down here during the non-summer months.
CA: A lot of transactional work happens in Miami, but what is the hottest practice area in Miami at the moment?
AR: There has been a lot more activity across the board. M&A activity slowed a bit from the all-time highs in 2020 and 2021, but is back on the upswing. Litigation has been extremely active, along with private client and tax planning, and the technology and innovation environment here has also grown tremendously.
CA: What kind of work do associates tend to do in McDermott’s Miami office? Can you tell us a little bit about your practice and the work that you do?
AR: As someone who originally joined McDermott’s Miami office as an associate, I speak from experience when I say it is a great place to be an associate. We staff very leanly, and so younger associates get to take on as much responsibility as they demonstrate they are willing and able to take on. Our litigation associates get to argue motions and go to court, our corporate associates are interacting with clients early and often and so on. It’s not sink or swim by any means, and we spend a lot of time on training, mentoring, and relationship building to allow our people to flourish. However, if someone has demonstrated that they are ready to practice at a higher level, they will have those opportunities here.
My practice is focused on the health care industry. I am a transactional and regulatory attorney for companies, private equity and other investors, lenders, and other stakeholders in the health care space. My practice is M&A focused and transactions are where I spend most of my time, but I also provide general counselling on regulatory and corporate matters.
CA: What’s on the horizon for Miami’s legal market in the next few years? How do you think it will change?
AR: There has always been a vibrant legal market down here, but given the tremendous growth Miami has experienced, and a number of additional national firms making their entry, I think you will see a maturing legal market with more local opportunities for high-end corporate, finance, and litigation work.
CA: What were your motivations for choosing to practice in Miami – aside from the beautiful weather, of course?
AR: I grew up in South Florida and, after starting my legal career in Washington, D.C. because I had wanted to practice in a “bigger legal market”, I wanted to be closer to family. I was happy in DC, but, as a health care lawyer, the opportunity to come down and practice with McDermott, as the number one health care firm in the world, an hour from where I grew up, was too good to resist.
CA: How would you describe the culture in the Miami office of your firm?
AR: As someone who has practiced at a few different firms and a couple of cities in my career, McDermott, and our Miami office in particular, have the best culture I have ever been fortunate to experience. We are a group of people committed to excellence and never resting on our laurels (consistent with our Always Better mantra), but who care about each other, who celebrate and share in each other’s successes, and who enjoy being with each other.
CA: What’s your favorite thing about Miami – whether that’s something in your practice or about your life in the city?
AR: I think it goes back to it being the ultimate melting pot. There is something for everyone. Everyone knows about the world-class restaurants, beaches, nightlife, and of course, the weather. But, there are so many other aspects of Miami and South Florida. Whatever you are looking for, you can find here.
CA: Are there any misconceptions that people have about Miami that you’d like to clear up for our readers?
AR: Again, I would say that there is a lot more to Miami than what you will hear in a Will Smith song. It’s not just a tourist paradise, it’s a great place to build a practice and build a life.
CA: Any words of advice for aspiring associates looking to join a firm’s Miami office?
AR: Be able to answer why you are looking to start your career in Miami and what you are looking for in a law firm. Also, be yourself. That’s the only way you are going to find out if a firm is the right fit for you and vice versa.
