Don Clark Jr. of Butler Snow (courtesy photo)

Butler Snow added five new lawyers, including three partners, from other firms in an indication the Southeast-based firm is pursuing is growth strategy with enthusiasm.

The firm made its first appearance on the Am Law 200 this year with a debut ranking of 155. In the last year alone, Butler Snow has added 55 attorneys, and its leadership said it could add close to that many again by the end of the year.

“If we added another 40 to 50 attorneys before the end of the year, I wouldn't be surprised to see it,” said longtime chairman Don Clark, who is beginning to transition from the role he's held for 14 years by handing the reigns over to chairman-elect Christopher Maddux.

After an extensive interview process, Clark said the firm selected Maddux to be the new chairman in part because he believed in the growth strategy, which includes choosing quality attorneys who fit the firm's culture to bolster existing offices.

“Our strategy right now is to grow out the offices we currently have,” he said, mentioning offices in Austin, Texas, where the firm just signed a lease for the new South by Southwest downtown building, and Charleston, South Carolina, where it just opened a new office, as opportunities for growth.

Two of Butler Snow's recent hires are in Texas: Partner Thomas Forbes will join the Austin office from Kemp Smith, and senior counsel Candice Carson will join the Dallas office from Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

Partner Robert Sumner will join the Charleston office from Moore & Van Allen, associate Douglas Weissinger will join in Memphis, Tennessee, also from Moore & Van Allen, and partner Rebecca Lee Wiggs will join the firm from Watkins & Eager in Jackson, Mississippi.

Even with the focus on existing offices, Clark said Butler Snow is open to geographic expansion if presented with the perfect opportunity.

“We don't have plans to open any new offices for the rest of the year,” he said. “But if the phone rang, sometimes opportunities just knock and are pure luck, and I'd take it.”

Butler Snow has about 360 lawyers in 27 offices mostly based in the southeastern United States, although it also has offices as far west as Denver, Colorado, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, and as far east as Boston and New York, in addition to outposts in Singapore, Hong Kong and London.

Clark said Butler Snow considers itself a midsize, regional law firm and, depending on the practice area, it competes with Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz and other major regional players — something Clark doesn't see changing in the face of growth. But in certain practice areas — namely, pharmaceutical defense and public finance — Clark said Butler Snow is competitive on the national scale and on par with firms in New York.

“In my view, we're large enough to handle very significant matters, and in many instances we have been national counsel for Fortune 500 companies,” he said.

As the firm looks to the coming year and focuses on its growth strategy, Clark said its culture still makes the firm selective. Rather than hinging pay on billable hours and expecting his partners to have a competitive, “eat what you kill” ethos, Clark said he's worked in his 14 years as a leader to foster a culture of teamwork and collaboration different from other firms.

“If you really look at our history, you would see that we're sitting here talking about growth, and if we took everyone who was interested, we'd be a lot bigger right now,” he said. “We have to talk not only to attorneys who are great attorneys, but who are great and fit into this collaborative, teamwork-oriented system. This is not for everyone.”

As Butler Snow transitions into new leadership at the beginning of 2020, Clark said he does not expect that outlook to change. Maddux is taking a three-month sabbatical, but when he returns this fall, he will embark on a monthslong listening tour and visit offices throughout the country, where he will meet with partners, associates and staff to hear their concerns as he moves into the chairmanship.

“We all know Chris and what his thoughts are,” Clark said. “His vision for the firm is similar to our vision.”