Clients are following the Kelly Kronenberg lawyers to Goldberg Segalla. Among them are major drug and convenience store chains CVS and Wawa, transportation companies, and the insured clients of insurance carriers such as Travelers and AIG, Mackinnon said in an interview.

"Generally speaking we're focused on defense of some sort of negligence claim, whether trucking, premise liability or product. We're defending companies, industries, and individuals," Mackinnon said.

He added that the continued population migration to Florida and the state's robust plaintiff's bar has contributed to the sustained growth of negligence claims. "The largest plaintiff's firm is located in central Florida; they drive the engine of the climate and culture surrounding many of these lawsuits," Mackinnon said. "Florida is just a booming state, and with that comes lawsuits."

He declined to name the plaintiff's firm, but Morgan & Morgan, which bills itself as the nation's largest plaintiffs law firm, is well known for its pursuit of personal injury and negligence claims.

Goldberg Segalla's Orlando office now has 12 attorneys, but Hanlon said its head count is likely to grow in 2021 and beyond. "These guys developed quite the reputation and are bringing over quite a bit of work with them. At the same time, we're busy as well," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we added another three to five lawyers down there in the near future."

Central Florida's thriving market means the firm could see 25 to 30 lawyers in Orlando in coming years, Hanlon said.

The group expects an even busier 2021 as courts reopen. "With the statewide stay on trials, there is a backlog of cases that have to be dealt with," Rigelsky said in an interview. "People denied their day in court are going to be seeking that. There will be a rush to the courthouses when they fully reopen. We're prepared for that and preparing our clients and cases accordingly."

Goldberg Segalla has made other attorney hires in its transportation practice in the last year, including in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland offices.

Mackinnon expressed reverence for Kelley Kronenberg but said he and Rigelsky, who joined Mackinnon's practice in 2018, wanted to expand to a national firm.

"I felt we'd reached a ceiling at our previous firm," he said. "We have a much broader reach now. I can join this firm and network with individuals such as Bobby [Hanlon] and his client base and attempt to expand our client pool for clients that may be looking for legal services in central and north Florida."

A representative for Kelly Kronenberg did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the departures.