 |
||
|
|
||
| |||||||||||
From deep in the heart of Texas comes Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, a hard-workin', free-spendin', two-steppin' legal juggernaut. Fulbright is a renowned legal powerhouse in both corporate finance and litigation. History: a bright star shining in Lone Star country Fulbright & Jaworski has been an important figure in the history of the legal profession in Texas. Founded in 1919, Fulbright, Crooker & Freeman took its current name after Leon Jaworski joined in 1932. Jaworski, after an illustrious law career, rose to national prominence in the 1970s as the special prosecutor in the Watergate hearings. A 1981 merger with Dumas, Huguenin, Boothman & Morrow enabled Fulbright to open a branch office in Dallas, and another merger with Reavis & McGrath (one of the largest law firm mergers ever) moved the firm into New York in 1989. Fulbright has crossed the oceans in its zeal to expand as well - the firm now has satellite offices in London and Hong Kong. Within the U.S., Fulbright & Jaworski is active in a number of professional organizations. Five of its lawyers have become president of the Texas State Bar, and a sixth, Otway B. Denny, was a candidate for the position in the spring of 2000. On the national level, more members of the American Bar Association's House of Delegates have come from Fulbright than from any other firm in the nation. Across-the-board leadership The firm is among the Lone Star State's leaders in initial public offerings representing issuers, equity offerings representing issuers, underwriter's counsel deals, environmental law, and in ERISA and pensions. Mergers & acquisitions is another area of expertise. Fulbright handles deals for some of the larger companies in the country, as well as some of its neighbors. One client that fits both descriptions is Cogen Technologies, which the firm recently represented in its $1.1 billion sale of three power plants to Enron Corp. Fulbright also advised Fort Worth's Union Pacific Resources Group when it sold its natural gas operations to Duke Energy Field Services for $1.35 billion. In 2000, the firm assisted Voxware of Princeton to acquire the wireless assets of InRoad, Inc., for $8.1 million. As might be expected in Texas, much of Fulbright's business comes from the oil and energy industry. At the 1998 Energy Finance Awards, the firm placed ninth for knowledge of international energy law. Fulbright services oil and energy barons not just through IPOs, but also in the preparation and negotiation of contracts, advising foreign corporations investing in American oil operations, and in the financing of gas properties. Fulbright also features a thriving environmental practice, dealing with oversight and enforcement of government programs, pollution case litigation, and environmental auditing. Modern times In order to keep up with the recent economic boom linked to information technology, Fulbright has beefed up its IP department. Early in 2000, Fulbright brought over 30 attorneys, including 11 partners, from the Austin office of IP law firm Arnold White & Durkee, expanding a group that had already been enhanced through a merger with Felfe & Lynch during the summer of 1998. The firm now boasts of having "one of the largest concentrations of intellectual property attorneys in any full-service law firm." Other efforts to keep up with the new economy include the formation of the firm's Technology and Emerging Companies group, which is based in the Austin office. Headed by former corporate securities partner Howard Wolf, the new group's mission is to attract techie clients and capitalize on the ascendancy of e-commerce. Legendary litigators Despite the firm's strong transactional practices, litigation remains the Fulbright mainstay. Fulbright attorneys are, according to insiders, "very well respected in litigation throughout the country." The firm puts its litigators through the paces of a "rigorous training program," including "seminars on all aspects of trial advocacy," as well as "simulated trials in the firm's own courtroom." Not surprisingly, the litigation practice excels in areas as diverse as oil and gas law and breach of contract cases.
