With the hiring of Tim Powers as the fourth managing partner in its 44-year history, the law firm of Haynes and Boone LLP is taking a bold step in bolstering its efforts to compete both nationally and locally in a legal market plagued by decreasing demand for legal services. The Dallas-founded firm of Haynes and Boone is international and specializes in multiple areas of legal practice and litigation including Antitrust, Environmental, Healthcare, Insurance, Labor and Employment, Oil and Gas, Real Estate, Sports, and Tax. In order to effectively lead the charge, the firm hired Powers, who boasts an impressive resume of 34 years of practice, almost all of which was spent serving Haynes and Boone in both his capacity as an attorney and in various leadership positions as a recruiter, board of directors member, marketing partner, and practice chair. Among his many accolades, Powers’ personal profile on the Haynes and Boone website refers to his ranking as one of the best lawyers in America according to Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyer for Business annual rankings.
Yet with all of his accomplishments, he remains driven and guided by his vision to hire more than double the current amount of attorneys working at Haynes and Boone’s office in Houston. In Bill Hethcock’s article for the Houston Business Journal entitled, “Growth on the docket for Haynes and Boone under new leadership,” Powers admitted to Hethcock in an interview that he aspires to “maintain [Haynes and Boone’s] No.1 position in Dallas,” to “create a great environment for people to work in,” and to effectively strategize in order to remain competitive.
Although Powers is clearly motivated and qualified, he will have a tough act to follow with the pass of the torch from outgoing managing partner Terry Conner. Under Conner’s regime, Haynes and Boone grew rapidly in the face of the 2008 economic recession, increasing its revenues by nearly $50 million. In addition, Conner helped expand the firm to new offices in California, fortifying Haynes and Boone’s national visibility as a firm. According to Haynes and Boone’s website, Powers had high praise and spoke from the heart when he had the following to say about his predecessor:
“I have had the great privilege of working alongside Terry [Conner] for more than 30 years and have seen his commitment to sound management built on a powerful ‘client first mentality’ foundation. We will build on this legacy which has served us so well.”
Powers will not have to travel far to seek out his predecessor, for Conner will assume a leadership role consulting with and assisting the firm as of January 1, 2015, the date on which Powers is set to officially become the managing partner.
Image credit: Haynes and Boone LLP, via Texas Association of Broadcasters
Guest Post by: Robert Gardner