© 2014 The Texas Lawbook.
By Brooks Igo
Staff Writer for The Texas Lawbook
(January 13)–Prominent Dallas complex commercial litigator Orrin Harrison is the most recent Texas lawyer to exemplify two growing trends: top litigators from big national firms jumping to litigation boutiques and longtime partners being forced to look elsewhere because of law firm mandatory retirement policies.
Harrison announced Monday that he officially joined Gruber Hurst on Jan. 1 because of a mandatory retirement date effective last July 1 at Akin Gump, where he practiced for more than 10 years and served as the co-head of the firm’s national litigation practice. He said that although he was tempted and courted by many large national firms, he decided to join forces with two longtime friends, Michael Gruber and Mark Shank.
“We have been talking about this possibility for more than a year,” he said. “The future of commercial litigation is at small litigation boutiques.”
The SMU Dedman School of Law graduate becomes the 12th partner and 25th lawyer at Dallas-based Gruber Hurst.
“Orrin’s experience and counsel will be tremendous assets for our firm and clients as we increasingly engage in corporate disputes with high financial stakes and substantial business implications,” Gruber said in a press release issued by the firm. “Orrin’s reputation for communication and aggressive advocacy at the negotiating table and in the courtroom make him a great fit, and we’re very pleased he agreed to make this move.”
Harrison expects his practice to have a steady diet of securities litigation in 2014. He has served as the principal outside litigation counsel for major national and international companies from the power and utilities, oil and gas and financial services industries, including Central and South West Corporation, Fina Oil Company and Waddell & Reed Financial Services.
The former Akin Gump and Vinson & Elkins partner spent 10 years working on the South Texas Nuclear Project for Central and South West Corporation, which totaled $4 billion at various times during the litigation.
In 2001, he was hired to represent Waddell & Reed in a lawsuit against its parent company and later defended the Kansas-based financial planning company in 2004 in the largest lawsuit brought against a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD).
“I have been blessed to have three great clients that have kept me occupied with many cases over the years,” he said.
Harrison has also been recognized for his community service. He received the Torch of Conscience Award with Erle Nye from the American Jewish Congress in 2007. He currently serves as the chancellor of the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas.
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