Many years ago, the Texas LawBook pronounced Houston the "King of the Litigation Boutique." That still holds in 2024. Houston is home to over 20 litigation boutiques. These boutiques were formed when Big Law litigation partners departed under rate pressures 10-20 years ago as Big Law rates soared with competitive corporate practices. Many of Houston's top boutiques pay the Cravath scale or very competitive salaries.
Litigation boutiques offer associates an opportunity to get earlier hands-on experience. For the most part, associates will take depositions and argue hearings earlier than in Big Law. Cases are staffed leanly, allowing associates the opportunity to play significant roles sooner. Plus, many of these firms go to trial multiple times a year.
Litigation boutiques love to hire judicial law clerks. Several boutiques require that candidates have a judicial clerkship. Others just encourage a clerkship.
These firms require top academics and hire the most sought-after law students. Several offer summer programs to law students, but some do not. Some hire directly from judicial clerkships, while others prefer to hire lateral associates.
Here are a few of the top litigation boutiques in Houston in alphabetical order:
Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing aka AZA
Beck Redden
Copeland & Rice
Dobrowski Stafford & Pierce
Gerger Hennessy
Gibbs & Bruns
Hicks Johnson
Hicks Thomas
Hogan Thompson
Jordan Lynch & Cancienne
Lightfoot Franklin
McDowell Hetherington
McKool Smith
Murphy Ball
Quinn Emanuel
Reynolds Frizzell
Susman Godfrey
Ware Jackson
Weinstein Tippitts
Wright Close & Barger
YetterColeman
If you are a law student or an associate seeking more information about a Houston litigation boutique, schedule a call with Anne Heaviside to learn more.
