Dykema appoints to lead Houston launch
The Midwestern firm will open its new office which will be the fifth office in Texas and 14th across the nation
The Detroit-based law firm Dykema Gossett has opened its fifth office in Texas, 14th in the United States, hiring two business litigators.
Bringing Amanda Gordon, litigation associate, to the firm along with Isaac Villarreal and Andy Green from McCathern Shokoui Evans Grinke, both are now members of Dykema, equivalent to partners. Existing senior counsels Nicholas Zugaro and Basil Umari, will relocate from Dallas to Houston for the launch, will be joining the team in Houston as well.
A number of firm attorneys will split their time between Houston and their offices in Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and McAllen, the firm said. Kris Katovil, the firm’s present managing member in Dallas, will manage the office.
Kate Bechen, the firm’s office managing member, led a team of seven attorneys from Kansas-based firm Husch Blackwell when the firm announced it would open an office in Milwaukee, the firm’s first office in Wisconsin.
In addition to its Texas offices, Dykema has offices in Washington, DC, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago & Washington, DC.
Houston, according to Dykema CEO and chair Len Wolfe, is a “key market” for the firm’s clients in several highly-specialized practice areas, like oil and gas, healthcare, life sciences, bankruptcy and major commercial litigation.
“Through our new Houston office, we will better serve our clients here and the Greater Houston business community,” said Villarreal, noting that Villarreal and Green’s “strong Houston roots and excellent local legal reputations” will assist the firm in moving forward with its Houston business venture.
In 2016, Villareal joined McCarthern from Houston law firm Crinion Richardson & Langley as an attorney. The areas in which he practices include contract disputes and business torts, as well as real estate, collections and probate and estate disputes. At least 50 first-chair cases have been tried or arbitrated under Dykema’s leadership and he has won a large majority of them.
While Green represents clients across a range of business sectors including real estate, construction, energy and financial services, she handles commercial litigation. Also, he works with the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Programme, where he provides pro bono services.
We’ve been looking for the perfect team to open up a Houston office for years, and now that team has been found,” Kratovil said. “Dykema has litigators who have come up against Isaac, Andy and Amanda, so we know how good they are and how well their practices complement ours.”
There have been a growing number of firms turning their attention to the Texas legal market over the past year because of its growing reputation as a hotbed for health care and technology firms. Law firms opening offices in Austin in 2021 include Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, O’Melveny & Myers, Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins.