Akerman has announced the hiring of former federal public defender Sowmya Bharathi to the Am Law 100 firm's Fort Lauderdale office. Bharathi joins as a partner and first-chair trial lawyer, focusing on civil and commercial litigation.

Prior to joining Akerman in late December, Bharathi worked as a supervisory assistant federal public defender in the federal public defender's office of the Southern District of Florida. Over a 15-year career, Bharathi tried 24 federal cases to a jury verdict and represented high-profile defendants ranging from pharmaceutical CEOs to alleged terrorist sympathizers.