The Texas Lawbook

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Firm Management

From Boom with Little Hiring To Boom with a Lot More Hiring

From 2010 to 2018, the Texas economy boomed and dozens of national law firms opened offices in the state. But the total number of corporate lawyers working at the firms stayed flat. In 2019, that changed. The 50 largest corporate firms in Texas have grown lawyer count in record numbers the past four years, including in 2022. While Big Law has returned to pre-pandemic scrutiny of underperforming attorneys, most of the larger firms are still planning for record-sized summer associate classes and fall hiring of first-year lawyers.

Richard Alm & Mark Curriden

In Texas, Firms Add Corporate Lawyers at Near-Record Pace

The 50 largest corporate law firms operating in Texas continued to add new lawyers at a near-record pace in 2022, according to the new Texas Lawbook 50 headcount rankings. The top 50 firms now employ nearly 8,000 lawyers in their Texas offices. The only year when the 50 law firms added more attorneys was 2021. More than two-thirds of law firms grew their lawyer headcount in 2022. The out-of-state firms expanded the most, especially firms founded in California. Three perennial top Lawbook 50 firms dropped off the list, replaced by firms growing faster. There are now only 20 Texas-based firms in the top 50.

Richard Alm & Mark Curriden

The Big Three in Texas: Different Journeys, Different Results, Still Big


For half of a century, the Big Three dominated Big Law in Texas like GM, Ford and Chrysler ruled Detroit. Every Texas law school graduate wanted to work at Baker Botts, Fulbright & Jaworski or Vinson & Elkins. Rookie lawyers hired by the Big Three retired there. Two-dozen years ago, the Big Three had roughly the same number of lawyers and nearly identical revenues in their home state. Each faced monumental headwinds and threats to their very existence.

The Big Three survived, though they look a lot differently today than they did in 1998. Baker Botts, Norton Rose Fulbright and V&E remain among the Texas Lawbook 50's top five largest law firms, though the gap between them in revenues and profits is widening.

Mark Curriden

Susman Godfrey Turns 40, ‘Far and Away Our Best Year Ever’

When trial lawyer Steve Susman died unexpectedly in 2020, legal industry insiders wondered what would become of the firm he founded four decades ago. The verdict is in.

“We had a record year in revenues and profits in 2022,” Susman Godfrey co-managing partner Vineet Bhatia told The Texas Lawbook in an exclusive interview. “2022 was far and away our best year ever.”

Susman Godfrey does not release annual law firm financials. An analysis by The Texas Lawbook shows, however, that the firm has nearly 200 lawyers – 105 of them in Texas – and ranks in the top five in RPL and PEP. The Lawbook has the exclusive details.

Mark Curriden

Q&A on the Importance of Women Mentoring Women

As we commemorate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, two women lawyers in the Austin office of Vinson & Elkins — Marisa Secco Giles and Michelle Arishita — agreed to discuss the importance of women mentoring women from the perspective of both the mentor and the mentee. They share what qualities they think are most important in a mentor, the best advice they have received and how strong mentoring relationships help with the retention of female lawyers.

Brooks Igo

Senior Exxon Mobil Counsel’s Move to Gibson Dunn is ‘Very Personal’

Exxon Mobil assistant general counsel David Woodcock has departed the energy giant to join the Dallas office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as the firm’s SEC enforcement practice co-head. The move surprised many within the legal department at Exxon Mobil because Woodcock, who was a past regional director of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Fort Worth office, was viewed as a likely candidate to be the company’s next chief legal officer.

Mark Curriden

The Gifts of Mentorship

For Mentorship Month, Greenberg Traurig attorneys Lindsey Groos, who is a mid-level associate, and Lou Ann Brunenn, a shareholder, share perspectives from both sides of the mentee-mentor relationship.

Lou Ann Brunenn & Lindsey Groos

WFH to LAW: Gray Reed’s Renovated Houston Office Aims to Feel Like Home

Coming off a record year in 2021 in which it generated $112.5 million in revenues, the 150-lawyer firm partnered with the architectural and design firm Abel Design Group for a yearlong project to create a “next generation space” at Four Oaks Place in the Galleria, where the firm has been headquartered since 1998. The 61,600 square foot modernized space features more inviting gathering spaces, including a wine lounge and fireplace, and improved technological capabilities.

Gray Reed Chief Operating Officer Mark Gargiulo said the revamped office even coined a new phrase. "Over the last couple of years, everyone has most certainly become familiar with WFH or Work From Home. However, our space has generated questions about how one might Live At Work, ironically abbreviated LAW."

Brooks Igo

Texas Law Firms Predict 2022 Revenues, Profits Will Hit Record Highs

Boosted by a huge burst in complex commercial litigation in 2022, many of the largest corporate law firms operating in Texas predict they scored another record year of revenues and profits, according to a new survey of law firm leaders by The Texas Lawbook. The new survey, which also looks at revenues from firms' 2022 litigation and M&A practices in Texas, builds on other recent evidence of the successful year for corporate law firms in 2022, including rates of promotion to partner and year-end bonuses for associates. In addition, several law firm leaders openly declare their firms experienced record revenues and profits in 2022. The Texas Lawbook has exclusive details.

Richard Alm & Mark Curriden

Lessons for Lawyer Leaders from Henry Kissinger 

“Study history. Study history. In history lie all secrets of statecraft.”

That was the response Henry Kissinger recalls Winston Churchill giving a student who asked how best to prepare for the challenges of leadership. This advice is especially useful for lawyers in the 21st century.

Talmage Boston

Litigation Firms Saw ‘Incredibly Busy’ 2022 – Big Associate Bonuses and Promotions to Partner

If 2021 was the year of the corporate M&A lawyer in Texas, this year has been equally good for attorneys who specialize in complex commercial litigation. After being closed for two years due to Covid-19, Texas courthouses reopened in 2022 and many litigation firms experienced record numbers of trials, depositions and courtroom battles. The result, according to experts, is that Houston and Dallas litigation boutiques large and small are projecting record revenues, profits and associate bonuses for 2022. The Texas Lawbook looks at four trial firms as examples.

Mark Curriden

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