Founded in Houston in 1945 by lawyers who tried cases, Bracewell has always had a strong focus on litigation. But the firm's litigation section underwent a change in 2015, essentially becoming a litigation boutique inside a large law firm.

Houston partner Stephen Crain, head of the litigation section, said his intent was “to undo some boundaries and energize everybody to work together. I wanted to get away from the notion of creating little fiefdoms.”

Instead of having its trial lawyers working in separate groups with separate subject areas, Bracewell has the lawyers work together as a unified team. And, as Crain noted, the section has a “flat hierarchy, not the old-fashioned command and control.”