Gibson Dunn Poaches Baker Botts' Energy PE Co-Head in Houston

Gibson Dunn poached the co-head of Baker Botts' energy private equity practice as a partner in Houston. Two more Texas moves landed the same day. A&O Shearman recruited a Morrison Foerster M&A and private equity partner in Austin, and Mayer Brown added a DLA Piper private credit partner in Houston. Winston Taylor added a former federal prosecutor and SEC enforcement lawyer as a partner in its investigations and white collar defense practice in Chicago, and lost an employee benefits partner to Vedder in Chicago the same morning. Venable brought in two advertising partners in New York, and Greenberg Traurig added a labor and employment shareholder in Miami, hired from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. On the leadership side, Alston & Bird selected the co-leader of its 400-lawyer litigation area as its next managing partner, starting in January 2027. He succeeds Richard Hays, who has held the role since 2008.