Shearman & Sterling Opening Office in Dallas
The new outpost, which follows openings in Austin and Houston, is part of the firm's U.S. expansion.
Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

The new outpost, which follows openings in Austin and Houston, is part of the firm's U.S. expansion.
M&A activity was down, down, down around the world in January, but dealmaking involving Texas lawyers was up, up, up. Claire Poole reports on that plus last week’s M&A and capital markets activity.

Kirkland & Ellis, Vinson & Elkins and Latham & Watkins continue to top the Texas M&A charts, according to new data from Mergermarket. Despite a decline in dealmaking in 2019, a few firms showed a jump in the number of transactions they handled last year, including DLA Piper, Willkie Farr, Hunton AK and Holland & Knight.
The moves – one to another law firm and the other in-house – follow the firm’s global capital markets co-chairs departing for Winston & Strawn. Claire Poole has the story.
Bankruptcies in the oil and gas industry increased last year, especially in the fourth quarter, according to one report, and commodity prices may remain challenged despite recent geopolitical events. Claire Poole reports on that plus last week’s dealmaking slide.
The former capital markets co-chairs said in an interview they needed the Chicago firm’s platform to better serve their clients and “truly be on top.”
The total value of deals among companies in the Lone Star State dropped to the lowest level since 2013 and deal count slid as well, a phenomenon many blame on the sinking fortunes of the oil and gas industry.
The money continued to roll into private equity firms last year while Austin companies raised the most venture capital since 2000. Claire Poole delves into the data and discusses dealmaking last week among Texas attorneys.
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