Four labor and employment lawyers, including shareholders and name partners Cary Farris and John Linker, have left Houston boutique Alaniz Schraeder Linker Farris Mayes to join Winstead's Houston office.

Associates Taylor Kilway and Karolina Murguia also moved to Winstead.

Farris said he and Linker, both litigators, have been talking for a while about expanding their practice by moving to a larger firm with more resources. They talked to a number of firms and ultimately chose Winstead because the firm is committed to expanding its labor and employment practice.

“John and I have been very entrepreneurial,” Farris said.

The two lawyers joined Winstead in late November, but the firm announced the move Dec. 1. Farris and Linker do employment litigation and other labor and employment-related work. Kilway advises public and private companies on workplace laws and regulations, and Murguia advises employers on immigration-related matters.

Farris said he and Linker believe their move will be beneficial both to the firm and to their individual practices.

“We represent some large clients that have other needs besides labor and employment,” he said. “Our old firm wasn't full-service, obviously. We had to farm some of that stuff out.”

At the same time, he added, they expect to do labor and employment work for some Winstead clients.

Farris declined to identify the clients they brought to Winstead.

David Dawson, Winstead's CEO, said the team of lateral hires and its national labor and litigation practice will help the firm provide exceptional service to clients.

Rick Alaniz, a founder of Alaniz Schraeder, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the departure of the four-lawyer team.