Local law firm gets bigger in Texas

LeClairRyan is headquartered in the Riverfront Plaza East Tower. Photo by Evelyn Rupert.

LeClairRyan is headquartered in the Riverfront Plaza East Tower. Photo by Evelyn Rupert.

One of Richmond’s biggest law firms is putting down roots in the Lone Star State.

LeClairRyan announced Friday that it has absorbed the Houston-based firm Hays, McConn, Rice & Pickering.

In addition to LeClairRyan’s first office in Texas, the merger adds 18 attorneys, 18 staff members and an office in Las Vegas to LeClairRyan’s growing ranks. No money was exchanged in the deal.

LeClairRyan CEO David Freinberg said the expansion helps the firm satisfy demand in Texas.

“This is a completely client-driven decision for both of our firms,” Freinberg said. “For LeClairRyan, it will give us the ability to provide expanded representation for our clients in Texas, and for Hays McConn, it’s the ability to expand their offerings beyond Texas.”

David Freinberg

David Freinberg

The Houston addition is LeClairRyan’s first geographic expansion of 2014 after a busy year in 2013. In October, it absorbed Annapolis, Md.-based Adelman, Sheff & Smith. In January, it expanded its Newark, N.J., office by bringing on 10 veteran attorneys from another firm.

With the addition of Hays McConn, LeClairRyan now has about 370 attorneys, 720 employees and 23 offices in 12 states and Washington, D.C., the firm said.

Freinberg said it will continue to look for appropriate opportunities to add attorneys and new offices.

LeClairRyan expects to grow its new Houston office over time by adding new attorneys and practice areas. Hays McConn’s Las Vegas office is served by an attorney who splits time between Las Vegas and Houston. Freinberg said they may add to that office as well.

Hays McConn, founded in 1982, is led by John P. Cahill Jr., its managing shareholder. Twelve of the firm’s attorneys join LeClairRyan as partners, and nine of those attorneys have also become shareholders in the company.

The Hays McConn attorneys are experienced in commercial, construction and civil litigation, as well as matters concerning product and professional liability and corporate services, LeClairRyan said. They counsel clients in the oil and gas, construction and hospitality industries.

LeClairRyan is not the only local firm boosting its presence in Texas. In April, McGuireWoods opened an office in Dallas, its third location in Texas, after luring a team over from a competitor.

LeClairRyan is headquartered in the Riverfront Plaza East Tower. Photo by Evelyn Rupert.

LeClairRyan is headquartered in the Riverfront Plaza East Tower. Photo by Evelyn Rupert.

One of Richmond’s biggest law firms is putting down roots in the Lone Star State.

LeClairRyan announced Friday that it has absorbed the Houston-based firm Hays, McConn, Rice & Pickering.

In addition to LeClairRyan’s first office in Texas, the merger adds 18 attorneys, 18 staff members and an office in Las Vegas to LeClairRyan’s growing ranks. No money was exchanged in the deal.

LeClairRyan CEO David Freinberg said the expansion helps the firm satisfy demand in Texas.

“This is a completely client-driven decision for both of our firms,” Freinberg said. “For LeClairRyan, it will give us the ability to provide expanded representation for our clients in Texas, and for Hays McConn, it’s the ability to expand their offerings beyond Texas.”

David Freinberg

David Freinberg

The Houston addition is LeClairRyan’s first geographic expansion of 2014 after a busy year in 2013. In October, it absorbed Annapolis, Md.-based Adelman, Sheff & Smith. In January, it expanded its Newark, N.J., office by bringing on 10 veteran attorneys from another firm.

With the addition of Hays McConn, LeClairRyan now has about 370 attorneys, 720 employees and 23 offices in 12 states and Washington, D.C., the firm said.

Freinberg said it will continue to look for appropriate opportunities to add attorneys and new offices.

LeClairRyan expects to grow its new Houston office over time by adding new attorneys and practice areas. Hays McConn’s Las Vegas office is served by an attorney who splits time between Las Vegas and Houston. Freinberg said they may add to that office as well.

Hays McConn, founded in 1982, is led by John P. Cahill Jr., its managing shareholder. Twelve of the firm’s attorneys join LeClairRyan as partners, and nine of those attorneys have also become shareholders in the company.

The Hays McConn attorneys are experienced in commercial, construction and civil litigation, as well as matters concerning product and professional liability and corporate services, LeClairRyan said. They counsel clients in the oil and gas, construction and hospitality industries.

LeClairRyan is not the only local firm boosting its presence in Texas. In April, McGuireWoods opened an office in Dallas, its third location in Texas, after luring a team over from a competitor.

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Sheila Berry
Sheila Berry
9 years ago

Wow! I remember when LeClairRyan’s office (just one) was in the Columbian Block in Shockoe Slip. By my reckoning, that wasn’t so long ago.