Holland & Knight partner Wifredo Ferrer has been named executive partner of the law firm's Miami office, replacing Kelly-Ann Cartwright, who has been kicked upstairs to chair the firm's directors committee.

Ferrer, a former U.S. attorney in Miami, takes over the day-to-day management of the firm's Miami office with 260 attorneys and staff while retaining his white-collar defense, corporate compliance and internal investigations practice.

After leading federal prosecutions in the Southern District of Florida for nearly seven years, Ferrer joined the law firm in 2017 and leads its global compliance and investigations team. He previously served as deputy chief of staff and counsel to then-U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

Cartwright, a labor and employment litigator, led the office for 12 years. She took over leadership of the firm's directors committee last year.

Cartwright “led the Miami office through a long period of sustained growth and success,” Holland & Knight managing partner Steven Sonberg said in a statement. Ferrer “has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues and inspires the best in everyone. I'm confident he will accomplish great things for the office and the firm.”

The firm also announced the hiring of mergers and acquisitions and private equity lawyer Kevin Christmas in its Charlotte, North Carolina, office from Troutman Sanders. He concentrates his practice on M&A, private equity transactions, investment services and general corporate advisory work.

After working for years with Holland & Knight attorneys, Christmas said, “Ultimately they convinced me this was the best place for me and my clients.”

Holland & Knight has more than 1,300 lawyers and other professionals in 28 offices. The firm ranks 42nd on the Am Law 100 lists of major law firms by revenue.