© 2012 The Texas Lawbook.
Mark Curriden, JD
Senior Writer for The Texas Lawbook
Seven partners at the Dallas-based law firm Haynes and Boone are taking their legal practices across town to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.
The seven partners are commercial and bankruptcy litigator Marty Brimmage Jr.; white-collar criminal defense attorney Arnold Spencer; corporate securities and M&A lawyer Garrett DeVries; M&A lawyer Matt Zmigrosky; corporate crisis litigator Mike Warnecke; complex civil litigator Sarah Teachout; and M&A lawyer Tom Yang.
In a written statement, Akin Gump described Thursday’s announcement as “a tremendous step forward for Akin Gump in Dallas.”
Haynes and Boone, in its own written statement, said, “We are saddened to see these colleagues, many of whom started their careers here at Haynes and Boone, leave. We wish them well and much success in their new firm.”
The seven lawyers have previously represented corporate clients ranging from AT&T, Brazos Private Equity, Dean Foods and Aviall, Inc.
A lawyer familiar with the decision of the seven lawyers pointed to a single key factor: profits per partner at Akin Gump more than double the PPPs at Haynes and Boone.
“This move is about seven younger partners picking money over culture,” says the lawyer. “Haynes and Boone is a terrific place to practice law. Both law firms have a solid client base, but Akin Gump lawyers just make a lot more money.”