Shumaker adds two new associates in Tampa office

Shumaker is expanding its Tampa office with the addition of two associates, a move that highlights both the depth of its national bench and the strength of Tampa Bay’s demand for legal talent.

As the region continues to attract corporate relocations, mergers and investment activity, law firms are positioning themselves to meet client needs with specialized expertise.

What happened

The firm welcomed Marisa A. Infante to the Corporate, Tax & Transactions Service Line. She advises on a range of corporate matters and brings a background outside the traditional path to law. Infante previously worked in archaeology, participating in excavations in Italy and Greece, which sharpened her analytical skills and attention to detail.

She also served as a Shumaker summer associate in 2024 and interned with Magistrate Judge Wilson in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

“I approach every matter with the same curiosity and precision that guided me in archaeology,” Infante said. “That perspective helps me see solutions others might overlook.”

Chase M. Robinson has joined the Litigation & Disputes Service Line, where he represents clients in arbitration and various disputes. While in law school, Robinson served as articles editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy, worked as a research assistant, taught criminal law and competed with, then later coached, his school’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Team.

“Litigation requires both strategy and stamina,” Robinson said. “I’m committed to working diligently to achieve the outcomes our clients need.”

What’s happening now

The additions come as Tampa Bay experiences rapid growth in sectors that drive corporate legal demand including healthcare, financial services, real estate and technology. Law firms have been expanding to support transactions, manage disputes and advise businesses navigating new regulatory challenges.

Shumaker’s Tampa bench also includes Bob Buckhorn, a former two-term mayor of Tampa who now serves as executive vice president and principal at Shumaker Advisors.

Buckhorn was recently recognized by TBBW with the 2025 ICON Award, honoring his leadership and impact on the region’s business and civic landscape.

Buckhorn, who led the city from 2011 to 2019 through post-recession recovery and record growth, has brought his civic leadership into the private sector. At Shumaker, he helps shape urban policy statewide and advises clients on navigating complex intersections between the public and private sectors.

“We went from being a city that exported its talent to one that now attracts the best and brightest,” Buckhorn said of his mayoral tenure. “That evolution, seeing Tampa believe in itself again, was my proudest moment.”

“Marisa and Chase embody the talent, drive and creativity that define Shumaker’s culture,” said Jaime Austrich, Tampa managing partner and member of the management committee. “As we continue to grow strategically across service lines, their addition strengthens our ability to deliver innovative and effective solutions for our clients.”

What this means for Tampa Bay

For the region’s business community, the hires signal more than internal growth at Shumaker.

They reflect a broader trend of professional service firms strengthening their presence in Tampa Bay to keep pace with the region’s expanding economy. Executives pursuing deals or resolving disputes now have access to a deeper pool of local talent with national experience.

Shumaker, with more than 300 attorneys and advisors nationwide, continues to scale its Tampa office in line with client needs. The arrival of Infante and Robinson underscores the firm’s commitment to serving a market where demand for specialized legal services shows no sign of slowing.