Fowler White Burnett has added five lawyers in Miami and Fort Lauderdale as the firm marks its 75th anniversary this year.

Fowler White recruited intellectual property shareholder Joseph Englander in its Miami office, and the firm added four associates in its maritime and insurance practices: Simon Garcia, Kristine DeSoiza, Lindsay West and Priscilla Zaldivar.

Managing partner Christopher Knight said the firm had been looking for an all-around IP lawyer to work with its IP team, which numbers seven lawyers, including litigators who handle general commercial litigation as well.

“Joe brings an established name and will be able to work well with our other IP people, including the litigators,” Knight said.

The roughly 90-lawyer firm is “well-balanced,” Knight said, with its practices split between about one-third transactional work; one-third tort-related, ranging from aviation to marine to mass tort cases; and one-third commercial litigation. In addition to longstanding corporate clients, he added, Fowler White has many family clients who are in their third or fourth generation as clients.

“I think the reason we've been around 85 years is we've always believed in conservative growth,” Knight said, adding that the new recruits are in response to client demand.

Englander, who joined from Miami IP boutique Peretz Chesal & Herrmann and also spent almost eight years at Shutts & Bowen, handles patent, trademark and copyright prosecution. He also represents both companies and individuals in IP transactions and disputes.

The four associate additions will help the firm keep pace with activity in its maritime and insurance practices, Knight said, noting that Fowler White has the oldest maritime practice in South Florida.

“In the insurance group, we're seeing increased business on the cargo side, and also with private yachts, environmental and the cruise line side,” Knight said. “Hopefully this means our maritime business is doing well here in Florida.”

Garcia, an associate, joined the maritime and insurance practices in Miami from litigation defense firm Cole, Scott & Kissane. He is a 2015 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law.

The other three associates, all in the insurance practice, are in Fowler White's Fort Lauderdale office. West, like Garcia, came from Cole, Scott & Kissane. DeSoiza joined from insurance defense firm BeharBehar after earning her J.D. in 2017 from Nova Southeastern University. Zaldivar joined from Halpern Rodriguez and is a 2014 graduate of St. Thomas University School of Law.