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GCs, Lawyers & Firms

Texas Boutique Firm’s Westward Expansion Fueled by Dynamic Middle Market

In January, FBFK Law Firm announced its expansion into California by merging with Orange County litigation firm Stephens Friedland, aiming to address the needs of a robust entrepreneurial region. The integration has already increased FBFK’s headcount by more than 30 percent, as the firm announced the addition of 12 new attorneys across various practice areas last week. 

CEO Kyle Ferguson chatted with The Texas Lawbook about how the merger is going, what lies ahead and why he’s positioning FBFK as a complement to Big Law rather than a competitor.

Akin Partners Elect New Firmwide Co-Chairs

Akin Gump, a 900-attorney corporate law firm founded in Dallas in 1945 by Robert Strauss and Richard Gump, announced Tuesday that it has elected a partner in New York and a partner in London to take over the firm’s leadership in 2025.

Foley Adds Trio of Texas Talent

The firm’s recent hires of Trey McDonald and James McFall from Jackson Walker and former Houston City Council member Ronald Green enhance its capabilities in sports and entertainment and public finance, in particular.

Paul Hastings Continues Its Texas Expansion

Paul Hastings announced Tuesday that Vinson & Elkins litigation partner Manuel Berrelez has joined the firm’s Dallas office as a partner. Since September, Paul Hastings has more than doubled its presence in Texas — growing from about two dozen lawyers to about 65, including eight corporate finance partners from V&E who joined in March. At the same time, the firm officially announced that it had opened an office in Dallas.

Exxon Mobil Names Former Fox Lawyer as New GC

Following its pattern of promoting former top federal prosecutors and regulators to leading corporate positions, Exxon Mobil announced Wednesday that former Fox Corporation general counsel and former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeff Taylor, will be the energy giant’s next top lawyer. Exxon Mobil announced Wednesday that Craig Morford, also a former federal prosecutor who has been the company’s general counsel since 2020, will retire on July 1 and that Taylor will be his replacement.

Gotta Move On: Polsinelli Expands to Fort Worth

Kansas City-based Polsinelli announced Wednesday it has opened its third office in Texas in ‘Funkytown’ with a group of four transactional lawyers. Firm leaders say Fort Worth is a right fit for the Midwest firm.

The Corner Office: Q&A with Paul Genender

In this Q&A, Genender, who chairs the firm’s Texas commercial litigation practice and co-chairs its Dallas and Houston offices, describes why the move has been even better than imagined and shares what career fulfillment means to him and why he is proud to be a lawyer. Plus, with Game 3 of the NBA Finals tipping off in Dallas on Wednesday, Genender offers a basketball analogy for being in the office.

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