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Firm Management

Overcoming Pandemic Fears, Firms Grew Texas Revenues

One year ago, corporate law firms in Texas feared financial disaster as they faced the Covid-19 shutdowns. Instead, three-fourths of The Texas Lawbook 50 largest law firms operating in Texas had higher revenues in 2020 than in 2019. Two-thirds posted record revenues, including several based in Texas. Six law firms grew their Texas revenues by 30% or more. The new data shows Texas businesses facing crises relied on their lawyers more in 2020 than ever before.

Richard Alm & Mark Curriden

In a ‘Watershed Event,’ a New No. 1 in Texas Revenue

For the first time in decades Baker, Botts, Fulbright, Vinson and Elkins are not in the name of the top revenue generating corporate law firm in Texas. Vilified and envied for their aggressive recruiting practices and phenomenal growth, a non-Texas-based law firm increased revenues by 35% and headcount by 22% in 2020, conquering the top spot in The Texas Lawbook 50, our annual ranking of corporate law’s Texas revenues. How did they do it? It is all in the numbers. The Texas Lawbook has the in-depth report.

Richard Alm & Mark Curriden

Houston Business Immigration Firm Expands to Dallas

The largest business immigration law firm in Texas is expanding into Dallas-Fort Worth. Houston-based Foster LLP announced Thursday that it has acquired Elise Healy + Associates, which also specializes in representing large and mid-sized companies in a host of immigration-related employment matters.

Mark Curriden

Pandemic Hampered Hiring in 2020, Texas Lawyer Headcount Flat

The top 50 corporate law firms operating in Texas added an average of one lawyer per firm in 2020. Firms now flush with business are worried about overworking their lawyers and are keen to hire new lawyers in 2021, but the talent just isn't available. Of course, even one new face is more than most industry insiders anticipated a year ago as the Covid-19 pandemic and sinking oil prices plunged the economy into recession. The Texas Lawbook has the data and an in-depth report.

Richard Alm & Mark Curriden

Lateral Hiring Fell in 2020 – You Can Probably Guess Why

Exclusive new data shows that the pandemic put a deep chill on the overheated Texas lateral market last year. Not only did firms stop recruiting, but lawyers stopped answering. But analysis shows it didn't solve the long-term core problem: too much demand for too little talent in Texas. The result: $250,000 signing bonuses. The game of musical chairs is back.

Richard Alm & Mark Curriden

Vinson & Elkins Taps New Leadership

The 104-year-old legacy Texas firm has selected a successor to Mark Kelly – along with three other new leaders.

Keith Fullenweider, the son of a lawyer and a teacher and a veteran of V&E's M&A practice will begin his new role Jan. 1. He becomes the third Houston partner in a row tapped to lead the legendary firm.

Anna Butler

The Greenberg Traurig RV Tour Stops in Texas

The two top leaders at Miami-based Greenberg traveled 2,140 miles this month in a rented RV to visit the firm's offices in Florida, Georgia and Texas. They listened to Jerry Jeff Walker and stopped often at Buc-ees and Love's. All to visit the family and keep Austin weird.

Mark Curriden

First Texan and First Latina to Take Global Law Firm Helm

For the first time in history, a Texan is set next year to become the top managing lawyer of a 2,000-attorney global law firm based outside of the Lone Star State. And she’s a woman and Hispanic. Dallas trial lawyer Yvette Ostolaza, a three-decade veteran of the Texas business law community, will become chair of Sidley Austin's managing committee in 2022. The Texas Lawbook takes an in-depth look at Ostolaza's path from a Cuban-immigrant neighborhood in Miami to almost deciding against going to college to leading a corporate law firm that made $2.4 billion in 2020.

Mark Curriden

Kirkland Officially Opens in Austin

Seven years ago this month, Kirkland & Ellis opened its first Texas office in Houston with a handful of lawyers. Today, the world’s largest law firm by revenues now has 290 lawyers operating in Texas and that number is about to grow. In fact, Kirkland has more offices in Texas than any other state.

Mark Curriden

‘You should start a woman-owned law firm’

More than a dozen years ago, Kimberly Phillips, now GC of litigation at Shell Oil, told Dawn Estes she needed to create her own legal practice. Today, Estes Thorne & Carr is one of the largest women-owned corporate law firms in Texas. How did Estes build such a successful firm in a male-dominated legal world? The Texas Lawbook has the story. “I don't know when Dawn sleeps,” Golds Gym GC Shelby Angel said. “She's extremely responsive and attentive to client needs.”

Nushin Huq

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