Christopher Duke, Office Managing Partner, Akerman LLP

In an interview with Invest:, Christopher Duke, office managing partner at Akerman LLP, said that Palm Beach County is undergoing rapid economic and demographic transformation, fueled by an influx of capital, talent, and corporate investment. “The skyline has changed dramatically in just the past five years, and what’s planned for the next five will reshape the region even more.”

What significant changes have affected Akerman over the past year, particularly in the Palm Beach market, and in what ways have they had an impact?
The biggest change, of course, came with the pandemic, the lockdown, and the resulting shift to hybrid and remote work. We’ve had to find a balance — not only internally with our lawyers, paralegals, and staff — but also in how we engage with the broader community. This includes court hearings, depositions, meetings, and closings. Adjusting to a world where in-person interactions aren’t always required has been transformative. Today, it’s entirely possible to handle a litigation case from start to finish without ever meeting the opposing counsel or the judge in person, which was unimaginable before the pandemic. That’s probably been the most substantial professional shift.
Additionally, we can’t deny the emergence of Artificial Intelligence. We’re just at the beginning of understanding its impact. I think we’ve opened a Pandora’s box, not just in the legal field but across industries — manufacturing, hospitality, business, you name it. When we look back 10 years from now, I believe we’ll recognize this as a defining moment.

How is Akerman leveraging AI in its legal practices, whether for internal purposes, with clients, or in handling cases?
The short answer is: very carefully. AI is certainly a powerful tool, but it can also pose serious risks. There have already been cases where attorneys used AI to draft motions or briefs, only to discover later that the cited cases either didn’t exist or don’t support the intended arguments. That’s obviously unacceptable, as we’re bound by ethical rules and must always present accurate information to the court.
At Akerman, we’ve adopted formal AI guidelines and use a vetted platform designed specifically for law firms. Before any attorney at the firm can use the tool, they must complete training that covers the benefits and potential pitfalls of AI. The goal is to maintain uniformity, compliance, and ethical integrity.
Personally, I use AI more as a sounding board. If I’m exploring a legal theory or defense, I’ll use AI to ensure I haven’t missed anything. It can help highlight perspectives I may not have considered. But it’s crucial not to rely on it for the heavy lifting without verifying the accuracy of the results.

What trends or market dynamics are shaping the landscape?
I think they echo what you heard from participants in last year’s report — only more so. Palm Beach County is currently one of the fastest-growing economic hubs in the United States. The pandemic showed people they could work from anywhere, which triggered a major migration, particularly from the Northeast and financial sectors like hedge funds and banking. As these industries establish a presence here, they bring with them a wave of related legal work — real estate, regulatory, tax, and employment, which is my field.
I’ve lived in Palm Beach County nearly my entire life, and I’ve never seen this level of growth. The skyline has changed dramatically in just the past five years, and what’s planned for the next five will reshape the region even more. With that, of course, come challenges: transportation, schools, hospitals, affordable housing. We need to be mindful of how we address those as the region continues to expand.

What industries or practice areas are driving growth, demand, and profitability for Akerman in Palm Beach?
Corporate law, especially mergers and acquisitions, is driving a lot of growth, and that, in turn, fuels demand in real estate and construction. Healthcare is also booming. We’ve seen major providers like NYU Langone and Cleveland Clinic establish facilities here, which has significantly increased healthcare-related legal work.
Transportation is another growing area. As the population increases, issues like mass transit and green transit solutions are becoming more urgent. Those in infrastructure law will be busy for years to come.
In labor and employment, we tend to be somewhat recession-proof. When the economy is down, clients need help with layoffs, reductions in force, and compliance. When things are booming, they need assistance with hiring and scaling up. So we’re always active.
Environmental law is becoming increasingly important, too. With so much development underway, there’s a real need to ensure that growth is sustainable.

What are some of the most common legal disputes or consultation requests you’re seeing from clients in the Palm Beach area?
We handle a lot of litigation for our large banking clients, and we have a strong group of employment lawyers here in the West Palm Beach office. We serve not just local clients but regional, national, and even international ones, like Univision.
With the population and economy growing, employment issues are on the rise. We also do substantial healthcare work, helping providers and hospitals navigate regulatory challenges.
Nationally, Akerman has about 700 lawyers and focuses on midmarket corporate work. We’re an AmLaw 100 firm — not in the Top 10 or 20 in size, but we specialize in areas like mergers, acquisitions, and corporate structuring. That aligns well with the type of growth happening in Palm Beach right now.

Are there any legal or regulatory changes you’re monitoring that could affect how you support your clients in Palm Beach?
We’re especially monitoring employment law, where things can change rapidly. One major issue is restrictive covenants and non-compete agreements. Last year, the FTC tried to ban non-competes nationwide, but that was challenged and halted. However, Florida is moving forward with its own legislation — the Choice Act — which introduces a new statutory framework for non-competes.
We’re also keeping an eye on rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court that can have downstream effects. Just recently, they upheld certain state-level bans on transgender care for minors. Those decisions impact all of us, even at the local level.
Immigration is another huge area. It’s constantly evolving, sometimes by the hour. Our firm has a dedicated immigration group, mostly based in Miami, and they’re very busy responding to federal enforcement trends. People are looking to us for clarity and guidance in a highly uncertain environment.

Internally, how does Akerman attract and retain top legal talent?
Everyone says their firm has a unique culture, but in our case, it’s true. When I joined 16 years ago, we had about 300 attorneys. Now we’re over 700, with offices in major cities like New York, Chicago, DC, LA, and Houston.
Our growth has been client-driven. We open offices where our clients need us, not just where it might be profitable. For example, we’ve recently expanded into Charlotte and Winston-Salem. As soon as we establish an office, we add high-quality people who fit our culture.
What sets us apart is our collaborative, respectful environment. When I joined, I was “Chris Duke, employment lawyer in West Palm Beach.” Now, I’m just “Chris Duke, employment lawyer.” I work daily with colleagues across the country — DC, LA, New York. Geography doesn’t define us, our work does.
We’re also very selective. We turn away more people than we hire. It’s not just about qualifications, it’s about whether they’ll fit in. We’ve had people join who didn’t mesh well, and they didn’t last. We protect our culture fiercely.
We also invest heavily in new hires. Our Lateral Integration Committee ensures that every new partner gets the support they need—regular check-ins, conflict clearance assistance, workflow guidance, everything. People coming from larger firms are often surprised at how supported they feel here. We want them to succeed, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes business sense.