From Lawyer to Counselor: Building Trust with Credibility, Reliability and Connection
Of the many qualities that help young lawyers build a productive, fulfilling career, self-awareness ranks among the most important.
10 Years of Kirkland: A Bold Vision Transformed Texas Corporate Law and Generated Record Revenues and Profits
A decade later, Kirkland has 414 lawyers in Houston, Dallas and Austin. The firm last year made $200 million more than any law firm in Texas has ever made in one year. Through the eyes of those who were there at the beginning, this is the story of how Kirkland became the highest revenue generating and most profitable corporate law firm in Texas history. And firm leaders are promising they are not finished growing.
Corporate Law Firms Hired Record Number of Texas First-Years in 2023
The competition for first-year associates hit a fevered pitch 2023 as corporate law firms in Texas hired 503 brand new lawyers last fall to join their Texas offices — a 15 percent jump over 2022, according to exclusive new Texas Lawbook 50 data. Twenty-six law firms operating in Texas increased their hiring of new law school graduates in 2023, while 15 firms reduced their first-year hires and nine firms hired the same number in 2023 as they did the prior year.
Locke Lord in Merger Talks with Troutman Pepper
Both sides are confirming that Texas-based Locke Lord is in merger talks with the Georgia-founded firm. Texas Lawbook 50 research shows Locke Lord's revenues in Texas stayed flat in 2023, but profits per partner increased. An analyst says he sees growth in depth and breadth for both sides in the proposed merger. This isn't the first time Troutman has tried to break into Texas.
AI: What’s Real, What’s Next for Law Firms in Texas?
The Texas Lawbook spoke to a handful of law firm leaders about whether or how they’re using artificial intelligence technology internally and how they are advising clients on the use of the powerful tool. This week at the Northern District of Texas Bench Bar Conference, attendees will hear from federal judges and practitioners about the ethics of AI during a panel discussion moderated by U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod.
Texas Law Schools Rise and Fall in U.S. News’ 2024 Rankings
The 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools Rankings show Texas A&M, SMU and Baylor among those rising in the list, while Texas Tech and UH are with those sliding back.
A New Shift in Candidate Assessments
Recent trends show that firms are facing a new wave of lawyers doing more due diligence of firms prior to accepting (and even rejecting) offers. While law firms scrutinize resumes of potential candidates, they may themselves be subject to deeper review.
Susman Godfrey’s 2023: The Best Financial Year Ever for a Texas Law Firm
Susman Godfrey co-managing partner Vineet Bhatia told The Texas Lawbook that the Houston-based firm "had a pretty good year in 2023.” In fact, it was the single best financial year for any law firm's Texas operations in history. Texas Lawbook 50 data research shows that the 110 lawyers for Susman Godfrey in Texas doubled their revenue and nearly doubled their profits per partner over 2022. Keep in mind, 2022 was also a record financial year for the firm.
The firm's Texas lawyers scored some monumental courtroom victories — most of them coming with hefty contingency fee paydays. Bhatia called it "an alignment of the stars" and added, “We had a lot of happy partners.”
Three Partners Named to Lead Simpson Houston Office
There's a change coming in the Houston office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. The firm announced this morning that Houston managing partner David Lieberman is stepping down and will be succeeded by a trio of partners: Matthew Einbinder, Breen Haire and Christopher May.
Nelson Mullins Pulls from Five Firms for Houston Office Launch
The South Carolina-based law firm has recruited a total of 10 laterals from King & Spalding, Foley & Lardner, Frost Brown Todd, Hicks Thomas, and Platt Richmond.
Munsch Hardt Begins Transition to New CEO
The Dallas-based firm announced key leadership changes this week. Phil Appenzeller, the longest serving CEO in Munsch Hardt’s history, informed the firm of his decision to transition out of leadership at its annual management meeting at the end of January.
Paul Hastings Chair: ‘A Ton of Opportunity for Us in Texas’
As eight new corporate finance partners settle into their new Houston and Dallas digs at Paul Hastings this week, the law firm’s leader told The Texas Lawbook that “we are not going to stop there.”
“There are other practice areas we are exploring,” Paul Hastings chair Frank Lopez said in an interview. “There’s a ton of opportunity in Texas. Texas may be our No. 1 priority. It is fertile ground for us.” Just six months ago, Paul Hastings operated a sleepy Houston outpost of 22 lawyers. Since September 2023, however, the law firm has been on a hiring spree in Texas, nearly doubling their numbers in the state with lateral hires from Weil, Gotshal & Manges, Akin Gump and Vinson & Elkins. And firm leaders believe they could be at 60 lawyers in Texas by summer and possibly 100 attorneys within a year.