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Anon because trying to decide on 2L offers. What is the deal with Baker Botts? There are a lot of references on this site to them losing ground in Houston and Dallas, but I am curious to know if anyone has any insight into what the firm's actual outlook is in the near- to long-term. Obviously the cutbacks in the spring were alarming, but I can't tell if they have righted the ship on a momentary setback or if that is a sign of long-term problems.

Also, if anyone can speak to the differences between the Dallas and Houston offices in terms of culture and work, that would be ideal.

Anecdotally, they're holding on in Dallas but the big firms coming into Houston are hurting BB's share of the market. VE was the only real regional Texas firm to hold onto some semblance of market share in Houston, keeping it in the top 3 firms in Houston. BB used to be in the running for top 3, but with the new firms opening shop, they've dropped out of the top 3 in Houston but are still a respectable firm with a solid reputation based on their history within the state. BB also has a fairly strong IP practice and I'm assuming it started to focus on that to avoid being entirely reliant on oil/gas prices when the market dips. But I could be wrong so take all of this with a grain of salt.

Do not go to BB Houston. Im only familiar with corporate.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:33 pm

Do not go to BB Houston. Im only familiar with corporate.

Why exactly is BB Houston a hard no? I'll admit that there may be better firms, but why a hard no?

How is BB for litigation?

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 12:59 pm

How is BB for litigation?

It is a good spot for litigators, with the usual caveats about Biglaw vs. boutiques. They have the leading appellate practice in Texas, and they are one of the leading Biglaw litigation firms overall. They stand in the middle ground between smaller Texas firms that have strong lit practices (JW, TK) and larger, higher PPP firms that place primary emphasis on corporate work (KE and LW, and, increasingly VE). I think their lit group is trending more toward being the "best" among regional firms like JW and TK than toward helping the firm reclaim PPP ground against KE, LW, and VE.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 9:54 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 24, 2021 7:33 pm

Do not go to BB Houston. Im only familiar with corporate.

Why exactly is BB Houston a hard no? I'll admit that there may be better firms, but why a hard no?

I just mean if you have a choice. Obviously if it's your only big law offer go.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 2:39 pm

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 25, 2021 12:59 pm

How is BB for litigation?

It is a good spot for litigators, with the usual caveats about Biglaw vs. boutiques. They have the leading appellate practice in Texas, and they are one of the leading Biglaw litigation firms overall. They stand in the middle ground between smaller Texas firms that have strong lit practices (JW, TK) and larger, higher PPP firms that place primary emphasis on corporate work (KE and LW, and, increasingly VE). I think their lit group is trending more toward being the "best" among regional firms like JW and TK than toward helping the firm reclaim PPP ground against KE, LW, and VE.

Mid-tier in Dallas for lit (behind GDC, McKool, Winston, Sidley, V&E). Probably a bit below mid-tier in Houston, where all the talent is concentrated in the boutiques and there are tiers within the boutiques (Susman at the top, then Gibbs & Bruns, then Yetter/Beck/Smyser, then a smattering of places like Reynolds Frizzell and AZA). Good spot overall, but not the best, in either city. Agreed on strong appellate practice. Also strong on IP. No idea at all on the tiers in Austin.

The problem to me is the lack of direction. They're a low-leverage, low-profit per partner transactional-driven firm. This business model makes no sense in the current landscape and means they'll continue to charge higher rates than their quality justifies, and rely on getting a couple big litigation wins a year to make their numbers look OK. That said, I don't think they're dumb. Maybe they retool and merge like other TX-based firms have (Fulbright, Andrews Kurth) and/or maybe they shift their practice area focuses. They are very good in IP and regulatory work. I'd stay away as a 1L/2L because you can't control these things and you have no idea what this firm is going to look like when you actually start full time.