© 2018 The Texas Lawbook.
By Mark Curriden
(April 16) – Sheppard Mullin partner Alan Martin in Orange County called his old law school buddy and close friend Steve Fox a few months ago to gauge his interest in being one of the founding lawyers if the Los Angeles-based firm opened an office in Dallas.
Fox, a prominent corporate employment lawyer at the Polsinelli firm in Dallas, and Martin were in each other’s weddings and always wanted the opportunity to practice together.
A couple weeks later, Polsinelli corporate partner Gemma Descoteaux was approached by an executive search firm hired by Sheppard to identify and recruit key lawyers for the firm’s new Texas outpost.
“I recommended that they talk with Steve Fox, and they told me they think he’s already on board,” Descoteaux said.
The Texas Lawbook reported last month that Sheppard Mullin was opening an office in Dallas. On Monday, the 800-attorney firm with 16 offices made it official.
With 18 lawyers, including 10 partners culled from six law firms, Sheppard Mullin announced Monday that it is open for business on the 24th floor of Chase Tower downtown.
“We believe we are unique because on opening day, we are fully prepared to handle corporate transactional work, employment matters, intellectual property, real estate and government contracts work,” said Steven Schortgen, who is co-managing partner of the new office.
Sheppard Mullin is the latest national law firm to open an office in Texas or dramatically expand its presence in the state. Katten Muchin, White & Case and Shearman & Sterling launched new offices, while Foley & Lardner and Clark Hill moved into the market through mergers with existing law firms.
Fox, who also serves as Sheppard Mullin’s co-managing partner in Dallas, said he expects more lawyers will join the firm in the near future.
“The long-term, over the next year or two, is to be in the 50 to 60 lawyer range,” he said. “Dallas is already home to about 100 firm clients, including Toyota, Yum! Brands and Comerica.”
Descoteaux said Sheppard Mullin is committed to diversity.
“Fifty percent of the founding partners in Dallas are women or lawyers of color,” she said. “The firm has had 27 years of steady growth year over year and an extraordinary record of lateral retention.”
Descoteaux, Fox and Schortgen said they were impressed with the firm’s interviewing and vetting process involving potential lateral hires.
“I went to seven offices and met with 100 current partners before I was put up for a vote,” Schortgen said.
The other partners joining Sheppard Mullin include:
- William B. Mateja from Polsinelli;
- Jennifer Klein Ayers from K&L Gates;
- Carolyn R. Benson and Yvette J. Mabbun from Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett & Moser;
- Jason Mueller from Locke Lord;
- Dwight M. Francis from Foley Gardere; and
- Evan C. Williams from Hunton Andrews Kurth.
Schortgen said Sheppard Mullin’s biggest challenge going forward is trying to identify strong candidates that are good fits in a crazy lateral market.
“There is a lot of mercenary movement in the Texas market right now and Sheppard had no appetite for that,” he said. “The difficulty is finding the right talent for our clients and the strategic growth of the firm.”
Schortgen said Sheppard Mullin clients have been positive regarding the firm’s move into Dallas.
“I have been working with Sheppard Mullin on significant matters for nearly a decade, and they have delivered great results,” said Yum! Brands General Counsel Marc Kesselman. “As the Dallas legal market continues to grow and thrive, we are excited that they have established a local presence.
“Dallas is thriving with corporate relocations and office expansions,” said PepsiCo Deputy General Counsel & Managing Attorney David Flavell. “PepsiCo has a prominent presence in Dallas, so we’re thrilled that one of our longtime law firm partners, Sheppard Mullin, is expanding into this market, as well.”
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