Founding Partner Joe W. Redden Jr. Retires from Beck Redden After ‘Great Ride’
Joe Redden rang in the new year as a retiree, marking the end of a 48-year legal career. In 1992, Redden cofounded the boutique trial and appellate law firm in Houston.
The Corner Office: Q&A with Luke Weedon
In this Q&A, the Baker Botts Dallas office and finance section leader discusses remote work, encouraging trends he is seeing in the legal profession, and the law firm management issue most relevant to him.
Updated — Texas Promotions to Partner Slower in 2023-24
Thirty-five law firms have announced their promotions to partner for the 2023-24 season — 15 promoted more than last year, 13 promoted fewer and seven exactly the same number. So far, the 35 firms have promoted 99 associates or of counsel to equity and non-equity partner — down from 113 a year ago.
2023-2024 Partner Promotions
This is a searchable list of the Texas lawyers promoted to partner for the 2024 class. It is updated as additional firms announce their promotions.
Susman Godfrey Associates Reap Benefits of Litigation Successes
Susman Godfrey said its first-year firm associates will receive median bonuses of $150,000 and that its most senior associates will be getting an annual bonus of $350,000. Most corporate law firms awarded bonuses ranging from $15,000 to $115,000.
Akin, Baker Botts, Yetter Coleman Join Firms in Associate Pay Raises and Bonuses
The three Texas law firms added their names to the growing list of corporate law practices that are increasing associate compensation and handing out big year-end bonuses.
V&E, Sidley, McDermott, Norton Rose Fulbright Match Cravath Salary Bump, Bonuses
Christmas came in late November for non-partner lawyers at Vinson & Elkins. In an email Thursday to the firm’s associates, V&E announced it is paying them annual bonuses ranging from $15,000 to $115,000 and increasing their compensation between $10,000 and $20,000 per year. First-year associates will now make $225,000 and eighth-year associates will see their annual comp top $550,000 with the bonus.
‘Nobody Gave Us a Chance’ — Lynn Pinker Turns 30
Mike Lynn left the comforts of national corporate firm Akin Gump in 1993 to start a trial-focused shop with two other lawyers. They used a wooden door on cement blocks as a desk. The paralegal was also the office manager, who worked at a table in the hallway. Thirty years later, Lynn Pinker is one of the largest and most prominent litigation boutiques in Texas, boasting 47 lawyers and blue-chip clients such as IBM, Energy Transfer, Neiman Marcus and Xerox — and even a Saudi prince. In three decades, the firm’s lawyers have scored multiple nine-digit courtroom victories for plaintiffs and defendants.
“This is a story that could only happen in Texas,” said Lynn, who is now 73. The stories of nearly all law firms are defined by critical or business-threatening events, enormous courtroom victories, lawyers joining and leaving and strategic decisions on practice groups or business sector focuses. Almost all successful firms in Texas have stories that revolve around one or two legal stars — be they Leon Jaworski or Steve Susman, John Zavitsanos or David Beck, Mike McKool or Paul Yetter. Lynn Pinker is no exception.
Three Diverse Managing Partners Talk Shop, Share Wisdom at TMCP
Three diverse managing partners — Quinn Emanuel’s Chris Porter, Reed Smith’s Omar Alaniz and Thompson Coburn’s Nicole Williams — swapped stories, described their leadership styles, shared their approach to DEI in the office and gave career development advice to young diverse attorneys at last week’s Texas Minority Council Program’s 31st Annual Conference in Houston. Natalie Posgate was in the room and has the highlights.
Susman Godfrey in Letter: Ed Blum May ‘Misunderstand’ its DEI Programs
Three days before Winston & Strawn became the target of legal activist Ed Blum’s third lawsuit, another firm operating in Texas — Susman Godfrey — responded to a demand letter defending its DEI programs to Blum. "We believe both programs fully comply with all relevant laws," the letter says.