 | Four Partners from Established Litigation Firms Form High-End Trial Boutique
1/3/2006 Four partners from established Dallas litigation firms announce they have left their firms to form a new, high-end trial boutique, Gruber Hurst Johansen & Hail LLP, effective January 2, 2006. G. Michael Gruber, Michael K. Hurst and Brian N. Hail have departed from Godwin Gruber LLP in the Dallas office, and Mark L. Johansen left Crotty & Johansen LLP, also in Dallas.
Gruber was a name partner at Godwin Gruber since 1999. He served six years as managing partner and most recently served as CEO. Hurst served as COO and most recently as Executive Vice President and Chair of the firm’s commercial litigation section. Both served on the firm’s executive committee for seven years, and Brian Hail was a partner in Godwin Gruber’s commercial litigation section since 1998. Mark Johansen was a name partner with Crotty & Johansen since 1995, and previously was a partner at Akin Gump in Dallas.
All four founding partners have achieved top verdicts in Texas state and federal courts and in arbitrations. Gruber and Hail are Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Gruber, Hurst, Johansen and Hail have all been recognized by Texas Monthly as “Super Lawyers,” with Gruber and Hurst recently being recognized in “the top 100 lawyers in Texas” list published by Texas Journal of Law and Politics.
In addition to the four founding partners, Godwin Gruber partner John Martin and associates Elizabeth Hameline, Michael Lang, Rob Radcliff and Vanessa Rush joined Gruber Hurst Johansen & Hail LLP. Lawyers in the new firm are continuing their active civil trial practices, focusing on complex business litigation including securities, employment, intellectual property, products liability and other commercial cases. Clients include leading companies—large and small—and individuals in the following industries: private equity, real estate, manufacturing, professional services, oil and gas, and retail.
Gruber, Hurst, Johansen and Hail launched this new firm to have the flexibility and freedom to team with clients on various billing strategies, including a mix of hourly, contingency and other creative billing arrangements. Gruber states, “We believe clients want lawyers to have skin in the game—as opposed to only billing by the hour without regard to results. Clients want lawyers to share in their risk and reward. As a newly formed firm, we have the agility and desire to do this. This approach will be fundamental to the way we serve clients.”
Johansen wanted to expand his commercial litigation practice and is excited about the opportunity to team with three of the region’s other top trial lawyers on a bigger platform, with access to the increased resources to handle larger, more complex cases. “Clients with pressing problems will be able to get exactly what they need from our new firm—rapid response, sophisticated problem-solving skills and a stake in the outcome of the case.”
Gruber Hurst Johansen & Hail LLP plans to expand over the next 12-18 months and will seek top trial lawyers who share a similar work ethic and pinpoint focus on the client. Back | |
