Summer holidays haven't ended yet, but the pace of lateral hiring in Texas is already picking up.

On Monday, a number of lawyers started jobs at new firms including Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who joined Locke Lord as a public finance partner.

Others include Kenneth Held, who joined Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Houston as a litigation partner, coming from Thompson & Knight; and Patrick Knapp, who joined McGuireWoods' Houston and Dallas offices as an energy M&A partner, coming from Robert Anderson Law.

Knapp said he was impressed by McGuireWoods' client focus, an aspect he appreciates because he worked in-house earlier in his career. He was managing counsel at Bridger Logistics, a division of Ferrellgas Partners, in Dallas for nearly four years before joining Robert Anderson Law as of counsel last fall.

"[Working] in-house [was] a valuable experience for me because I got to work directly with my clients and develop a really deep understanding of the operational aspects of the business on a very granular level," he said.

The energy M&A lawyer said he is based in Dallas but will spend a lot of time in Houston because a number of his clients are there. He declined to identify his clients, but he represents producers, marketers, logistics providers and refiners in the United States.

Michael Woodard, chair of McGuireWoods' M&A and corporate transactions department, said the client perspective Knapp brings to the firm is advantageous.

Robert Anderson said, "Pat is a great attorney and should be a welcome addition to McGuireWoods."

Johnson, the new Locke Lord partner who was elected Mayor in June, was not immediately available for comment. Prior to being elected mayor in June, he served for nine years in the Texas Legislature.

He was part of a public finance team that left Andrews Kurth Kenyon in February 2018, prior to its merger with Hunton & Williams, and moved to Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Texas. Johnson left Orrick in February.

In a statement, Orrick said: "It was an honor to have Eric as part of our team and the city of Dallas is fortunate to have his leadership. We wish him the best."

In a statement, Johnson said he has long respected Locke Lord's deep ties to the Dallas community.

"I can't think of a better situation—working for the people of my hometown as their mayor, and practicing law with some of the most talented lawyers in the world," he said.

Whit Roberts, deputy managing partner of Locke Lord's Dallas office, said in the firm's press release that Johnson's background in legal and civic endeavors and his experience in public finance will be "invaluable" to the firm.

Held, the new Skadden lawyer in Houston, was not immediately available for comment but said in a press release that he's worked with a number of Skadden Arps litigators in the past and was impressed with their creativity in solving complex legal issues.

His practice includes securities litigation, energy litigation and class-action defense. His clients, according to his new firm, include individuals, public and private companies and private equity firms and hedge funds.

Noelle Reed, head of Skadden's litigation practice in Houston, said in the release that she's worked on legal teams with Held and also across the table from him, adding that his knowledge and instincts are impressive.

Thompson & Knight trial practice leader Greg Curry said in a written statement that the move seems like a good opportunity for Held and the firm wishes him well.

"This is obviously a dynamic market for lateral movement," he wrote.

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