A former hiring partner and head of the Miami office health care litigation practice at DLA Piper in Miami has rejoined McDermott Will & Emery's Miami office.

Michael Austin worked at McDermott for over a decade and was a partner there when he left in 2012, along with current DLA Miami office managing partner and U.S. health care sector chair Joshua Kaye, two associates and an of counsel who were also part of McDermott's health care team. DLA established its Miami office in March 2011.

Austin returned to McDermott on Tuesday, saying the move would give him an opportunity to grow his practice. He said he maintained close friendships with Ira Coleman, who was elected chairman of McDermott last year, and Jerry Sokol who will be the managing partner of the Miami office. Both Coleman and Sokol's practices focus on health care law and corporate transactions.