DLA Piper Lands Longtime K&L Gates Partner in Dallas
DLA Piper sought out well-known employment and commercial litigator Kim Askew to strategically build its fast-growing Dallas office.
January 22, 2020 at 07:06 PM
3 minute read
Kim Askew, partner, DLA Piper in Dallas. Photo: Mark Graham
Dallas employment litigator Kim Askew has joined DLA Piper as a partner, coming from K&L Gates.
Askew, who made the move Jan. 15, is a high-profile hire for DLA Piper, which has grown rapidly in Dallas, expanding from four lawyers two years ago to about 40 today. She became part of K&L Gates 12 years ago through its merger with midsize Texas-based Hughes & Luce, which she joined more than 35 years ago.
Marc Katz, managing partner of the Dallas office, said DLA Piper approached Askew as part of its plan to strategically hire quality lawyers in Dallas.
In mapping a growth strategy, the firm "identified a very small number of lawyers in Dallas that we thought would be the type of lawyer we thought we would partner with," he said. "Kim was at the top of the list."
Askew said DLA Piper provides an excellent platform for her work, and "really good stuff is happening here with respect to how the firm is building this office."
She said she's been approached by other firms over the years, but DLA Piper has a vision for its Dallas presence, and how it serves clients, that was attractive to her.
She declined to identify clients. She handles employment matters involving claims of discrimination based on race, disability, gender and age, as well as and sexual harassment claims. She also does commercial litigation.
According to federal court records, her clients in recent years have included Halliburton Energy Services and Exco Resources.
Katz, who joined to DLA Piper from Andrews Kurth Kenyon in February 2018, before it merged with Hunton & Williams, said DLA Piper's lateral hires in those two years have focused on all areas of the health care practice, as well as restructuring.
Strategic hiring will continue, he said, with the firm looking to add more restructuring lawyers in Dallas, along with private equity, corporate mergers and acquisitions, real estate finance and energy finance lawyers.
A spokesperson for K&L Gates did not immediately provide a comment on Askew's departure.
In 2008, Dallas-based Hughes & Luce merged with the firm now known as K&L Gates.
Read More:
Hughes & Luce and K&L Gates Partners Agree on Combo Deal
Three Andrews Kurth Partners Move to DLA Piper in Dallas, More Lateral Hires Expected Soon
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