Hill Ward Henderson
Hill Ward Henderson is a privately held, full-service Tampa, Florida law firm founded in 1986 with over 100 attorneys, serving corporate, high-net-worth, and real estate clients across M&A, litigation, real estate, employment, IP, and trusts and estates practices from offices in Tampa and Clearwater.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersTampa, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Hill Ward Henderson does
Hill Ward Henderson is a privately held, full-service law firm founded in 1986 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida. The firm employs over 100 attorneys across two Tampa Bay offices (Tampa headquarters and a Clearwater office opened in 2013) and serves corporate and business clients, high-net-worth individuals, and real estate developers across local, regional, and national markets. Its practice portfolio spans corporate transactions and M&A, commercial litigation, real estate development and litigation, employment law, employee benefits and executive compensation, intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets), securities and corporate governance, tax, trusts and estates, bankruptcy, franchising, automotive industry counsel, and venture capital and emerging companies. The firm is notably positioned in the automotive retail and insurance distribution sectors, advising on transactions such as Asbury Automotive's acquisitions of Larry H. Miller Dealerships and Park Place, and Baldwin Risk Partners' roll-up of insurance agencies.
The firm generates revenue through traditional professional services billing arrangements, including hourly rates, fixed fees for specific matters, contingency fees for certain litigation, and retainer arrangements for ongoing client relationships. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated individually based on matter complexity, attorney time, and scope of services. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales through direct attorney-client engagement from its two offices, supplemented by content marketing via a comprehensive newsroom (insights, events, client advisories, publications) and organic social media presence on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram. Practice group leaders drive client development through industry events such as ACG Tampa Bay Deal Table discussions. The firm has been recognized consistently in Chambers USA from 2018 through 2026, with 57 attorneys named to the 2026 Florida Super Lawyers list, and is ranked #1 in Tampa for Real Estate and Employee Benefits by Best Lawyers in America.
The firm's strategic posture reflects steady, organic scaling rather than transformative moves. Recent activity has centered on attorney hiring (multiple additions in 2022, 2024, and 2025), four new shareholder elections in 2024 to deepen equity succession, and targeted practice area expansions including the Trusts & Estates group. The firm has no disclosed external investors, no funding rounds, and no announced acquisitions or mergers. There is no evidence of AI/ML capabilities, proprietary technology products, or software offerings; the firm operates as a traditional human-expertise professional services platform.
Hill Ward Henderson firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hill Ward Henderson
- Legal name
- Hill Ward Henderson
- Website
- https://hwhlaw.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Hill Ward Henderson is a privately held, full-service Tampa, Florida law firm founded in 1986 with over 100 attorneys, serving corporate, high-net-worth, and real estate clients across M&A, litigation, real estate, employment, IP, and trusts and estates practices from offices in Tampa and Clearwater.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hill Ward Henderson industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (541110)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)
Keywords
Where Hill Ward Henderson is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tampa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Hill Ward Henderson business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Legal Services: Professional legal services billed on hourly rates, fixed fees for specific matters, contingency fees for certain litigation matters, and retainer arrangements for ongoing client relationships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional legal services billed hourly |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Hill Ward Henderson product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hill Ward Henderson is a full-service law firm providing comprehensive legal services across more than 30 practice areas and industry groups, including corporate and tax, mergers and acquisitions, commercial litigation, real estate, employment law, employee benefits, intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets), technology transactions, trusts and estates, and administrative and regulatory compliance. With over 100 attorneys in Tampa and Clearwater, the firm delivers integrated counsel to corporate and individual clients on transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters.
Product overview
Hill Ward Henderson is a full-service law firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of legal services rather than a unified software product. The firm operates as a platform of practice areas spanning Corporate & Tax, Litigation, Real Estate, Employment Law, Intellectual Property & Technology, and Trusts & Estates. With over 100 attorneys across Tampa and Clearwater offices, the firm provides integrated legal counsel drawing on multiple practice specialties. Key offerings include M&A and venture capital services, commercial litigation, automotive industry counsel, employment law, real estate development and litigation, patent and trademark prosecution, employee benefits, and bankruptcy representation. The firm's interdisciplinary approach allows clients to access coordinated expertise across transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters from a single firm.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Real Estate Law Full-service real estate legal counsel covering acquisition and development, finance, commercial leasing, zoning and land use, construction and design, entity formation and tax structuring, and property tax litigation for developers, lenders, investors, and property owners.
