Kane Russell Coleman Logan announced 12 new hires this month – four directors, one senior attorney, and seven associates – across its Dallas, Houston and Austin offices.
Brian Clark, chair of KRCL’s board of directors, said the growth surge lines up with client-driven needs and “significantly bolsters our bench strength.”
“We’ve got more [work] than we can handle right now,” said Clark, who began his term as firm chair on Jan. 1.
KRCL pulled talent from 10 different firms and the Texas Attorney General’s office.
The four directors are Kari Lutringer, who boomeranged back to KRCL from Dykema; Jon Hyland from Hilgers; Trevor Coddington from Akerman; and Jameson Watts from Husch Blackwell. Lee Winkelman joins as a senior attorney after a year and a half as an assistant attorney general.
Lutringer focuses her practice on corporate and commercial transactions, advising clients in real estate, energy, oilfield services, agriculture and financial services. She is based in Houston.
Hyland specializes in intellectual property litigation, including patent, trademark and copyright disputes. He offices in Dallas.
Coddington, who is based in Austin, is also an IP lawyer and focuses on patent litigation and patent procurement. Before entering private practice, Dr. Coddington served as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office while completing his Ph.D. in physics.
Watts is a bankruptcy lawyer in Austin who represents debtors and creditors in Chapter 11 reorganizations. He had existing relationships with the KRCL bankruptcy team.
Clark told The Texas Lawbook that the firm is in growth mode and anticipates surpassing the century mark with double-digit headcount growth in 2027. He said IP and corporate are two areas of interest.
KRCL’s expansion to Austin 18 months ago has gone well, Clark said, and the firm is needing more space.
Though the firm receives interest as a merger partner for national firms wanting to break into the market, Clark said “we are very comfortable being a Texas-only firm and knowing who we work with.”
“We can offer sophisticated service at a fair price. The person you hire is the person who is going to handle your matter.”