Medical malpractice litigator Kevin O'Connor succeeded Virginia Easley Johnson as managing partner of Foley & Mansfield's nine-attorney Miami office.

O'Connor's promotion coincides with the appointment of Tampa Bay construction defect litigator B. Kyle Morley as head of the St. Petersburg office following Johnson's retirement as Florida managing partner.

O'Connor expects to spend 15 percent to 20 percent of his time on administrative work.

"We have a very strong infrastructure within the firm, so we have the benefit of many, many support people in Minnesota and some of our other offices," he said in a telephone interview. "I've a very hard act to follow with a very supportive and understanding group of people, so it's all good."

O'Connor, a member of the Florida Bar since 1976, joined the firm in 2009 and was named an equity partner in 2016.

The primary group in Miami consists of five medical malpractice attorneys handling Florida cases, and O'Connor has seen the practice evolve over time from medical mediation panels in the 1970s to pre-suit investigations and damage caps on awards for pain and suffering.

Asked about changes in juries during his career, O'Connor focused on questions of liability and damages.

"If I had to look at it from a broad perspective, they tend to be very conservative when it comes to finding liability," he said. " But if they do find problems with the care, they tend to issue higher awards."

O'Connor expects to maintain the firm's Miami office pretty much as is.

" I like the size we're at now. Fortunately we're very busy, but I don't see a need at this point to expand," he said.

Johnson opened the Miami office in 2003, was the firm's first female managing partner and served on its executive committee. She organized the firm's annual pro bono service trip, which helped communities in 10 countries.

"She has left an indelible mark on our firm. Her ability to motivate, mentor and develop a new generation of lawyers is perhaps her greatest strength," founding partner and managing partner Kyle B. Mansfield said in a statement. "She will be missed, but her legacy will live on through others."

The midsize law firm has more than 170 litigation and transactions attorneys in 11 offices nationally.