- Commercial Litigation Business tort and commercial dispute resolution including antitrust, contract disputes, employment litigation, insurance coverage, intellectual property, mass torts, products liability, professional liability, and securities matters for corporate clients.
- Employment Law Employment law representation covering federal and state employment statutes, arbitration, EEOC matters, wage-hour compliance, employment contracts, non-compete agreements, and trade secrets for employers.
- Real Property Litigation Litigation for real estate disputes including annexation, boundary disputes, commercial landlord/tenant issues, condemnation, foreclosure, title issues, and zoning matters.
- Bankruptcy Litigation and Settlement Debtor-creditor and insolvency representation including business reorganizations, liquidations, avoidance litigation, lender liability, and creditor-related disputes in state and federal courts.
- Automotive Liability Litigation Products liability defense for automobile manufacturers, component suppliers, heavy duty truck manufacturers, bus manufacturers, and recreational vehicle manufacturers.
- Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Legal services for employee benefit and executive compensation plans including equity compensation, fiduciary advice, ERISA matters, and representation before federal agencies.
- Automotive Industry Counsel Counsel for automotive industry clients including acquisitions, divestitures, real estate matters, land use, joint ventures, securities compliance, tax strategies, and regulatory compliance.
- Venture Capital and Emerging Companies Venture capital and growth equity representation for startups, institutional investors, strategic investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals on investments and business needs.
- Property Tax Litigation Ad valorem tax representation including assessment appeals, exemption challenges, administrative appeals through Value Adjustment Boards, and judicial challenges in circuit court.
- Automotive Dealership Compliance Compliance assistance for dealerships regarding sales, finance and insurance, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and federal and state requirements, including training and litigation defense.
- Automotive Corporate and Tax Corporate and tax counsel for automotive industry acquisitions, divestitures, financings, joint ventures, and capital raises including transfer of control transactions.
- Land Use and Development Rights Land use counsel for developers and owners including DRI formation, CDD management, comprehensive plan amendments, rezoning, variance requests, impact fees, and environmental permitting.
- Administrative and Regulatory Compliance Administrative and regulatory compliance counsel working with federal, state, and local government entities on legislative compliance and client interests.
- Tax Tax practice covering business entity formation, cost basis reporting, equity compensation, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, opportunity zones, real estate tax, and tax controversies.
- Securities and Corporate Governance Securities and corporate governance counsel for public and private companies on federal and state securities regulation, public offerings, private placements, and SEC compliance.
- Mergers and Acquisitions M&A counsel for stock and asset sales, private equity transactions, leveraged buyouts, tender offers, and auction processes drawing on corporate, securities, tax, and real estate expertise.
- Intellectual Property Litigation Enforcement of intellectual property rights including trademark, trade dress, copyright, patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and false advertising litigation.
- Trusts and Estates Trusts and estates services including estate planning, probate and trust administration, family business succession planning, charitable gift planning, and fiduciary litigation.
- Joint Ventures and Partnerships Joint venture structuring for real estate, healthcare, technology, product development, services, and research and development ventures.
- Franchising Franchise and distribution services including structuring programs, disclosure documents, state registration, compliance, terminations, transfers, and litigation.
- Trademark Law Trademark registration, management, and enforcement including clearance searches, USPTO prosecution, domestic and foreign portfolio management, and licensing agreements.
- Trade Secrets Trade secret protection including audits, confidentiality agreements, and misappropriation litigation under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
- Technology Transactions Technology transaction counsel including due diligence, IP evaluation, and structuring for mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and venture capital investments.
- Software and Technology Software and technology legal services including development, cloud computing, open source, e-commerce, hosting, domain names, and IT contract negotiations.
- Patents Patent services including searches, opinions, drafting, prosecution, portfolio management, infringement analysis, and validity opinions across software, biotech, medical devices, and mechanical areas.
- Patent Post-Grant Proceedings Post-grant patent proceedings including inter partes review, post-grant review, covered business method review, and ex parte reexaminations under the America Invents Act.
