© 2014 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate – (October 7) – Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr recently solidified its expansion plans by adding the eight attorneys of Harrison Bettis McFarland to its Houston office.
The Harrison Bettis attorneys, who officially join their new firm on Nov. 1, provide a “very sophisticated energy litigation” practice that Munsch Hardt did not have, said Phil Appenzeller, the firm’s CEO.
The group’s five partners and three associates grow Munsch Hardt’s Houston office to 28 attorneys. Five Harrison Bettis staff members are making the move as well.
Clifford L. Harrison, D. Mitchell McFarland, Paul D. Sculley, James M. Bettis, Jr. and B. Lee Wertz, Jr. join the firm as partners, while Mark Deaton, Carrie Schadle and Stephan Selindis join as associates.
Seated (L-R): Mark Deaton, Jim Bettis, Cliff Harrison, Mitch McFarland, Paul Sculley
Appenzeller said the new lateral hires are a component of an aggressive strategic growth plan the firm has – especially for its Houston and Austin offices. The firm plans to continue adding lawyers to its Houston office, as well as expand the real estate and corporate transactional practices in its Austin office after it moves to downtown’s new Colorado Tower next July.
The lateral move provides the lawyers for Harrison Bettis, a commercial litigation boutique, the ability to provide the transactional services to their clients that they historically had to refer to other firms. For Munsch Hardt, it means a stronger energy practice in Houston, as well as a presence in transportation and insurance coverage, Appenzeller said.
The new addition also works out nicely in terms of headcount. In January, Munsch Hardt’s Houston attorneys relocated to an office in the downtown Pennzoil Place skyscraper that doubled their original capacity.
Meanwhile, the lease expiration of Harrison Bettis’ office was nearing. The two firms met for the first time on July 5. They realized their complementary practice areas, similar attitude toward client services and fitting firm cultures. It was a match.
A bonus to this match was that it meant the answer to Munsch Hardt’s expansion strategy did not resort to joining forces with a national law firm – something many Texas-based firms with a strong presence in Houston have fallen prey to in the last several years.
“We get approached quite often by regional [and] national firms who want to come to Texas,” Appenzeller said. “We don’t feel the need to have offices in New York, Washington, D.C. or L.A…. our clients have not been demanding that.”
Appenzeller added that he too often heard, “We just need to be here,” as national firms’ explanation of their desire to acquire a Texas-based law firm. That phrase indicates there is no “real benefit to us,” he said.
“It’s rarely ever client-driven,” he said. “If you had a client demanding to be in Texas, that make sense. Most of the time, that’s not the answer.”
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