Thompson & Knight LLP
01 May 2007
Thompson & Knight LLP was founded in Dallas in 1887 and has been an integral part of the Texan legal landscape ever since. As the state developed into a burgeoning business centre so the firm adapted to the increasing complexity of its client's needs, expanding the range of industries and practice areas covered by its lawyers. The firm now has 12 offices in six separate countries and can boast over 400 lawyers offering a wide range of legal services to a diverse client base. Eighteen of these feature in 11 chapters in this book.
Thompson & Knight LLP in Who's Who Legal: Texas
Respondents to our survey noted the strength of the firm's energy practice and this is particularly evident in the oil & gas chapter, where Thompson & Knight fields three highly respected practitioners. Andrew Derman is the pick of the bunch, featuring prominently among the practice area's elite. Derman was rated by one prominent source as "among the best of the peripatetic international oil & gas lawyers", and is said to be "always on the go". Skip Maryan is a former chief counsel for ExxonMobil Development Co and both he and Ben Welmaker complete this strong trio.
The firm is also well positioned to service the environmental needs of its client base - three partners make the Environment chapter. James Morriss is rated as "one of the top in Texas" and has represented industries such as steel, petroleum refining, cement, chemicals and real estate developers, to name but a few. Scott Deatherage is also recommended, as is James Harris for litigation. Indeed, Thompson & Knight also features in the commercial litigation chapter thanks to the strong showing of George Chapman.
Gregory Huffman was praised by one prominent source as "my favourite antitrust lawyer in Dallas". Huffman's sterling reputation ensures a prominent position in the Competition chapter. He recently obtained a favourable jury verdict in a monopolisation case tried in Houston. William Katz is rated as one of the rising stars of the practice area and his growing reputation sees him included.
David Wheat tops the research in Corporate Tax where his knowledge of the tax implications of mergers and acquisitions was noted. Wheat chaired the ABA's corporate tax committee from 2003 to 2004. The firm also maintains an excellent position in the insolvency & restructuring chapter, with Rhett Campbell variously praised as "a star", "outstanding" and "excellent". Campbell's work on energy industry bankruptcies was noted to researchers and among other matters he represented the official unsecured creditors committee in In re Cygnus Oil & Gas Corp, in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.
Thompson & Knight boasts two nominees in both the Employee Benefits and Real Estate chapters and further representation in Aviation, Banking and Patents highlights the depth of expertise on offer at the firm.
To see more profiled firms from Texas, vist the Firm Profiles page in the Texas Special Report