Philadelphia-founded Am Law 100 firm Duane Morris has promoted employment attorney Kevin Vance to managing partner of its 11-lawyer Boca Raton office, the firm announced Thursday.

In an interview, Vance said the firm's decision to appoint a dedicated Boca Raton office managing partner underscores its commitment to growth in Palm Beach County.

"We want to expand in Miami and Boca Raton," said Vance, who joined the office in 2010. "Specifically in Boca because there's a lot of business activity in Boca and in Palm Beach County in general."

The office consists of attorneys who practice employment law, immigration, estate planning, corporate law, and intellectual property. It also houses life sciences and medical technologies practice leaders Driscoll Ugarte and Patrick Gallagher; a firm press release stated Ugarte would take on a larger role in marketing and recruiting in South Florida.

"Driscoll has established a good corporate practice focusing on health care and life sciences industries," Vance said. "There's a lot of potential for that in Palm Beach County with startups and so forth."

Such startups will also benefit the office's IP lawyers, many of whom also need immigration counsel, said Vance.

"A lot of businesses are moving to South Florida and particularly Palm Beach County," he said. "So small, startup technology businesses are really what we're looking at as potential growth opportunities."

Vance succeeds managing partner Harvey Gurland, who managed both the Boca Raton office and the 35-lawyer Miami office since 2011. Gurland will continue managing the Miami office.

Reprinted with permission from Daily Business Review, © ALM Media Properties LLC. All rights reserved.