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 28 partner and counsel moves in February 2024, down from 31 in January. Sixteen of those moves occurred in Houston, 9 in Dallas, and 3 in Austin. One mover came from an in-house position, one came from government and the rest came from private practice.
Seven separate firms reported multiple moves during the month with three firms reporting group moves. One group was a Real Estate group in Dallas which joined Frost Brown Todd from Spencer Fane. Another move involved a Corporate group in Houston which joined Paul Hastings from Akin Gump. The third group move involves a Litigation group in Houston which joined Steptoe from Orrick.
Eight of the 28 lawyers (28.6%) were women, with six entering as partners. That compared to 16 of the 20 men who joined their new firms as partners.
Real Estate was the leading practice area represented, with six practitioners. Other practice areas included:
- Litigation (5)
- Corporate (3)
- Energy (3)
- Intellectual Property (3)
- Labor & Employment (3)
- Banking/Finance (2)
- Bankruptcy (1)
- Environmental (1)
- Investment Management (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.
