Jackson Walker L.L.P. is pleased to welcome Darrell W. Taylor as a partner in the Houston office. Mr. Taylor joins the firm from Jones Day and adds significant strength to Jackson Walker’s Corporate & Securities group, which is one of the largest in the state and has developed a solid reputation as a go–to practice for companies doing business in Texas.

Mr. Taylor handles a broad range of capital market matters, including initial public offerings, large U.S. and international debt and equity offerings, tender and exchange offers, and other financing matters. He also helps clients negotiate, document, and complete mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Mr. Taylor’s clients are primarily from the energy, energy services, and petrochemical industries. Prior to joining Jackson Walker, he practiced at both Jones Day and Baker Botts, where he served as lead securities counsel in initial public offerings and other going–public transactions.

Mr. Taylor is extensively involved in the Houston community and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Houston Christian High School. He received his B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas and his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. He has been recognized among the Best Lawyers in America from 2008–2010.

“We are so pleased to welcome Darrell to our team,” said Kurt Nondorf, managing partner of Jackson Walker’s Houston office. “In addition to being a great lawyer, he is tremendously well respected in the business community, and deservedly so because of his ethics and character.”

In joining Jackson Walker, Mr. Taylor said he was impressed by the firm’s ability to provide a comprehensive range of services while keeping overhead costs low.

“The firm’s solid platform supports the full spectrum of clients – from Fortune 500 companies to small entrepreneurs – while its competitive rate structure enables me to provide exceptional value for my clients,” he said.

Mr. Taylor joins several high–profile attorneys who have made the move to Jackson Walker this year, including John Ransom from Porter Hedges and Dan Nossa from Reed Smith in the Houston office, as well as Brandon Jones (Fort Worth), Wes Strickland (Austin), and Drew Darby (Austin/San Angelo).

With the phenomenal growth of the energy sector, Houston law firms have felt increasing pressure from large, international firms that have set up shop in the city and sought to lure away key talent. In contrast, Jackson Walker has found its Texas–friendly culture and competitive overhead costs a strong draw for lateral attorneys looking to both expand their practices and better serve existing clients.

“Our success in attracting quality lateral partners clearly indicates that something good is happening here,” Mr. Nondorf said. “With the addition of John Ransom and Darrell Taylor, we are assembling a group of corporate lawyers that can compete with anyone in the city. When combined with the great team of corporate, securities, and M&A lawyers already in place, our corporate group is now poised to become one of the strongest practice areas in Houston.”

www.jw.com