Becoming a lawyer was about the furthest thing from a young Dylan B. Russell’s mind when he was a budding saxophone player at the University of Texas in the 1990s.
Russell recalled seeing a fellow student studying in the music building for the law school entrance exam and thinking, “That’s weird.”
Turns out, there’s a similarity between the solitude that comes with practicing music and law, Russell, now a notable trial and appellate lawyer, discovered.
“Even though, obviously, the subject matter is completely different, the fact that you know how to focus — deep concentration — and perform in front of people, those are skills that translate,” Russell said. “But instead of communicating with an instrument, you’re communicating with words.”
Russell, who joined Sorrels Law as a partner this week, spoke with The Texas Lawbook about his career path.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance, Russell toured the country in the 1990s with the Austin-based cover band Duck Soup, performing alongside stars like Glen Campbell, Darius Rucker and Alice Cooper. He even played at George W. Bush’s last gubernatorial inauguration in 1999.
But the band let Russell go after he told them he’d have to miss a Saturday gig to take the LSAT. At 26, Russell went to law school at South Texas College of Law Houston. As he began his career, Russell said he wanted to be a trial lawyer.
His first job out of law school was at Hoover Slovacek in Houston. He worked there until January 2008, when he moved to Fritz, Byrne, Head & Harrison. But in July of the same year, Russell said he called his former boss and went back to Hoover Slovacek, where he stayed until his move to Sorrels.
At Hoover Slovacek, Russell said his practice was mostly in general business, commercial litigation and real estate disputes. He’d find himself on both the plaintiffs and defense side. About 75 percent of his practice was spent on appellate work, with the remaining 25 percent on trials, he said.
Russell has delivered the oral arguments in almost 30 appellate cases. He’s argued five times before the Supreme Court of Texas and five times to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He had five petitions for review granted by the Texas Supreme Court in the 2022-2023 term alone, he said.
At some point, he found himself desiring something different.
“Even just changing the subject matter, sometimes, can be a refreshing change,” Russell said.
Russell and co-founding firm partner Randy Sorrels have known each other for many years and worked together as board directors of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists.
Russell said he reached out to Sorrels, and Sorrels said the firm’s needs “matched what he had to offer.” The timing was “perfect,” Sorrels told The Lawbook.
“Dylan Russell brings a blend of trial and appellate expertise rarely seen,” Sorrels said. “Numerous oral arguments to the Supreme Court of Texas and Fifth Circuit, numerous successful trial verdicts and a work ethic that won’t be outdone is something every major trial firm in Texas is looking for.”
Sorrels Law has recently had rapid growth. In the last two years, the plaintiffs firm added 12 lawyers, bringing the total number of lawyers to 21, Sorrels said. The firm has gone from having two partners — Sorrels and wife Alexandra Farias-Sorrels — to nine; five women and four men, Sorrels added.
Russell said his practice at Sorrels will likely be more trial heavy, though he plans to continue working on appeals. And as is the nature of Sorrels Law, he’ll be a plaintiff’s lawyer more than he was in his prior firm, although he’s brought some of his longtime cases with him to Sorrels Law, in which he is on the defense side.
“I’d kind of like the opportunity to do more arguing, whether that’s in front of a judge or a jury in trial court cases,” Russell said.