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Law Firm To Split Practice Group

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By RICHARD MULLINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 14, 2008

TAMPA - Fowler White Boggs Banker, one of the larger Tampa-based law firms, will break off one of its legal practice groups into a separate firm this autumn, according to its senior partner.

The group that is breaking off generally works in the area of defending insurance companies from medical malpractice, workers' compensation and product-liability lawsuits, said Rhea F. Law, chairman of the board and chief executive of Fowler White.

"When we're in a slower market like we are, this is the time to restructure for optimal growth later," Law said. "By separating these two groups, it really allows them each to focus on their core competency."

In most cases, that type of insurance defense work can bring a law firm a great number of individual cases but comparatively lower profit margins than more sophisticated work, such as mergers and acquisitions or securities law.

Across Florida, the 65-year-old firm employs about 200 lawyers in seven offices, including about 120 in the Tampa Bay area.

Many of the details of the split are yet to be worked out, Law said, including how many people will stay with Fowler White and how many will go to the new firm, and what the new firm will be called.

One detail is relatively certain, she said. The split will be effective Nov. 1. On Wednesday, she informed employees of the plan. For the time being, the new firm will sublet space from Fowler White in the Wachovia building in downtown Tampa.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at rmullins@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7919.

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