Akerman is expanding its professional liability practice and litigation group with the addition of West Palm Beach's Ackerman Law Group, including founder David Ackerman and five other attorneys.

The Ackerman team joins Akerman's litigation practice group to represent clients facing legal malpractice claims and ethics violations.

Ackerman joins as a partner March 1 when the firm moves across the courtyard to Akerman's office in the same complex. The other new arrivals are special counsel Kristen McKeever and associates Eleni Howard, Raul Novoa, Jessica Rosenthal and Christine Gardner, who focus on professional liability and business defense.

Ackerman “is widely known by both the bench and the bar as a compelling advocate, who has skillfully defended countless firms in high-stakes malpractice claims,” said group chair Lawrence Rochefort. “His strong reputation in professional liability and commercial litigation makes him an important addition to our trial team and will bring immediate value to our clients nationwide.”

Ackerman, who is board-certified in business litigation, defends law firms in professional malpractice and legal ethics actions and handles a variety of commercial litigation including class actions. He was previously with Ackerman Link & Sartory in West Palm Beach.

He served on the Judicial Nominating Commissions for the Fourth District Court of Appeal and Palm Beach Circuit Court. He is a former president of the Palm Beach chapter of the Federal Bar Association, has chaired Florida Bar business law section committees and has been recognized for his professionalism.

“Having the infrastructure of a national law firm like Akerman offers our clients diverse legal knowledge and experience, heightened security for law firm and business clients, as well as greater predictability and efficiency for their business needs,” Ackerman said. “My decision is really about the future of the practice of law and my team.”

He acknowledges a career of name confusion, with people mixing up the Akerman and Ackerman names. “We're just going to have to live with it,” he said.

Other recent litigation additions by Akerman include state Senate President Joe Negron from Gunster as of counsel in the West Palm Beach office, IP litigation partner Kanika Corley in Los Angeles from Sedgwick and environmental litigation partner Michael Dillon in New York from Norton Rose Fulbright.

With more than 650 lawyers and business professionals, Akerman is ranked 76th on the Am Law 100 list with $349 million in 2016 revenue.