Recent Tampa Partner Hires Spotlighted by Legal Media

April 19, 2021

Speaking with office and practice leadership, the legal media recently covered Lewis Brisbois’ hiring of two Workers' Compensation Practice partners, Keith Howell and Jeffrey Novell, who have joined the firm’s Tampa office.

Tampa, Fla. (April 19, 2021) - Speaking with office and practice leadership, the legal media recently covered Lewis Brisbois’ hiring of two Workers' Compensation Practice partners, Keith Howell and Jeffrey Novell, who have joined the firm’s Tampa office.

In an article titled “Big Firms Seek Out Employment Law Partners in the Southeast,” the Daily Business Review (DBR) (part of Law.com) reported that Lewis Brisbois was one of the AmLaw 100 firms that recently “added employment law talent in the Southeast,” explaining that Mr. Howell focuses on general liability defense and commercial litigation, while Mr. Novell handles employment discrimination matters and wage and hour cases. The publication, which interviewed Tampa Managing Partner John Rine and Providence Managing Partner and Co-Chair of Lewis Brisbois’ Workers’ Compensation Practice Lauren Motola-Davis, further described that Messrs. Howell and Novell’s large books of business in the hospitality, service, and entertainment industries would allow the firm to expand in these areas.

Mr. Rine told DBR, “Both are established workers’ compensation attorneys with an active book of business and all of that business is staying with them,” adding, “We also see their book of business being a growth area for the firm. Nationwide, the firm has a strong workers’ compensation practice, so we look at it as a chance to grow in that area.” Similarly, Ms. Motola-Davis noted, “We regularly defend nationwide retail businesses, hotels, casinos, restaurants, grocery stores, universities and residential properties, and we have a need in Florida to service those clients who we service in other states.”

In addition to DBR’s coverage, the American Lawyer (part of Law.com) and Law360 also mentioned Messrs. Howell and Novell’s arrival at Lewis Brisbois in articles titled “Hire Up: SPAC Fever Is Driving Demand for Corporate Partners” and “Lewis Brisbois Adds 2 Partners In Tampa From Hinshaw,” respectively. The American Lawyer article describes how the pandemic has “fueled steady demand in labor and employment,” which has led to firms hiring attorneys who specialize in this area, while the Law360 article profiles the backgrounds and experience of of the new Tampa partners.

For more information on Messrs. Howell and Novell, see Lewis Brisbois’ recent press release here.