Ken Wiggins, Santiago J. Assalini and Sam Ramos, a Miami M&A team, join Orrick as founding partners of the firm’s new Miami office. The team arrives from Akerman, where Ken served as the co-head of the firm’s M&A and private equity practice.
Ken, Santi and Sam are counselors to public and private companies and private equity funds, including those focused on tech and E&I.
The Miami office is positioned to serve Miami’s growing tech and innovation ecosystem and the most disruptive verticals such as AI, fintech, cryptocurrency, healthtech and energytech. Orrick venture capital partner Andrew Erskine is also joining the office and members of the firm’s venture capital practice will spend time there. In addition, five Orrick lawyers will join the office.
The office is located in The Annex at 215 NW 24th Street in the Wynwood section of Miami, the heart of South Florida’s tech community. It’s the firm’s fifth East Coast office and brings the firm’s five-year East Coast growth to 25%.
“South Florida is a magnet for top innovators, companies and funds in the four sectors we are focused on: Tech, Energy & Infrastructure, Finance and Life Sciences,” said Orrick Chair Mitch Zuklie.
“We’re incredibly excited to enter the Miami market following the model that has driven our success in Santa Monica, Boston, Texas and elsewhere: hiring top local talent that connects with Orrick’s strengths and sector focus globally. With Ken, Santi and Sam, we are adding a stellar team of builders to continue our growth, while we help connect South Florida’s sophisticated and fast-maturing private equity, financial services and tech and innovation community to markets worldwide.”
“The South Florida market is undergoing a moment of transformation, with a large influx of PE funds and other companies, and we are excited about the opportunity to serve them from an innovative global platform like Orrick’s,” Ken said. “As a leader in tech and AI, energy, finance and life sciences, Orrick is built to serve this market. We are thrilled for the opportunity to be co-founders and to build something truly special together.”
In 1H 2025, Orrick ranked top 5 globally for both M&A deal volume (LSEG) and buyouts by deal volume (Mergermarket). The firm has also ranked top 5 for VC financings globally since 2018 (PitchBook).
Ken Wiggins - Ken is an advisor to public and private companies and private equity funds. He draws on his 20+ years of experience to advise on a variety of corporate transactions, including M&A, private equity and leveraged buyouts, venture and growth investments, and recapitalizations. Previously the co-head of Akerman’s M&A and private equity group since 2022, Ken is recognized as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500 and a Rising Star for M&A by International Financial Law Review.
Santiago J. Assalini - Santi represents public and private companies and private equity funds in M&A, complex corporate transactions and general corporate matters. He also counsels clients on corporate governance and financial services. Santi began his career at Willkie Farr in New York.
“Orrick has a real focus on the innovative lawyering of the future, in both their advice and their service delivery, and we’re thrilled to bring that to the Miami market,” Santi said.
Sam Ramos - Sam represents public and private companies and private equity funds in a variety of corporate matters, including acquisitions, divestitures, strategic investments and corporate governance. Sam began his career at Skadden, Arps in New York.
“We are impressed by the way the Orrick team talks about collaboration – and what they have built because of that culture. We’re greatly looking forward to working with our new colleagues across the U.S. and globally,” Sam said.
This news story was originally published on the firm’s website.