How would the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted the legal business before laptops and the internet – an era within the living memory of some lawyers still practicing, when secretary-typed documents, wall-wired telephones and telexes or faxes were the main alternatives to face-to-face engagement. Would lawyers have taken foolish risks with their health – just to make a living? Would communications obstacles shut down legal practices and squeeze revenues enough to cause some firms to fail? The Texas Lawbook takes a look.

Pandemic Finances – From Fear to Confidence (Part 2)The Saving Grace: Technology and Firm Culture
Texas corporate law firms salvaged their 2020 revenues because of strong demand from clients trying to navigate a perplexing business environment and a surprising capacity, heretofore hidden or rarely called upon, to supply those services remotely. Even though firms leapt into it literally overnight with no time to plan and prepare, remote working proved effective and efficient last year.
“The pandemic impacted how we did business much more than the business we did,” said King & Spalding’s Houston office leader Tracie Renfroe.

Pandemic Finances — From Fear to Confidence (Part 1) In 2020, Texas Firms Dodge Worst Fears
Eleven months ago, law firm leaders looked into the abyss. Covid-19 had shuttered offices. Oil prices had plunged. Unprecedented disruptions loomed for corporate clients. The law firms feared drastic declines in revenues, wiped-out profits and painful layoffs.
The Texas Lawbook surveyed 26 law firms on what really happened during the pandemic. In the first of a three-part series, The Lawbook provides an advanced look at 2020 Texas law firm finances and operations. “All of us should be on bended knee, giving thanks,” said Jackson Walker’s Wade Cooper.
DBJ: Dallas Law Executive ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ for 2021
The Dallas Business Journal recently spoke with Mike Taten, managing partner of Jackson Walker’s Dallas office, about navigating the varied challenges of 2020 and his projections for the new year.
Susman Godfrey: Associate Bonuses Hit $170K Amid ‘Heartbreaking’ Year
The Houston-based litigation powerhouse Susman Godfrey announced Monday that it paid six-digit bonuses to its associates, promoted six lawyers to partner – including four women – and significantly increased the amount of money the firm is giving to charities that focus on racial justice. Despite the great financial year, 2020 was still ‘heartbreaking’ for the four-decade old firm.
Houston Bar Gives Thanks, Raises $878K for Pro Bono
Baker Botts partner Bill Kroger, Blank Rome partner Susan Bickley and Vinson & Elkins partner Chris Popov called colleagues and clients, law firm leaders and neighbors. Because the annual Harvest Celebration was cancelled due to the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of dollars in support for legal aid in Houston were in jeopardy. Kroger and other Houston Bar leaders took action. The results: A truly Happy Thanksgiving.
Alston & Bird Opens Fort Worth Office
The Atlanta-based law firm has launched its 10th U.S. office with a team of energy litigators from Thompson & Knight.
H1 2020 Texas Law Firm Financials – Good News, Bad News
Revenue and client demand at Texas-based corporate law firms were down during the first six months of 2020, but they were not as bad as everyone expected, according to a new report from Citi Private Bank Law Firm Group. The Texas Lawbook has the details.
Norton Rose Fulbright: Gerry Pecht is Firm’s Next Global CEO
Norton Rose Fulbright announced late Sunday that the firm has elected a litigation partner in Houston to be its global chief executive starting Jan. 1. Gerry Pecht is the first U.S. lawyer to take the 3,500-lawyer firm’s highest ranking leadership position since Fulbright & Jaworski and Norton Rose combined in 2013.
Updated – Meet Haynes and Boone’s Next Managing Partner
Taylor Wilson has been groomed for three decades to lead at Haynes and Boone. He’s served on the firm’s board of directors and executive committee, chaired the partner compensation committee and led hiring and recruiting efforts. On Jan. 1, he gets a new title: managing partner.
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