As Winston & Strawn executes a strategy to expand its energy litigation and transactional practices in Texas, K&L Gates has lost another partner in the state.

Michael T. Murphy was managing partner of K&L Gates' Houston office before joining Winston & Strawn on Monday as a partner in Houston.

Murphy, a commercial litigator who concentrates on work in the energy sector, said Winston & Strawn provides him the opportunity to be part of an actively growing energy practice in Texas, and also reunites him with partner Paula Hinton. The two worked together years ago at Vinson & Elkins.