Baker Botts Makes Restructuring, Environmental Adds

With an expectation of more bankruptcy filings in the Southern District of Texas and an increased focus on environmental matters by the Biden Administration, Baker Botts has made two partner hires this month.The firm has added David Eastlake from Greenberg Traurig to its restructuring practice in Houston and Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, a former high-ranking Environmental Protection Agency official, to the firm’s litigation department in D.C.David EastlakeEastlake said he wasn’t looking to make a move before accepting an invitation for a virtual coffee meeting with Baker Botts. The Houston native said he was very familiar with the firm and had worked across Manny Grillo and others.“Baker Botts has a lot of room for growth in its restructuring practice nationally and especially locally with the Southern District of Texas,” said Eastlake, who is the firm’s only restructuring partner based in Houston. “There are tons of opportunities to get involved in all of the work going to the Southern District.”Eastlake started his career in New York and handled most of his matters in the Southern District of New York and Delaware, the epicenter of restructuring activity at the time. He credits Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones and Judge Marvin Isgur for transforming…