Why Texas, indeed! Fulbright "has placed increasing emphasis on recruiting at Top 10 schools, but it is still a place where students from lower tier schools have a shot to be competitive," reports a source who made it through Fulbright's hiring process. Furthermore, another associate asserts that "the better the law school, the lower in the class Fulbright will consider a candidate," though "if there is some sort of real need, the firm will go outside these parameters." In any case, however, "grades and school reputation are important" to get the initial interview. After that, in the second interview, "the important thing is the impact you make on, and how well you get along with, the attorneys you meet. The personality component holds a great deal of weight." Because of Fulbright's litigation emphasis, Fulbright puts a "premium on hiring personalities who would sway a jury, and who are good, fun people to have around." While "an emphasis is placed on getting a socially capable person," this focus "may be declining as Fulbright works on larger commercial matters." For now, an "outgoing personality [is] more of a requirement here than at other firms." It is also key for a "recruit [to] appreciate the importance of everyone on the team." Fulbright "typically interviews about 20 people and calls back two or three, except at Texas schools. We interview 80 to 100 people at the University of Texas. A higher proportion gets called back, since it's less expensive to bring them in." The firm clearly is intent on maintaining the local pipeline. "We do look for someone with ties to the area," reveals an insider. Those who think that the Alamo is a rental car company "can expect a question like, 'Why do you want to go to Texas?'" Among 1998 summer associates, the most frequently represented law school was UT, followed by the University of Houston.
All roads lead to Houston Associates credit Fulbright's "Texas charm" as a defining factor in the firm's culture, claiming that "you feel right at home from the first day." While insiders note that the atmosphere of the firm is "fairly conservative," the reputation that "it is the kind of place where attorneys put their jackets on to go to the food court," may be overstated. One source reports that "it's open, relaxed, social, friendly, and welcoming." An attorney with an especially fond view of the firm states that "Uncle Fulbright really seems to care." Easy money? "Fulbright's compensation is not the highest in town, but it is competitive." states a Washington DC based associate. Most lawyers in the Houston office agree. "Other firms have higher base salaries than Fulbright, but the difference is more than made up by very reachable incentive bonuses." Moreover, "when you take into consideration the cost of living here," asserts a content Houston attorney, "I am making out so much better than my friends in New York, Chicago, and DC." The aforementioned bonuses, which are based on billable hours, "can be attained with very little extra effort. The first bonus is at 1,850 hours." Some complain that the firm "is very late to react," "definitely a follower in salaries," and "does not tell if the bonus is discretionary or guaranteed." "Even with these gripes ," acquiesces one critic, "I still feel my salary is superior." There seems to be some negative consequences of the high wages. "The more money they give us, the more we have to work," one overworked associate wistfully declares. "I wish they would take some of the money back so I could have a life." Social as we wanna be In regards to the social life of its attorneys, Fulbright tends to take an open stance. A superb social environment exists for those who wish to take part. "Even those silly Ally McBeal folks with their martinis every evening don't have much on us," insists a Fulbright socialite. "There is a very friendly, welcoming, social atmosphere here." Furthermore, "monthly firm sponsored happy-hours are generally well attended." In spite of generally positive reviews of the firm's social environment, one source complains that "it's like high school in some respects. Some associates treat each other well, while others create cliques and try to decide who deserves respect and who doesn't." The amount of social events sponsored by Fulbright & Jaworski increases greatly during the summer, when the firm's summer associates arrive. Associates recall their summer at the firm as being "an absolute blowout." One former summer associate remembers being "treated like a queen." Another associate complains (unsympathetically) that the summer program can "become exhausting after a couple of months. You are taken to lunch every day and dinner or some other event most nights." Nevertheless, many cite the experience of having been a summer associate at Fulbright as the deciding factor in accepting a position at the firm. Everyone's happy In spite of complaints by associates, reviews of the firm as a whole are overwhelmingly positive. "The people and work are top notch," states one attorney. Another continues, "overall, it is one of the friendliest and most open firms in the city. I don't think that any other major firm would offer a better lifestyle." "If you are going to practice law, this a great place to do it," summarizes an insider. "You are paid well, get treated with respect, and [are given] a lot of responsibility early in your career."
Leslie S. Rice Manager of Attorney Employment (Houston) (713) 651-5518
Andrews & Kurth;Baker & Botts;Vinson & Elkins More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
