A move talked about for two years, Polsinelli announced Wednesday the opening of a Fort Worth office with a group of four attorneys.
The lateral group, which represents family offices and private equity firms on transactional and real estate matters, is led by Zachary Garsek and includes counsel Elizabeth D. Hatch and associates Corinne Alley and Natalie Edwards, all from local firm Commercial Law Advisors.
Brian Bullard, who serves as the all-office managing partner of Polsinelli as well as its Dallas partner-in-charge, said Fort Worth is a strong cultural fit for the Kansas City-based firm. He believes they can become the dominant national firm there.
“Our goal is not to service Fort Worth out of Dallas. It is Fort Worth for the sake of Fort Worth,” Bullard, who grew up in Cowtown, said.
“Zach is the perfect anchor partner to lead that Fort Worth strategy.”
Though Fort Worth boasts Texas Christian University and a number of prominent family offices and private equity firms, Bullard believes the market is still underserved. Then there is the ascendant Texas A&M University School of Law, a strategic consideration for Polsinelli.
Bullard pointed out that the associates joining, Alley and Edwards, are Texas A&M law graduates. He said Garsek and healthcare M&A co-chair Jon Henderson, also a Fort Worth native, have strong ties to the law school and they want to strengthen that relationship.
The new Polsinelli attorneys have advised on deals across a myriad of sectors including hospitality, sports and entertainment, consumer products, debt, energy and alternative investments.
Garsek’s wife, Noelle Garsek, is the general counsel for Crescent Real Estate.
Polsinelli grew revenues in Texas by eight percent in 2023 to $73 million, according to Texas Lawbook 50 research. The Fort Worth additions bring the firm’s Texas headcount near 90 attorneys. Bullard said Polsinelli’s goal is a roster of more than 150 attorneys in Texas.