Atlanta-based firm Powell Goldstein has lured two partners and 11 other attorneys and paralegals away from Akin Gump’s real estate and finance practice. Kieth Dunsmore, having previously spent 13 years with Powell, will head a new capital markets practice group in D.C. Robin Green, the second of the two partners, is to lead the new Dallas office and will be joined by seven of the former Akin Gump attorneys. The office will focus on real estate, banking, and financial services.
Source: www.law.com

275-lawyer Dallas-based firm Jenkens & Gilchrist has increased salaries nationwide, with first-year associates now earning $140,000, The firm’s Texas offices are located in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Also announcing raises is Houston firm Porter & Hedges, with first-years making $135,000 plus $5,000 in bonuses. Source: www.law.com

In a recent survey of Texas firms, Texas Lawyer found an increase in salaries across the board for 2006. On average, first-years are making 4.7% more in 2006 than 2005, with fourth-years at 9.3% and seventh-years at 5.1% more respectively. In firms employing over 100 attorneys, first-years have seen a 16.4% salary increase.

Source: www.law.com

San Francisco-based firm Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold has opened a new office in Austin, the firm’s twelfth in total. Sedgwick has snagged Jackson Walker partner Laura Lee Prather to head the new office. The firm will look to add additional associates immediately. Sedgwick employs a total of 351 attorneys.
Source:www.law.com

In a recent survey of Texas firms, Texas Lawyer
found an increase in salaries across the board for 2006. On average,
first-years are making 4.7% more in 2006 than 2005, with fourth-years
at 9.3% and seventh-years at 5.1% more respectively. In firms employing
over 100 attorneys, first-years have seen a 16.4% salary increase.

www.law.com

Texas Lawyer’s survey of the 25 top-grossing firms in Texas showed a 2.3% increase in gross revenues overall for 2005 over 2004. Of these firms, 16 reported an increase for 2005; the other 9 reported a decrease. Akin Gump comes in as the highest-grossing of all Texas firms, but V&E, Thompson & Knight, and Porter Hedges reported the greatest percentage increase in gross revenues for the year.

Source: Texas Lawyer

Dallas firms Munsch, Hardt, Kopf, & Harr and Gardere, Wynne, Sewell have raised associate salaries. Both firms maintain offices in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Gardere Wynne, who employs 278 attorneys, will now pay first-years $140,000. Munsch Hardt employs over 100 attorneys and has set first-year pay at $135,000.

Source: www.law.com

Three more major Texas firms have announced raises for associates at all experience levels. Dallas firm Winstead, Sechrest & Minick has bumped first-years to $135,00 with a $5,000 potential bonus and Houston-based Fulbright & Jaworski’s first-years will earn $140,000. Baker & McKenzie will pay associates in Dallas and Houston $140,000 with a $10,000 potential bonus for the first year.

Source: www.law.com

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has raised salaries for Texas associates at all levels. The firm’s first-years will now earn a base of $135,000 with an additional $5,000 bonus. Akin Gump employs 900 attorneys worldwide and has Texas offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

Source:www.law.com

Locke Liddell & Sapp has joined the Texas raise bandwagon, bumping first-year salaries in its Austin, Dallas, and Houston offices to $140,000. Associates in its New Orleans and D.C. offices will see the same increase.

Source: www.law.com

Baker Botts has increased its Texas associate salaries at all levels to meet the current market trend. First-years will now earn $140,000 with a potential $10,000 bonus, slightly bettering the recent moves by V&E and Andrews Kurth. Baker Botts is based in Houston and has offices in both Dallas and Austin.

Source:Texas Lawyer