Law Firm Baker Botts LLP: Autonomy, Collaboration & Innovation - An Overview

Summary

Baker Botts LLP is an internationally recognized law firm with a long and distinguished history, representing a wide variety of clients in a number of business areas. The firm has offices in the United States and throughout the world, which allows it to provide high-quality legal services to clients on a global scale. The firm's lawyers are highly experienced and knowledgeable, and the firm is regularly recognized for its commitment to providing exceptional client service and innovative legal advice.


Baker Botts LLP specializes in a variety of legal services, from corporate to litigation and intellectual property. The firm provides a wide range of legal services in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, international arbitration, technology, antitrust and competition, natural resources and energy, and more. The firm has a long tradition of providing excellent legal counsel in a variety of business sectors.

The firm's attorneys are well-versed in the law and have years of experience handling complex legal issues. Their expertise in legal strategy is well known, and they have a proven track record of obtaining successful outcomes on behalf of their clients. The firm prides itself on its ability to respond quickly to client needs, and its attorneys are known for providing reliable, creative and cost-effective solutions to difficult legal issues.

The firm is also committed to providing pro bono legal services and has represented a wide variety of underrepresented individuals and organizations. In addition, Baker Botts provides support and training to young lawyers through its well-respected Baker Botts Fellows program. This program has been recognized by the American Bar Association for its dedication to training and developing the next generation of legal professionals.

Baker Botts LLP is an international law firm that provides comprehensive legal services for business and individual clients. The firm's attorneys are experienced and knowledgeable, providing reliable, creative and cost-effective legal solutions. They specialize in a variety of legal areas, including corporate, litigation, intellectual property, antitrust and competition, natural resources, and energy. The firm is committed to providing outstanding legal counsel and pro bono services, as well as training and development opportunities for young lawyers.
 

Baker Botts LLP: Wielding Power Since 1840

Established in 1840 by two prominent Texas attorneys, Baker Botts LLP has emerged as one of the world's largest and most powerful law firms. With over 800 lawyers and more than 20 offices, the firm is widely recognized as a leader in the legal industry.

From its humble beginnings in Houston, Texas, the firm has grown to include offices in Washington, DC, London, Dubai, Riyadh, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The firm's impressive list of clients includes Fortune 500 companies, governments and prominent individuals. In 2021, Baker Botts LLP was ranked 8th in the US News & World Report's survey of the largest US law firms.

The firm prides itself on its diversity of practice, representing the interests of clients in the public and private sectors. From its roots in the oil and gas industries, the firm has grown to encompass a wide range of industries such as energy, finance, technology, real estate, health care, intellectual property, litigation and government affairs. In addition, the firm provides a range of services related to mergers, acquisitions, securities regulations and venture capital.

Baker Botts LLP is committed to delivering high-quality services to its clients, while embracing the spirit and culture of the firm. The firm's lawyers are renowned for their commercial, legal and technical skills and are dedicated to providing innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of their clients.

With a legacy of experience and success, Baker Botts LLP has been at the forefront of the legal industry since 1840. With its global network of offices, talented legal team and commitment to excellence, the firm is well positioned to provide the best legal advice and counsel to its clients on the world stage.

The Houston office serves as the flagship for eight others around the world. Domestically, there is the Texas triumvirate (Houston, Dallas, and Austin), an office in New York, and one in Washington, DC. London, Moscow, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, also host Baker Botts offices. The final location is in Baku, Azerbaijan. At first glance, this may seem like an obscure place for a law firm, but a closer look at its connection with Texas reveals its raison d'etre. Azerbaijan is an oil-rich country on the shores of the Caspian Sea situated south of Russia, north of Iran, and east of Turkey. Baku is the capital of and largest city in Azerbaijan. Its main industry is the refining of oil, hence its proximity to the petroleum fields near the Iran border. Baker Botts represents major energy companies such as Exxon, Marathon Oil, and Halliburton (remember ex-CEO Dick Cheney?). By having an office in this oil-rich area, the firm is better able to respond to "situations" and thus serve its clients in an expedient manner. Further proof of its oil interests is evidenced by the firm's representation of Pennzoil-Quaker State when it was bought by Shell Oil in 2002 for $1.8 billion.

The firm is also actively involved in the high-tech industry. Among its clients are Dell, EDS, and Affiliated Computer Services. The entertainment industry provides another arena for Baker Botts to show its strength. The firm had a hand in launching the Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) cable television network, which broadcasts home games for various local professional sports franchises, in 2002. That same year, it advised the USA Network on the sale of its entertainment division in a deal worth $10.3 billion. Baker Botts is obviously a major player in many fields of business.

The firm also has strong political ties to the Bush family and was one of the major financial backers of George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign. In what might have been seen as a conflict of interest, Baker Botts was actively engaged in the legal wrangling that followed the disputed 2000 election. Upon seizing the presidency, Bush assigned more than a few of the firm's partners to posts on his staff.

On a philanthropic note, Baker Botts was awarded the 2003 National Public Service Award. This distinguished it as a firm that provides pro bono legal assistance to nonprofits connected with disadvantaged communities. Some of these organizations are Justice for Children and Texas Rural Legal Aid. The firm remains committed to pro bono work, even though it doesn't toot its own horn.

Law students looking to gain employment at Baker Botts should have some kind of Texas connection to ease their way in. The firm looks for potential associates at top-15 law schools but will make exceptions for those who graduated in the top 15% from a Texas law school. There is some aspect of cronyism at work here, but a firm as powerful as Baker Botts can hire whomever it wants for whatever reason.

Compensation, which is surprisingly not the highest in the area, is average. However, the hours may be getting excessive. There is a push underway to raise the billable-hour requirement from 2,000 to 2,200. The partners at Baker Botts have reputations for being accessible and respectful. Minorities and women do not comprise much of the attorney pool at the firm, although the partners are actively trying to change that.

Baker Botts is a connected law firm which represents high-profile clients in cases that are front-page news. High profile translates to high pressure for the attorneys working on these matters; however, what separates this firm from the others is the prestige the Baker Botts name carries.