Alan D. Feld is and has been a pillar of the Texas-born law firm that bears his name. Feld has represented some of Texas' most prominent deal-makers. He was one of the state's first corporate lawyers with a strong following on Wall Street, which served as a calling card for Akin Gump in winning significant clients and engagements. He serves currently as chairman of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law's executive board as well as the board of trustees audit committee.

The legal profession is constantly evolving and that evolution only seems to have accelerated in recent years. What's the biggest change you've seen in the profession during your career? When I joined our firm in 1960, very few firms had branch offices or recruited lateral partners. Most firms were founded around a few major clients and were concerned about expansion because of the risks involved. Now, firms are much more aggressive around recruiting laterals, and there is an expectation that many of those laterals will bring so-called “portable business” with them to the firm.

What is one thing about the profession that has remained unchanged over the years? One thing that I have noticed that remains unchanged is the steadfast and continued credence and courtesy shown between the members of the profession.