3 min read January 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Ken Bullock, Frost Brown Todd’s Houston partner-in-charge, shared insights into the firm’s strategic expansion into Texas and the robust growth of its Houston office since its inception in 2020. Bullock discussed the firm’s distinctive expertise in the energy sector, emphasizing its comprehensive approach to client needs.
How did Frost Brown Todd decide to expand into Texas, and how has the Houston office grown since opening in 2020?
Frost Brown Todd, as a firm, has a long and rich history spanning over 100 years. Our roots trace back to two predecessor firms in Louisville and Cincinnati, with a significant presence in the Midwest. The firm strategically expanded over the past 15 years, carefully selecting markets that align with its client base and industry expertise.
The expansion included the establishment of offices in Dallas in 2015 and Houston in August 2020. Despite global challenges in the spring of 2020, the firm remained focused on creating a significant presence in Houston. The official opening in August 2020 saw seven lawyers, previously affiliated with various Houston-based firms and organizations, coming together to launch Frost Brown Todd’s Houston office.
In the three years since its inception, the Houston office has experienced remarkable growth, nearly tripling in size. This expansion has provided a robust foundation for Frost Brown Todd to continue thriving and expanding in the dynamic Houston market.
What are the key industry concentrations of your firm, and how has the energy sector influenced your presence in the Houston market?
Our firm, with a strong presence in Texas, concentrates on key industries, including energy, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing. We handle disputes and transactions for clients within these sectors. In Houston, these industries play a major role, with energy being a primary reason for our presence. Over the past year, we’ve achieved notable successes in energy-related disputes, securing wins up to the Texas Supreme Court.
Transactional activities, especially in the energy sector, continue to thrive despite economic challenges like inflation. Our firm’s success externally is mirrored by internal growth and expansion. We’ve added talented individuals, expanding both our litigation and transactional teams. Identifying the right people for optimal client representation is a priority for us.
How does your firm actively engage with the community in Houston?
Our commitment to Houston extends to our people and community. We received top scores in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation Corporate Equality Index and attained the Mansfield Plus certification for the third consecutive year. Our involvement with organizations like Habitat for Humanity reflects our dedication to being an integral part of the Houston community. Our success is not only measured by client achievements but also by our positive contributions to the community.
How does your firm’s unique expertise in the energy sector contribute to meeting client needs and staying competitive?
There are numerous opportunities in the energy industry. We have the traditional energy sector, such as oil and gas upstream production, which has been an integral part of Texas for over 100 years. We actively engage in representing clients and providing services to companies, individuals, and entities that own mineral interests and rights and that enable the development of oil and gas resources. Our representation extends to companies involved in exploration and production, as well as the midstream perspective, covering pipelines, trucks, transportation, and logistics to move resources downstream to refineries. We have been fortunate to assemble a team with significant experience in all three phases: traditional oil and gas upstream, midstream, and downstream.
Simultaneously, there has been a great deal of discussion about the energy transition and the associated opportunities, particularly in renewable energy like solar and wind, and unique possibilities such as carbon capture, carbon offsets, and credits. Our firm has expertise in these areas, facilitating deals for the installation of solar arrays and wind farms. We also provide counsel on carbon capture regulations in Texas. Our focus on both traditional fossil fuels and renewable energy sectors positions us for growth.
Beyond energy, we have a broad focus on manufacturing, healthcare innovation, and technology. For instance, our lawyers recently spoke at a Rice University event about healthcare innovation, technology, and topics like artificial intelligence. We strive to identify individuals who can offer outstanding service to clients and possess a real understanding of the entire industry, ensuring we cover it comprehensively for our clients. This approach has been successful in Houston, and we intend to continue this focus and success.
How does Frost Brown Todd approach the identification and retention of talent in specific core industries in Texas?
In the past few years, there has been a large influx of firms without a traditional Texas connection, but they’ve identified Texas as a fundamental growth market due to positive economic developments. Some have found success, while others haven’t. Frost Brown Todd made the decision to enter Texas and central to the firm’s plan is identifying individuals in Houston with connections to existing clients in Houston and throughout Texas, recognizing the critical role of the Houston and Texas legal markets, as well as their economies.
To avoid a scenario where lawyers from elsewhere claim to have a Houston office, we did the opposite. We identified people in specific practice areas and core industries where our firm has existing framework and support expertise. Our focus was on those core industries when we opened the Houston office over three years ago, and it remains our growth strategy. We’ve been selective in bringing in individuals with deep connections in these core industries, following a methodical process. We aren’t adding attorneys merely to meet a specific headcount. Instead, we’re identifying and bringing on individuals strategically aligned with our existing strengths and future growth plans.
How is your firm using technology to navigate legal opportunities and provide strategic benefits for clients in Texas and beyond?
Texas, a diverse and business-friendly place, requires focused efforts in the legal industry, especially with challenges and opportunities like artificial intelligence. We concentrate on areas that add value for clients, using internal tools to manage real-world data on lawsuits across various courts and states. Our recent launch of a client-facing data platform emphasizes strategic benefits, avoiding scattering efforts in all directions. Exciting opportunities are on the horizon, with potential headlines in early 2024 showcasing continued growth.
What are Frost Brown Todd’s goals, and how does the firm plan to achieve them?
Externally, our commitment remains steadfast in delivering exceptional client service, focusing on key growth industries in Texas, including energy, healthcare innovation, technology, manufacturing, and finance. Internally, we prioritize identifying individuals with complementary talents and connections in key industries. Frost Brown Todd is not only dedicated to meeting client needs but is also a great workplace for our attorneys, fostering an environment where they can thrive and contribute to our outstanding service.
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