Kirkland & Ellis has claimed the title of the largest law firm in Texas, cementing its dominance in one of America’s most competitive legal markets.
The firm’s Texas headcount has surged to 549 lawyers, a figure that places it ahead of all rival firms operating across the Lone Star State.
The milestone was reached after Kirkland added 64 associates across its Texas offices in a single week, demonstrating the firm’s aggressive and sustained expansion strategy.
That rapid intake pushed Kirkland past Jackson Walker, the Texas-based firm that had previously held the top spot and had been actively marketing itself as the state’s largest.
Jackson Walker had expected to reach 533 attorneys this month, a number that Kirkland has now decisively overtaken with its latest hiring wave.
Bloomberg Law noted the significance of the move, highlighting just how quickly Kirkland has reshaped the legal landscape across Texas since entering the market.
What makes the achievement particularly striking is that Kirkland did not even establish a presence in Texas until 2014, making its rise to the top a remarkably swift one.
In little more than a decade, the firm has built a legal operation in the state that now surpasses long-established local rivals with deep roots in the Texas market.
Kirkland & Ellis already holds the distinction of being the world’s largest law firm by revenue, and its Texas expansion adds another significant chapter to that story.
The firm shows little sign of slowing its growth in the region, with its trajectory suggesting further recruitment of partners and associates in the months ahead.
Texas has become an increasingly important battleground for major Biglaw firms seeking to tap into the state’s booming energy, private equity, and corporate sectors.
With its headcount now firmly ahead of the competition, Kirkland appears well-positioned to consolidate its position as the dominant legal force in Texas for years to come.