Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
The 55-lawyer Dallas-based law firm announced a combination with three-lawyer Orange County firm Stephens Friedland on Monday. FBFK CEO Kyle Ferguson said the firm has been eyeing expansion efforts in the region for several years. It is the firm’s first office outside of Texas.
Joe Redden rang in the new year as a retiree, marking the end of a 48-year legal career. In 1992, Redden cofounded the boutique trial and appellate law firm in Houston.
Thirty-five law firms have announced their promotions to partner for the 2023-24 season — 15 promoted more than last year, 13 promoted fewer and seven exactly the same number. So far, the 35 firms have promoted 99 associates or of counsel to equity and non-equity partner — down from 113 a year ago.
This is a searchable list of the Texas lawyers promoted to partner for the 2024 class. It is updated as additional firms announce their promotions.
The three Texas law firms added their names to the growing list of corporate law practices that are increasing associate compensation and handing out big year-end bonuses.
Christmas came in late November for non-partner lawyers at Vinson & Elkins. In an email Thursday to the firm’s associates, V&E announced it is paying them annual bonuses ranging from $15,000 to $115,000 and increasing their compensation between $10,000 and $20,000 per year. First-year associates will now make $225,000 and eighth-year associates will see their annual comp top $550,000 with the bonus.
In February 2018, the global law firm White & Case opened its Houston office with four lawyers, no associates, no support staff and sublet space in Two Allen Center. The goal, firm leaders announced at the time, was to grow the office to 50 attorneys. Nearly six years later, White & Case now has more than 100 attorneys in its Houston office and occupies three floors in 609 Main Street. The firm has seen revenues double over two years and expects even more growth ahead.
Mike Lynn left the comforts of national corporate firm Akin Gump in 1993 to start a trial-focused shop with two other lawyers. They used a wooden door on cement blocks as a desk. The paralegal was also the office manager, who worked at a table in the hallway. Thirty years later, Lynn Pinker is one of the largest and most prominent litigation boutiques in Texas, boasting 47 lawyers and blue-chip clients such as IBM, Energy Transfer, Neiman Marcus and Xerox — and even a Saudi prince. In three decades, the firm’s lawyers have scored multiple nine-digit courtroom victories for plaintiffs and defendants.
“This is a story that could only happen in Texas,” said Lynn, who is now 73. The stories of nearly all law firms are defined by critical or business-threatening events, enormous courtroom victories, lawyers joining and leaving and strategic decisions on practice groups or business sector focuses. Almost all successful firms in Texas have stories that revolve around one or two legal stars — be they Leon Jaworski or Steve Susman, John Zavitsanos or David Beck, Mike McKool or Paul Yetter. Lynn Pinker is no exception.
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