Adams and Reese LLP announced it has joined forces with Tampa, Fla.-based Cotney Construction Law LLP, a full-service legal and consulting firm serving the construction and infrastructure industries, according to its website.

A total of 16 attorneys from the Cotney firm will join Adams and Reese's current roster of 58 construction attorneys and takes the group to 75, making it one of the largest construction practices in the country.

"Our construction practice is a driver for the firm, and client needs are fueling its growth. Our strategic plan calls for doubling down on existing areas of strength," said Gif Thornton, managing partner of Adams and Reese. "Trent and the Cotney team are national leaders in the construction law space, and their capabilities complement ours. This combination moves us toward dominance nationally and in the Southeast in particular, coinciding with the economic growth in the region."

The combination strengthens Adams and Reese's capabilities in high-stakes commercial disputes and transactions. The combined practice now boasts eight Florida Bar board-certified construction lawyers, as well as two Florida-certified general contractors.

"We are excited about this opportunity to add our already deep bench to a national firm like Adams and Reese, whose resources and platform will take us to the next level," said Trent Cotney, who served as CEO of his firm and now becomes a partner at Adams and Reese. "As advocates for construction clients in the U.S. and around the world, our combined team has a deep understanding of what we must bring to bear when providing the most comprehensive counsel to our clients, and we can better meet their needs through our collective strengths. Our team shares Adams and Reese's forward-thinking vision and commitment to diversity, which will exponentially grow our combined capabilities."

The complete list of attorneys joining Adams and Reese today includes:

  • Trent Cotney
  • Tray Batcher
  • Benjamin Briggs
  • Christie Coston
  • Jacqueline Feliciano
  • Roscoe Green
  • Brian Lambert
  • Benjamin Lute
  • Steven McCommon
  • Hilary Morgan
  • Brian Oblow
  • Gabriel Pinilla
  • Mason Pokorny
  • Ashlee Poplin
  • Kyle Rea
  • Lee Tomlinson

The team joining Adams and Reese brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in serving publicly traded companies, private businesses and individuals in transactions and disputes nationally and internationally. Their singular focus is meeting an array of legal, business and consulting needs in the construction space, as evidenced by national rankings by Chambers USA, Construction Executive, Construction Tech Review, Finance Monthly, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report, among others.

The new team of attorneys relocates to Adams and Reese's downtown Tampa office, located at 100 N. Tampa Street, Suite 4000.

"Every major city nationwide is seeing dramatic changes to its skyline, and the country is ripe with new construction and infrastructure projects that require the experience of trained construction lawyers," said David Toney, leader of Adams and Reese's Construction Team and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. "This combination gives us the horsepower to respond to that need both now and into the future."

Jeffrey Brooks, chair of the Executive Committee at Adams and Reese, said as the complexity of business challenges increases in response to a more interconnected global economy, clients are seeking advice at national and international levels.

"The successful combination with Cotney will serve as a platform for our continued growth, as well as an exemplar of the partnership we seek in that mission,” Brooks said.