Last year, South Florida saw Big Law arrive in its biggest wave yet, as many longtime Florida lawyers have characterized it, and that has had an apparent trickle-down effect for smaller firms already established in the growing market.

Although the arrivals have made competition for talent tighter, law firms in a variety of different practice areas have also seen more work come their way. Whether in financial services, investigations or litigation, local lawyers have welcomed a surge of incoming activity in practices across the board. Migration of new businesses and residents has driven much of the acceleration, but Big Law’s enhanced presence has also spurred more work for the smaller firms in town, thanks in part to a higher volume of referrals.