- Patent Litigation Patent litigation in federal district courts across computer technology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electronics, and mechanical fields.
- Licensing Agreements Licensing agreement services including negotiation, drafting, and review for patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and know-how commercialization.
- Copyrights Copyright protection for works of authorship including digital assets, music, software, architectural designs, books, and photography with registration and enforcement services.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 completed M&A transactions totaling over $2 billion in deal value over five years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Hill Ward Henderson
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hill Ward Henderson technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hill Ward Henderson partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Association for Corporate Growth Tampa BayminorEvent hosting partnership for ACG Tampa Bay Deal Table: CEO Stories Over Breakfast discussion series featuring Gregory Celestan, CEO of Celestar Corporation.
- Trial.com NetworkminorAffiliation with Network of Trial Law Firms for referral and professional networking purposes.
- Business CounselminorAffiliation with Business Counsel organization for professional resources and referrals.
- Lawyers for Civil JusticeminorAffiliation with Lawyers for Civil Justice, a coalition focused on tort reform and litigation policy.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hill Ward Henderson competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Akerman LLP: Florida-headquartered full-service law firm with comparable practice breadth (corporate, litigation, real estate, employment, IP) and a similar mid-market to enterprise client mix. Most directly comparable regional competitor.
- Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. Tampa-based full-service commercial law firm with comparable practice areas including corporate, real estate, employment, and litigation, serving similar Florida-based business clients.
- Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. Florida-based full-service law firm with similar regional focus, serving comparable business clients across corporate, real estate, litigation, and government law practices.
- Shutts & Bowen LLP: Florida-based full-service law firm with offices across the state, offering comparable corporate, real estate, litigation, and employment services to similar enterprise and mid-market clients.
- Carlton Fields, P.A. Florida-based full-service law firm with similar mid-market and enterprise client mix, offering comparable corporate, real estate, IP, and litigation capabilities across the state.
- Trenam Law: Tampa-based full-service law firm with overlapping practice areas (corporate, real estate, litigation, employment) and a similar middle-market and enterprise client base in the Tampa Bay region.
Broad incumbents
- Foley & Lardner LLP: Full-service law firm with significant Florida presence and overlapping practice areas including corporate/M&A, IP, health law, and real estate. Comparable industry vertical alignment but broader national footprint.
- Holland & Knight LLP: One of the largest U.S. law firms, founded in Florida, offering the same broad full-service capabilities as Hill Ward Henderson but with materially greater scale, geographic reach, and cross-border resources.
- Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP: National full-service law firm with a meaningful Florida presence and overlapping practice areas (corporate, real estate, IP, employment), competing for similar mid-market and enterprise clients with broader geographic reach.
- Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Major Florida-founded full-service firm with deep corporate, real estate, litigation, and IP practices. Larger and more geographically diversified than Hill Ward Henderson, but competes for the same Florida enterprise and mid-market clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hill Ward Henderson social profiles
Digital presenceHill Ward Henderson financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hill Ward Henderson leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Hill Ward Henderson funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hill Ward Henderson M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hill Ward Henderson
What does Hill Ward Henderson do?
Hill Ward Henderson is a full-service law firm providing comprehensive legal services across more than 30 practice areas and industry groups, including corporate and tax, mergers and acquisitions, commercial litigation, real estate, employment law, employee benefits, intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets), technology transactions, trusts and estates, and administrative and regulatory compliance. With over 100 attorneys in Tampa and Clearwater, the firm delivers integrated counsel to corporate and individual clients on transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters.
Is Hill Ward Henderson a public or private company?
Hill Ward Henderson is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Hill Ward Henderson founded?
Hill Ward Henderson was founded in 1986. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Hill Ward Henderson based?
Hill Ward Henderson is headquartered in Tampa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hill Ward Henderson make money?
One revenue line is on record: legal Services.
Who are Hill Ward Henderson's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Akerman LLP, Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A., Shutts & Bowen LLP, Carlton Fields, P.A. and Trenam Law. Broad incumbents are Foley & Lardner LLP, Holland & Knight LLP, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A..
Does Hill Ward Henderson have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hill Ward Henderson.
What industry is Hill Ward Henderson in?
Hill Ward Henderson's product category is Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAK, Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law. Its NAICS code is 541110 and its SIC code is 8111.