© 2014 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate – (December 10) – Joseph Younger is just the latest example of regulatory and administrative lawyers to join Thompson & Knight’s Austin office.
Younger, who jumped to T&K last month from his job as the legal division director at the Public Utility Commission of Texas, followed a prominent group of Andrews Kurth attorneys that joined in August.
Led by partners Rex VanMiddlesworth and Phillip Oldham, the team from Andrews Kurth also included associates Jill Carvalho, Katie Coleman and Benjamin Hallmark.
Though the recent hires greatly enhance T&K’s government and regulatory practice – an area of law experiencing more client demand – Jim Morriss, T&K’s Austin Office Leader, said the recent hires were “serendipitous.”
He said it started several months back when his T&K colleague, Jim Cousar, had lunch with VanMiddlesworth, a longtime friend. At lunch, VanMiddlesworth mentioned he and other regulatory attorneys at Andrews Kurth were possibly looking to move firms.
Finding the prospects a right fit, Cousar and Morriss decided they were interested and hired VanMiddlesworth, Oldham, Coleman and Hallmark in mid-August. A week later, Carvalho also came on board.
Morriss said these hires led to Younger because he had previously worked with VanMiddlesworth and Oldham at Andrews Kurth before joining the PUC, and met with the two new Andrews Kurth attorneys because he was interested in going back to private practice.
Since joining, the six new attorneys have brought in new client relationships and have contributed a breadth of expertise in the electrical regulatory law and administrative law areas, Morriss said.
As far as trends go in the government and regulatory practice group, Morris said energy in the administrative law area – presenting work before the TCEQ, Railroad Commission, Department of Health Services and other agencies – is there to stay.
“I think energy, whether electrical or oil and gas, will [remain] a major legal issue in the state of Texas,” he said. “This group [of attorneys] will help us service those clients before those agencies.”
Though unsure about who else the Austin office might add in the coming months, Morriss said the firm will “keep our ears open and our eyes open.”
“I do think we now have a larger group of folks that makes us more able to attract the people thinking of making a move,” he said.
Though excited about the boost in expertise to the Austin office, Morriss said an equally notable gain is the quality of the people Thompson & Knight has gained through these hires.
“These six folks are just really great people,” Morriss said. “I’m really excited to have these people as my colleagues.
Specific regulatory and administrative law areas the attorneys are experts in include federal and state government affairs; project development; energy regulations, markets and litigation; commercial litigation; and alternative dispute resolution.
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