Michael Strauch and Michael Taylor, Greenberg Traurig (L-to-R) Michael Strauch and Michael Taylor, Greenberg Traurig. |

Corporate partner Michael Taylor and litigator Michael Strauch have joined Greenberg Traurig as partners in Miami, bolstering an office that has seen several partner defections over the last year.

Taylor, who focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, corporate finance and corporate governance, comes from Holland & Knight, where he spent 13 years in the firm's corporate practice. Prior to that, he was an associate at Greenberg from 1997 to 2000.

Strauch, a trial lawyer, focuses his practice on commercial, finance, real estate and banking disputes. He joins from Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod.

“Taylor and Strauch are both strong examples of Greenberg Traurig's ability to attract talented lawyers, who demonstrate our commitment to client service, and our focus on excellence — all of which have been part of the firm's mission since its founding,” Yosbel Ibarra, co-managing partner of Greenberg's Miami office, said in a statement.

The most recent hires come as Greenberg looks to replenish its litigation and corporate practices, which have lost lawyers over the last few months. Earlier this month, the firm hired former Bilzin litigation chair Michael Kreitzer, who had been with Bilzin for more than 16 years.

Both of Greenberg's Miami corporate chairs — Lorne Cantor and Randy Bullard — left the firm in March and June, respectively. Bullard and three other partners left Greenberg to open Morrison & Foerster's Miami office. Cantor and M&A partner Evan Kanter left to Jones Day.

Greenberg's former global corporate chair Patricia Menendez-Cambo jumped to SoftBank, a Morrison & Foerster client, in April, where she serves as deputy counsel to the company's tech hub and Latin America Fund.

Also in March, three Greenberg Traurig litigation partners — Timothy Kolaya, Ian Ross and former Miami litigation chairman Adam Foslid — left the firm to join litigation boutique Stumphauzer & Sloman, now renamed Stumphauzer, Foslid, Sloman, Ross & Kolaya.

Two other Greenberg litigators, David Batista and Sara Levy, left the Fort Lauderdale office in February, jumping to Shutts & Bowen.

“As Miami grows there will be opportunities for some attorneys elsewhere,” Ibarra told the Daily Business Review. “The growth of the city has been incredible and with that, it puts us in a more competitive environment.”

And in the long run, that is good for the firm and good for Miami, he said.

“We continue to attract talent, as shown by the folks that have come along,” he said. “We look to make other announcements soon.”

Holland & Knight spokesperson Olivia Hoch said in a statement that Taylor was a valued partner at the firm for many years. “We wish him well in his new position,” she said.

Al Dotson, managing partner of Bilzin Sumberg, was not immediately available for comment.