International law firm Smith Gambrell & Russell expands into the Houston market with the addition of Mitch Ackal.
Ackal told The Texas Lawbook it was an opportunity he “could not pass up.”
“They are a rare combination, in my opinion, of a firm that is not only steeped in tradition, but at the same time, they’re on the cutting edge of delivering first-class, quality legal services to their clients on a platform that, for me, is a national platform and not just a Texas regional-only platform,” Ackal said. “And then combine that with truly some just amazing people who are running their firm on their executive team, it was an opportunity that I could not pass up.”
Before joining SGR, Ackal spent two decades at Gray Reed.
His practice includes handling contract disputes, franchise conflicts, and Uniform Commercial Code cases, as well as litigation involving employment matters, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and product liability.
“Mitch’s arrival represents an important milestone for SGR,” Stephen M. Forte, chairman and managing partner of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, said in a news release. “Houston is a critical market for many of our clients, and Mitch brings the experience, leadership, and market credibility that allow us to establish a meaningful presence there from day one. We view this as the beginning of a long-term and substantial expansion in Texas.”
While Ackal is the sole partner in Houston, he will be growing the team to a full-service office.
“I’ll be growing a litigation team, but not just litigation. The firm wants to grow its corporate section here. It’s a global transport practice and all other practice areas. Hopefully, at some point in the not-too-distant future, we can say that Houston is a full-service office in and of itself, attached just truly to an amazing firm,” Ackal said.
Ackal earned his undergraduate degree from Rice University and his law degree from Louisiana State University Law in 2004.
SGR has one other attorney in the Lone Star State: Peter Barlow manages the Austin office.