Dallas Legal Marketplace Profile
The Dallas legal market is one of the top in the country, both in terms of size and activity. With a booming economy and a business-friendly environment, Dallas has become an ideal location for corporate law firms. The demand for corporate legal services in Dallas has continuously expanded as the city grows into a hub for startups, technology, healthcare, finance, and other key industries.
In recent years, the Texas economy has outpaced that of the nation and solidified its position as one of the country’s top economic performers. In 2019, the state added approximately 385,000 jobs, making it the fastest growing job markets in the U.S. Major industries that have driven the growth include healthcare, government, energy, business services, finance and insurance, retail trade, professional services and entertainment. As a result, these sectors have driven increased demand for corporate legal advice and services.
The technology sector in particular has boomed, with Dallas serving as the headquarters for many major companies, including AT&T and Texas Instruments. This has forced law firms to stay competitive by keeping up with the needs of their clients. Demand for corporate legal services focusing on intellectual property, technology transactions, cybersecurity, and other related practice areas continues to grow.
In addition , the financial services industry is a substantial driver of corporate law in Dallas, and the city has seen substantial growth in this area in recent years. Major national and international financial services companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup have a major presence in the Dallas area. Increased merger and acquisition activity in the banking and finance industries has also created a need for corporate law firms to help buyers and sellers meet regulatory requirements.
Real estate and construction, another key driver of the Dallas economy, has also helped fuel demand for corporate legal services. Dallas-Fort Worth ranked first in the United States as the best area for new commercial real estate construction for the fourth consecutive year in 2019, according to the Dallas Morning News. Given the increased focus on real estate development, the need for corporate legal related to commercial real estate sales and purchases, hotel management, and other related areas has continued to grow.
Yet another industry contributing to the Dallas market real estate is healthcare. Here again, the region has seen continued growth in hospital infrastructure and hospitals are attempting to manage their costs while providing quality services. As a result, the demand for legal contracts to handle the sale or transfer of hospital assets keeps expanding.
How to Choose the Right Corporate Law Firm
Expertise: Corporate law firms should have a strong background in the specific area of corporate law that your business is in need of. It is crucial to partner with a firm that has demonstrated experience with legal matters relevant to the industry in which your business is involved.
Reputation: Although not always a deciding factor, the reputation of a law firm can be important when choosing a firm to represent your company. The law firm’s reputation within the community and among other Dallas corporate law firms can help to determine the quality of services provided.
Size: Consider how much of a team you will need to complete your project and hire accordingly. Some larger firms have the resources necessary to offer a legal team that can jump into a project quickly, but smaller firms may be a better fit for less intense projects.
Client Feedback: The feedback other clients have provided regarding a given law firm can offer insight as to whether the firm will be a good fit for your business’s needs.
The Top-Tier Law Firms for Corporate Matters in Dallas
Jackson Walker L.L.P. has achieved national recognition in the area of Corporate/M&A law. The firm was recently ranked by US News & World Report in the 2015 "Best Law Firms" guide as the top national law firm in Corporate/M&A law. The firm has an innovative, long-standing relationship with the University of Texas Law School’s program in Mergers and Acquisitions. This program was the first of its kind anywhere in the United States. It was founded by one of Jackson Walker’s founding partners, Walter Jones, and it has sent over 1,500 Texas Corporate M&A Law students into the field. Many other Dallas-based law firms send their corporate law students to this program as well.
Haynes and Boone is a Texas-based law firm with offices at 20 locations across North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. In addition to Mergers and Acquisitions, the firm specializes in IP and Technology, Corporate Securities, Antitrust law, and many other practice areas. According to Corpus Christi Business Journal, Haynes and Boone has been recognized as the top corporate law firm in Dallas. The firm has 66,000 lawyers and more than 400 lawyers in its corporate practice group.
Winstead has also been awarded the top spot among law firms for Corporate law in Dallas by the US News & World Report’s "Best Law Firms" guide. The firm originally started in 1970 as a real estate transactional law firm. In the years since its founding, it has grown to become a large firm with 300 attorneys. It has acquired several other firms, including Great Plains Minerals Law Group; Boothe, Schreiber and Leadbetter; and Cuthill and Eddy. The firm’s corporate law practice group represents clients from many sectors, including banking, energy law, environmental law, intellectual property (§ISOs and Incentive Stock Options), real estate law, securities law, tax, and technology.
Targeted Corporate Law Services Provided by Leading Firms
Globalization has led to a diversification of corporate fleets and integration of international economic activity. As a result, top corporate law firms in Dallas are adapting their expertise to encompass a range of emerging practice areas. Many of these law firms offer counsel on International Trade & Supply Chain. As multinational companies and industries expand across borders, the need for a specialized supply chain will continue to grow. Corporations consider such factors as currency, tariffs, licensing and government relations when assessing trade possibilities. In the Dallas area, top corporate law firms offer a range of services for companies looking to expand internationally and navigate the rules and restrictions governing cross border shipments. As one of the principal concerns for large corporations and international firms , intellectual property is represented among the many specialized services offered in Dallas. An increasing number of technology and pharmaceuticals companies require patent strategies to ensure the global protection of intellectual property. Top corporate law firms practice in the areas of software law, manufacturing law, public finance and securities and stock exchange law. Corporations can lean on tax partners as they navigate the often complicated and inconsistent domestic and cross border tax laws and regulations. Companies looking to expand their global reach can benefit from the compliance and enforcement expertise of top corporate law firms in Dallas. Regulatory regimes and enforcement systems vary from country to country. Dallas firms can navigate clients through these challenges with expertise from an interdisciplinary approach. These top corporate law firms appoint a team of lawyers with diverse skills in corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, tax strategy and intellectual property.
Client Experiences and Feedback
With Dallas being a thriving business hub, many corporations have trusted their legal needs to one of the top law firms in the area. For instance, Hill Ward Henderson is praised for their "expert guidance" by a long-term client. "After working with the Hill Ward Henderson team for over a decade, we believe their honest, thoughtful, and strategic legal counsel has been essential to our company’s success all over the country," shares the long-term Partner. "We have developed a great business relationship and they are heavily relied on for all our legal needs." Another client thanks Cantey Hanger for their "calm expert advice." The Firm has represented a "major international corporation" in the state of Texas for over 30 years. "During that time, we have come to rely on their expertise in, and knowledge of, all aspects of the law and its practical application to our unique situation. They have been our go-to law firm for more than 30 years. They have had the wisdom to run with our issues yet never make a major decision without our concurrence." Opfirm’s clients share the following: "The Team at the Firm helped us not only put a new plan in place for our corporate structure but also assisted us with many other issues that have arisen along the way. We trust them completely and can always count on them to do what is right for us even when it may not be right for them. We suggest you meet with the lawyers at Opfirm and see for yourself why we consider them to be one of the top law firms in Dallas."
Contacting the Top Firms for Corporate Matters
Most of the law firms listed above have options for getting in touch with them. Generally speaking, a good place to start is their main websites since these generally contain all the contact information you will need. The law firm’s website will usually contain emails for their various corporate partners and senior associates as well in case you wish to contact a specific person. If you are reaching out to the firm out of the blue, having a specific person to address your email to may expedite the process of setting up a consultation or appointment. That being said , however, don’t be surprised if you are redirected to a legal assistant or secretary instead of the corporate partner you’re trying to reach. Most firms meeting our criteria for a top firm will be open to initial consultation with potential clients. Contacting them through their websites (or by phone) and explaining your situation is usually enough to set up a meeting. The firms will then send you an email to confirm. Keep in mind that Dallas firms are not the only places you can find reputable lawyers.
+ There are no comments
Add yours