Scott Fiddler and Jessica Lara, Jackson Walker.

Scott Fiddler was facing a couple of big decisions at his small employment law firm in Houston: a growing workload called for hiring more lawyers, and he unexpectedly lost his firm's office space. Instead, he chose another path, joining Jackson Walker as a partner in Houston.

Fiddler & Associates, the firm he opened as a young lawyer in 1990, had so much work last fall that he needed to hire two more lawyers, Fiddler said. Then he learned that Harris County, which owned his downtown Houston building, was taking over the space, so Fiddler faced the unpleasant prospect of moving his three-lawyer firm well before his lease was up.

Then, Fiddler said, he got a fortuitous call from Jackson Walker.

“That solved the problem,” said Fiddler, who joined Jackson Walker as a partner in Houston on Feb. 1, along with Jessica Lara, who joined as a staff attorney. Fiddler & Associates lawyer Andrew Reed joined Locke Lord as an associate in Houston last fall.

“It's a great move for our clients. I can now provide them with all of the benefits of a full-service firm instead of having to refer their business out,” Fiddler said.

W. Gary Fowler, a partner in Dallas who is co-chair of Jackson Walker's labor and employment practice, said in a press release that Fiddler's “distinguished resume” commands attention from clients and lawyers.

“On top of providing high-level experience to current and potential clients, he will also offer strong leadership to colleagues in our labor and employment group,” Fowler wrote, noting that Fiddler previously chaired the Houston Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section and was president of the National Employment Lawyers Association's Houston chapter.

Fiddler handles commercial litigation and labor and employment lawsuits. He said his clients include Fishbone Safety Solutions, All American Orthopedics, Pure and the National Diversity Council.

Fiddler said that when he started his firm nearly three decades ago, he handled a plaintiff's contingency fee docket, representing individuals against large companies. Over the last 10 to 15 years, he said, he transformed it into a firm with about 80 percent hourly, defense work.

“We represent executives and physicians, higher wage-earners on our contingency fee cases. The model was representing individuals against larger companies and representing smaller companies in employment matters,” he said.

Fiddler said many firms reached out to him over the years, but he never considered making a move until last fall when Jackson Walker called.

“Really, I just thought I would kick the tires and just see,” Fiddler said.

So Fiddler closed his firm Jan. 31. He said he enjoyed the leadership aspect of running a firm and determining its direction, and training lawyers. But now, he said, he likes the idea of “not having to mess with the administrative side of things” so he can concentrate on his practice and getting business.

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