Two months after being elected mayor of Dallas, Eric Johnson has moved his public finance practice to Locke Lord, the law firm announced on Monday.
Johnson served nine years in the Texas House of Representatives prior to becoming Dallas’ second African American mayor in June. He was elected by his colleagues in the House to serve as the chairman of the Dallas delegation to the Texas Legislature from 2017-2019.
Locke Lord is Johnson’s third law firm in the last six years. He practiced at Andrews Kurth Kenyon before joining Orrick with five other public finance attorneys in March 2018.
“I have long respected Locke Lord, its lawyers, its public finance practice, and its deep ties to the Dallas community,” Johnson said in a statement. “I’m excited to be joining such a venerated law firm. I can’t think of a better situation — working for the people of my hometown as their mayor, and practicing law with some of the most talented lawyers in the world.
“I’m also looking forward to working closely with firm leadership to further enhance the firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.”
Johnson, who has earned degrees form Harvard, Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania, also directed comments to Dallas citizens who may be wary that his law practice will distract him from public service.
“My duties as mayor will always come first,” he added. “As a practicing lawyer in my early 40s, however, it is also important that I maintain my law license and continue to practice law as time allows.”
In addition to his roles as mayor of Dallas and partner at Locke Lord, Johnson is the regional chairman of the Princeton Prize in Race Relations and a board member of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Locke Lord leaders praised Johnson’s résumé and roots.
“Mayor Johnson is very well regarded within the business community in North Texas and throughout the state, is a Dallas native, and has been practicing law in Dallas for over 15 years, bringing to the firm a depth of experience in the public finance industry,” Locke Lord Chair David Taylor said in a statement. “We are honored someone of his caliber and background who shares our firm’s core values is now a partner.”