Van Beckwith, chair of Baker Botts' litigation department, will depart after 30 years to become senior vice president and general counsel at Halliburton Co. on Jan. 1.

Beckwith's move is reminiscent of others in the industry who, after long careers at Big Law firms, have gone in-house with a major client of their firm.

Baker Botts partners Bridget Moore in Washington, D.C., and Danny David in Houston will succeed him as heads of the litigation department.