Inadmissible

Litigation firm Bickel & Brewer is offering its 2013 first-year associate class a base annual salary of $185,000, an increase of $10,000 over the firm’s current first-year associate base salary of $175,000, says William Brewer, a founding partner of the Dallas-based firm. The 43-lawyer firm is also giving each of its 32 associates a base salary increase of $10,000, effective Jan. 1, 2013, Brewer says. “The goal here is always to be ahead of the curve,” Brewer says. Although the overall economy is still lackluster, Brewer says business is good for the firm, which handles large, complex litigation, and it wants to maintain its position as a salary leader. “We’re blessed,” Brewer says. “The fact is the firm is just doing great.” The firm has offered permanent positions to eight third-year law students, he says. The base salaries exclude bonuses, which are discretionary, he says. Sixteen of the state’s 25 largest firms are offering their 2013 first-year associates salaries ranging from $120,000 to $165,000. [See "Offers to Summer Associates at Large Texas Firms", Texas Lawyer, Sept. 24, 2012, p. 21.] Most of the large firms also offer guaranteed bonuses to associates during their first year. Bickel & Brewer was also a market leader when it offered its 2002 first-year associate class a salary base of $175,000. [See "Bickel & Brewer Ups the Ante for Associates", Texas Lawyer, April 23, 2001, p. 22] At that time the firm was increasing first-year salaries from a base of $145,000 and gave a parallel boost of $20,000 to the base pay of all the firm’s associates. Brewer says the firm also gave salary increases earlier this year to its nonlawyer professionals, which include 17 consultants, and its staff members. “You make a change in the hope and belief and optimism that your efforts are paying off,” he says. “This is the new normal, and we’re going to be even better because we’re working hard across the board.”

Akin Gump First

Partners in Dallas-based Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld have elected litigator Kim Koopersmith as the firm’s first chairwoman, effective April 1, 2013. Koopersmith is the firm’s U.S. managing partner and will maintain offices in New York and Washington, D.C. She will be replacing R. Bruce McLean, of Washington, D.C., who has served as chairman for 20 years and will continue with the firm as senior executive partner. The firm announced Koopersmith’s election on Oct. 15. Koopersmith and McLean say the firm will continue to look for lateral hiring opportunities in Texas and elsewhere, such as the recent addition of seven former Haynes and Boone partners to the firm’s Dallas office. “The whole succession process, I think, has very successfully made clear that the firm’s commitment and direction in terms of Texas is as strong as ever,” Koopersmith says. “Look at the Haynes Boone example as a clear example of this commitment. Bruce and I were active in getting those people to make the decision that they did. So the firm has a demonstrated commitment to Texas,” she says. Akin Gump has 894 lawyers, 192 of whom are here in Texas. With the election, Koopersmith joins a small group of women leading one of the state’s 25 largest firms, as listed on Texas Lawyer‘s “The Texas 100″ poster published April 30, 2012. The two other women in their firms’ top position are Jerry Clements, chairwoman of Dallas-based Locke Lord, and Emily Parker, managing partner of Dallas-based Thompson & Knight. McLean says that change at the top of an organization is beneficial. “So, I told our management committee and our partners some time ago that it was my intention to step aside, and I fulfilled that promise to them,” McLean says. “The firm is going to benefit enormously from Kim’s leadership.” In his new role, McLean says he will be spending time with firm clients and helping with lateral recruitment and the integration of lateral partners into the firm. “I’m enthusiastic about moving into the next phase of my professional life,” he says.

Maternity Mentoring