Dave Felman, Shareholder, Hill Ward Henderson

July 2026 — Invest: spoke with Dave Felman, shareholder of Hill Ward Henderson, about the firm’s recent growth, Tampa’s increasingly competitive legal landscape, and the opportunities emerging in the region. “In the last few years, we have really graduated to a different level in terms of the number of transactions here and the money being invested. It is an exciting time for Tampa,” Felman said.

How did the past year unfold for the firm in Tampa?

I do mergers and acquisitions work, and we have been very active in the market. There has been a heavy round of mergers and acquisitions, both in Tampa and sometimes in transactions in other parts of the country. We have been involved in several deals in the $500 million range.

I have been in Tampa for quite a while, and in the last few years, we have really graduated to a different level in terms of the number of transactions here and the money being invested. It is an exciting time for Tampa.

2025 was also a year of recovery from hurricanes. Fortunately, we did not have any hurricanes this past year, so it was a good year in that regard. But in the fall of 2024, we had several hurricanes here. As a result, through the spring, summer, and this past fall, we saw a lot of building around Tampa, a lot of houses being knocked down, new construction going up, and houses made more resilient in case we have future storms. Tampa has shown a lot of resilience in the last year in recovering from those storms.

What recent initiatives or notable developments at the firm are you most excited about, and what impact are they having on your clients?

We have had a real initiative to hire a lot of good young people. I think we have hired five or six people just in our group, and 10 or 15 new lawyers throughout the rest of the firm, which for our firm, which has 125 lawyers overall, that is a lot of people..

That is also our main opportunity. We have a good amount of business, so we want to bring in skilled, younger people who are looking for an opportunity in Tampa Bay. For example, we have added people from New York, Chicago, and other parts of the country who are attracted to Tampa because of the lifestyle here. It is a very nice place to live and work, and we think we offer a pretty good opportunity at our firm.

The key to our business is to have the best possible people doing the work, and then to keep them happy, to keep them on board and working for our firm.

What trends are you seeing in the legal and business landscape in Tampa Bay, and how are you adapting your strategy?

Tampa Bay used to be isolated. We were kind of on an island down here. We did not have competition, for example, from Atlanta, Miami, Jacksonville, and other places like New York. But increasingly, we are playing in their sandbox, so we need to be competitive with firms that have offices here.

There are New York- and Chicago-based firms here, among others, so Tampa is competing at a different level. It is a good thing. We have the opportunity to participate in a lot of things nationally, but we also need to be at our best so that we can compete with the best from around the country.

There is also a lot of discussion about AI and how that might impact our business. We are seeing some of that, but it has not dramatically affected our business so far.

From the client perspective, what are the most pressing challenges facing your clients and the legal industry today?

We represent a lot of companies that are being sold. Those companies are very focused on getting through a sale process without losing value. The due diligence process is pretty difficult now. Getting from signing a letter of intent all the way through to a closing means being prepared for a transaction is especially important.

Continuing to get financing is another challenge. Some companies are able to raise a first round of financing, but they have to use the money well to continue to build their company and get to their next round.

We also have some software clients, and they have been hit by concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on their business. Some of them have lost value because of concerns that they might be replaced in the marketplace. None of these businesses can sit quietly. They have to be working all the time to be at their best.

Where do you see the greatest opportunities emerging?

The opportunities are in technology and excellence. There are several companies here in Tampa — ReliaQuest is one of them, and A-LIGN — that have been very successful in the cyber field. They have developed cutting-edge technology, they have very strong marketing, and they have developed a national presence.

That whole area of artificial intelligence, efficiency, and cost reduction is an area of opportunity. Another area that people are talking about a lot is defense. Unfortunately, we have a lot of unrest in the world now, so there is real interest in developing drone technology and other defense technologies, and some of those companies are based here.

People like the tax environment here. They like the fact that we have a good climate all year round, we are on the water, and we have pretty good sports teams. We also have the University of Tampa and other good universities here. 

How is your firm engaging with the Tampa Bay community?

This year marks a special milestone for us—40 years of serving our clients and the Tampa Bay community. That local connection is something we truly value. Last year alone, we supported more than 100 charitable organizations, which reflects how strongly we believe in giving back to the place we call home. For us, it’s not just about financial support. Our attorneys are actively involved across the community, serving on boards and committees and sharing their time and expertise with local nonprofits, civic and Bar initiatives.

Personally, I do some volunteer activities at one of the schools, where I help teach kids how to play chess. I am also involved at Embarc Collective, which is an incubator platform for about 120 new companies. 

Looking ahead to the next two to three years, what are your key goals and priorities for the firm?

Over the next two to three years, our focus is on building thoughtfully and sustainably. We’ve had strong momentum in bringing in new clients, and we plan to continue that trajectory by deepening relationships and delivering consistent value.

At the same time, we’re investing in our future by recruiting and developing talented young professionals who can grow with the firm and contribute fresh perspectives. That’s a major priority for us.

We’re also entering an exciting phase of expansion. We’ll be taking over additional space in our building, which means a significant construction effort over the next six to twelve months. While that will come with some challenges, it ultimately positions us for long-term growth and better service for our clients.

Overall, it’s a period of growth, investment, and laying the groundwork for the next chapter of the firm.