Interview: Douglas Wright

Committed

Regional dynamism and area’s phenomenal growth in population and economic diversity are among leading attractors

Douglas Wright Operations & Finance Partner – Holland & Knight

What factors encouraged the firm to make such a commitment to the Tampa Bay region? Tampa Bay, like all of Florida, has experienced phenomenal growth. It is a dynamic region with great educational institutions, including the University of South Florida, the University of Tampa, Stetson University, Florida Polytechnic University, and St. Leo University. People are attracted to this area by the relatively low cost of living and the great quality of life the region offers. The influx of people in turn provides us with a deep local talent pool. The growth of sectors like financial services, IT, and healthcare have contributed both to the region’s economy and to the success of our firm in this region.

What are the operational strengths of the Tampa Bay oce? The law office has well-respected lawyers in the corporate, litigation, real estate, tax, and private wealth services areas. The firm’s long-standing reputation for providing the highest quality legal services is a decided advantage in this market. That said, we have a flexible approach to work distribution and always seek to find the best-qualified lawyer from across our office network to serve our clients. The centralization of the support functions in one location improves our efficiency and effectiveness. Further, the operations center has an open-plan seating design that encourages interaction and collaboration for our staff.

What challenges does the firm face in its Tampa Bay operations? The growth of technology has had a dramatic impact on the legal sector over the past 10 years. We expect this trend to continue with artificial intelligence performing more and more tasks that were previously carried out by professionals. Clearly, lawyers will still be important, but their roles will be slightly

different under the new business model. This shift will have an impact on our operational model because we will need more technology specialists and project managers to support the evolving needs of our clients. The challenge is to find the right balance between working as efficiently as possible today, and simultaneously preparing ourselves for tomorrow.

What is your outlook for Tampa’s legal sector in 2020? I don’t see any signs to suggest that a recession is imminent. This bullish view is reflected in the firm’s regional growth plans. During Q120, for example, we will expand a portion of our current operations function. We also are in discussions with other lawyers in Tampa about joining the firm.

Marie Tomassi President & Managing Shareholder – Trenam Law

I am a strong believer that diversity in leadership in all fields is healthy. This generally provides positive forward momentum for every business because it opens the realm of thinking and ways to approach issues. Whether these are day-to-day decisions, longterm planning or anything in between, we all have our own views and thoughts on how to approach things. The variety of ideas that emerge when you promote any diverse candidate can be extremely useful for a business. When a business publicizes or recognizes it on a public forum, that reminds other businesses and institutions, where diversity might not be top of mind, that this is going on in the community and that they should be more intentional in their e™orts to promote diversity.

( ) Current landscape drugs and to mitigate the confusion that can result Some important new laws went into effect in 2020, from doctors’ notoriously inscrutable penmanship. including updates to laws pertaining to cellphone use There are exceptions carved out for extenuating while driving, with so much as holding a phone now circumstances, such as an electrical failure, to ensure prohibited in school zones and active work zones, that people aren’t left without reasonable access to regardless of what you’re doing with it, though handstheir prescriptions in these cases. The state has also free use is still permitted. In raised its minimum wage – not to addition, texting and driving has now been made a primary Florida needs the often-cited $15 per hour, but to $8.56 per hour ($5.54 for tipped offense, with first-time violators subject to a $30 fine plus court to implement laws employees), or a 10-cent increase over 2019’s minimum wage. costs, and a $60 fine and three to ensure that There were also some important points on your license if you’re caught texting in a school or drivers are doing developments in the ongoing body of state law addressing work zone. “Florida has been significantly behind the rest of what they should medical marijuana and its nexus with federal drug laws. First, the country in limiting texting be doing. U.S. District Court Judge Robert and driving. In fact as of July 1, Hinkle threw out Louis Del Favero Florida legislation finally made Marc Matthews, Orchids Inc. (Louis Del Favero)’s texting and driving a primary Matthews Injury Law claim that Florida Department offense, where in other states of Health officials violated the this has been a primary offense for at least 10 years,” firm’s constitutional rights by denying it a potentially said Marc Matthews, managing partner at Matthews lucrative medical marijuana license under the Florida Injury Law, in an interview with Invest:. “Florida needs law that legalized medical marijuana in 2016. The to implement laws to ensure that drivers are doing judge based his ruling on the fact that marijuana, what they should be doing to make the roads as safe though legal for medical use in Florida, is still illegal as possible, especially for the safety of pedestrians, under federal law, and therefore Louis Del Favero is bicyclists and other vehicles.” not entitled to due process protection under the 14th Florida has also made an important change to the law amendment to the constitution in relation to a license governing prescriptions, and now requires healthcare to dispense medical marijuana. According to Judge providers to send all prescriptions electronically in Hinkle, if marijuana was not federally prohibited, order to better track the distribution of prescription then Louis Del Favero would have a potential claim