Four Corporate Law Firms Bet on Texas… and Only on Texas

Gray Reed, Jackson Walker, Thompson & Knight and Winstead are ignoring the overwhelming trend to go national and are focused almost entirely on Texas. The strategy, they say, is good business, good for clients and good for the legal profession. Their success may come down to one question: Can they hire and retain talented lawyers in key practice areas who are satisfied making several hundred thousands dollars a year in compensation instead of millions of dollars a year?

May 4, 2018 Mark Curriden

Texas Legacy Firms Search for Growth – or At Least Stability

Amid all the fuss and flurry of national corporate law firms opening new offices in Texas and spate of major mergers, some simple facts are frequently overlooked.

May 4, 2018 Mark Curriden

Three Chicago Law Firms Serve Up Law in Texas Deep Dish Style

By Mark Curriden (May 2) – Kirkland & Ellis, Sidley Austin and Winston & Strawn waged a century-old battle to dominate the Chicago corporate legal community. Now, they are facing off in Texas. War chests have been opened. Firm leaders have nearly unlimited budgets. Multimillion-dollar, multi-year guarantees have been offered and big name lawyers jumped. And all three say they are just getting started. The big investment in Texas seems to be paying off.

May 2, 2018 Mark Curriden

Texas Legacy Firms Search for Growth – or At Least Stability

© 2018 The Texas Lawbook. By Mark Curriden (April 30) — Amid all the fuss and flurry of national corporate law firms opening new offices in Texas and spate of

April 30, 2018 Mark Curriden

Corporate Law Firms in Texas Made a Record $5.65B in 2017

The 50 largest corporate law firms operating in Texas employed the same number of lawyers in 2017 that they did in 2016, but they made a lot more money. Exclusive research by The Texas Lawbook examines the business of corporate law in Texas - from revenues and head count. Several law firms had the best year ever financially and others scrambled for survival. We have the data and it has a story to tell.

April 25, 2018 Mark Curriden

Sheppard Mullin Officially Opens Dallas Office

With 18 lawyers, including 10 partners culled from six law firms, Sheppard Mullin announced Monday that it is open for business on the 24th floor of Chase Tower in Dallas. The North Texas outpost is the 16th office for Los Angeles-based firm, which boasts 800-attorneys. The founding partners discuss their move and their future plans for growth in this Texas Lawbook article.

April 16, 2018 Mark Curriden

Exclusive: Litigation Boutique Pioneer Mike Gruber Joins Dorsey

Prominent litigator Mike Gruber has left the Dallas litigation firm that bears his name to join Dorsey & Whitney, a 106-year old Minnesota firm. The decision was hard, he says, but his reasoning is simple: “Its hard to compete against these national law firms." Mark Curriden has the story.

April 16, 2018 Mark Curriden

DLA Piper’s Big Texas Play

The firm has been on a lateral hiring spree during the past year that has increased its lawyer headcount in the state by 50 percent.

April 10, 2018 Mark Curriden

Strasburger Finally Announces Merger: Third Involving a Major Texas Firm this Month

The firm will operate in Texas as Clark Strasburger, but as Clark Hill everywhere else.

April 10, 2018 Mark Curriden

Holly O’Neil & How the Gardere—Foley Merger Went Down

From the day Holly O’Neil took over as the chair of Gardere Wynne Sewell in June 2013, she faced one mountain of a task: save the 109-year-old Texas law firm.

April 4, 2018 Mark Curriden

From High Heels to High Success: Estes Thorne & Carr Turns 10

Estes said she anticipates the firm to grow even more in the next decade – particularly with Big Law continuing its exponential growth in Dallas

April 3, 2018 Natalie Posgate

Texas Lawbook Exclusive: Gardere and Foley Reach Merger Agreement

The move had been anticipated for months, but an agreement has finally been reached. Dallas-based Gardere Wynne Sewell is combining with Milwaukee’s Foley & Lardner, effective April 1. The new firm will be known as Foley Gardere in Texas. The combined firm, with 1,100 lawyers, 24 offices and revenues of $850 million, will rank among the AmLaw 50. The Texas Lawbook has exclusive details on Gardere’s search for a national partner, Foley’s big Texas gambit, and in-depth interviews with the top lawyers at both firms.

March 29, 2018 Mark Curriden