This is the latest update on lateral partner and counsel moves in Texas. Included are all moves at AmLaw 200 firms; data in these reports is primarily derived from Firm Prospects LLC. For more details and analysis, including a list of laterals for the month, please contact Saadia Sultan.
TMG’s monthly study of lateral moves in Texas revealed 56 partner and counsel moves in April 2024, considerably up from 26 in March. Twenty-eight of those moves occurred in the Dallas area, 23 in Houston, 3 in San Antonio, 2 in Austin. Two movers came from in-house positions, one came from government and one came out of retirement with the rest coming from private practice.
Six separate firms reported multiple moves during the month with five firms reporting group move. Here are the five group moves:
- An energy group joined Akin Gump from Hunton Andrews in Houston.
- An insurance group joined Dykema Gossett from Chasnoff Valkenaar in Houston and Austin.
- A litigation group joined Nelson Mullins from Foley & Lardner in Houston.
- A banking group joined Paul Hastings from Vinson & Elkins in Dallas and Houston.
- A litigation group joined Spencer Fane from Bowman & Brooke in Plano, TX.
Eighteen of the 56 lawyers (32.1%) were women, with seven entering as partners. That compared to 25 of the 38 men who joined their new firms as partners.
Litigation was the leading practice area represented, with sixteen practitioners. Other practice areas included:
- Banking (12)
- Labor & Employment (5)
- Corporate (4)
- Tax (4)
- Insurance (3)
- Energy (2)
- Environmental (2)
- Healthcare (2)
- Construction (1)
- Intellectual Property (1)
- Investment Management (1)
- SEC Enforcement (1)
- Real Estate (1)
- Trusts & Estates (1)
The McCormick Group’s consulting offering, TMG Competitive Intelligence, provides critical insights concerning lateral partner hiring across the nation. Under that program, TMG analyzes lateral movement in a particular geography, practice area, or industry to determine critical trends, including:
- Amount of movement, not just in raw numbers, but in comparison to the number of lateral targets.
- Competitor performance, both in terms of lateral entries and departures.
- Information based on gender, race, and ethnicity.
- Breakdowns by practice area and industry.
- Movement of groups vs. individuals.
For more information on TMG Competitive Intelligence, firm representatives should call TMG’s Executive Principal, Steve Nelson.
