"Over the last six months, we've continued to generate business on first-party property, large commercial claims, appellate matters, coverage issues and bad faith claims," Zelinger said.

Other insurance defense firms are reporting an uptick in certain types of work, too. For instance, disputes over coverage issues tied to the pandemic and natural disasters have led to hundreds of insurance coverage lawsuits.

But Zelinger said the new hires at Bressler weren't necessarily spurred by a pandemic-related increase in demand. Rather, with the time saved by not being in courtrooms or traveling to meet with the firm's national clientele, Zelinger and Krista Elsasser, the other defense group co-chair, were able to focus on developing new business, Zelinger added.

The practice group began in 2014 with just one attorney—Zelinger—and Monday's hires bring the group's head count to 30. Insurance defense is now the firm's second-largest practice group, Zelinger said.

Eight associates will work in Miami, and two will work at the firm's Fort Lauderdale office. Some incoming associates, such as former Perlman, Bajandas, Yevoli & Albright associate Lilian Rodriguez-Baz, will work exclusively on appellate matters, Zelinger said, while others will handle a mixture of day-to-day trial work.

Bressler Amery is expanding in other regions, too. This summer, the firm moved into Houston and Dallas by acquiring a litigation and arbitration firm, while also opening an office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Based in Florham Park, New Jersey, the firm also has offices in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C.; and New York.