Baker and Hostetler issued the following announcement on March 25.
BakerHostetler confirmed that it has opened a full-service office in Dallas, expanding the firm’s presence in Texas. With 16 highly accomplished and prominent lawyers, the new Dallas office includes experienced practitioners across a wide range of practices, including M&A and business transactions, complex litigation, white collar and tax. It is the firm’s 16th office and its second in Texas, following the firm’s well-established office in Houston.
The Dallas office launches under the leadership of Shawn Cleveland, who joined the firm in September 2019. “We were all drawn to BakerHostetler’s leading reputation and national platform when it comes to large-scale litigation, middle-market M&A, private equity, energy, healthcare and privacy and data protection, but the firm’s collaborative approach and commitment to client service were equally important to us,” said Cleveland.
“We’re grateful to officially open our doors in Dallas with an exceptional team. The long-planned opening of our office has coincided with the COVID-19 health crisis unfolding around the world. But in these challenging times, it is important that we carry on doing all we can for our clients and our community,” Cleveland added. BakerHostetler’s new Dallas team is heavily engaged in ongoing transactional and litigation matters, as well as significant work counseling Dallas-area clients on emerging COVID-19-related issues.
“Dallas presents a logical next step for us given our 30-year history in Houston and our long-standing commitment to Texas,” said Paul Schmidt, chairman of BakerHostetler. “We have a host of important client relationships in Dallas, and we have several clients who have moved their headquarters there in recent years and others with meaningful business needs in Dallas. Our Dallas attorneys, while currently working remotely due to COVID-19, will enhance our ability to serve those valued existing clients and build new relationships to establish a strong presence in this important market. Our highest priority right now is the health and safety of our clients, our people, our families and our communities. At the same time, we remain steadfastly committed to providing the highest quality in client service and to the success of our clients. In these uncertain times, our clients need us more than ever. Our strategic decision to announce our expansion into Dallas is consistent with this focus on client service and will allow us to better meet the needs of our clients throughout Texas.”
“Our new Dallas office will not only augment our Litigation Practice Group’s capabilities in Texas but will further expand the nature of our litigation services nationwide and enhance our ability to provide multidisciplinary responses to clients’ enterprise risk challenges around the globe,” said W. Ray Whitman, chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. “It will also allow our clients with ties to Texas to benefit from our commitment to this key commercial market,” said Whitman, who is based in the firm’s Houston office.
“We are pleased to be joined in Dallas by partners and associates who will complement our corporate and tax practices and enhance our footprint and reach,” said John Allotta, chair of the firm’s Business Practice Group. “The team also includes attorneys in corporate governance and outsourced general counsel services, which are unique capabilities complementing our M&A and private equity practices, each playing to the core strengths of our firm’s Business Practice Group. Our expansion in Dallas aligns with the firm’s strategic priority to expand transactional capabilities in major markets.”
Joining BakerHostetler’s Litigation Practice Group are partners L. David Anderson, Tamara D. Baggett and C. Shawn Cleveland. The Business Practice Group has added Todd J. Thorson, Jordan T. Bethea, Ryan D. Gorsche, Patrick H. Rose IV and Robert A. Schroeder. Matt Hunsaker joins the Tax Practice Group.
These partners are joined by a strong team of counsel and associates that includes Micah C. Brooks, Ewa Champagne, Jayshree Jewett, Jared M. Price, Paul L. Roessner, Kelly N. Wray and Sophilia H. Wu.
Original source can be found here.