Late last month, Tampa Bay midsize firm Trenam Law elevated its largest class of shareholders in at least four years by adding five attorneys to the partnership. On the heels of a "fortunate" year, the roughly 83 firm's business transactions and real estate practices gained two shareholders each, while litigation added one.

"We've had other years where we've had three or four, but five is a good number, especially for them to be coming in as new shareholders," managing shareholder Marie Tomassi said in an interview. "When you bring in a 20-year lateral they're going to come in as shareholder; it's exciting but different from somebody moving up the skills and experience ladder."