Chris LaFollette Quoted in Texas Lawyer Managing Partner Survey

For its article “Recession Rebound: Managing Partner Survey Shows Positive Growth Trend,” Texas Lawyer interviewed law firm leaders on management strategies in 2013 and their outlook for the Texas legal market in the upcoming year.

Akin Gump Houston partner in charge Christine “Chris” LaFollette was quoted on several topics.  First, on the energy boom, she noted that the biggest opportunity in 2014 for the firm’s Houston office “is the incredible expected continued activity in the energy space. The whole energy value chain is going through such dynamic growth. We're already seeing the pipeline for 2014 filling up, the first quarter will be amazing. I'm not sure there will be much of a break other than turning the page from 2013 to 2014. That's a great thing.”

On the topic of alternative fee arrangements, LaFollette noted that Akin Gump uses an array of alternative billing options. “I think that the flat billable hour has evolved,” she stated, adding that Toby Brown, the firm’s director of strategic pricing and analytics, helps in the creation of innovative billing strategies and that demand for his specialized know-how has increased during the past few years since he has joined the firm. “He definitely is a resource that we all tap into,” LaFollette said, “It keeps going back to how the world is evolving and we have to be responsive and innovative with legal services."

Toby Brown, along with Akin Gump COO Sally King, was recently recognized by The National Law Journal in its inaugural “Legal Business Trailblazers & Pioneers” honors.  To read more about this recognition, please click here.