Baker Botts

Baker Botts L.L.P. is an American law firm headquartered at One Shell Plaza in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1865 as Gray and Botts, it is among the oldest law firms west of the Mississippi River and has developed from a Texas general-practice partnership into an international firm with particular strength in energy, technology, intellectual property, commercial litigation, antitrust, corporate transactions, and regulatory work. The firm began when attorneys Peter W. Gray and Walter Browne Botts formed Gray and Botts shortly after the American Civil War. James Addison Baker joined in 1872, prompting the name Gray, Botts & Baker. After Gray left to join the Supreme Court of Texas, the remaining partners adopted the name Baker & Botts. Baker's son, Captain James A. Baker, joined the organization as a clerk in 1877, became a lawyer in 1881, and entered the partnership in 1887. The resulting Baker, Botts, and Baker name reflected the firm's close association with successive generations of the Baker family. One of the firm's most consequential nineteenth-century matters arose from Captain Baker's representation of Houston businessman William Marsh Rice. After Rice was murdered in 1900, Baker helped investigate competing testamentary documents and supplied evidence that contributed to the exposure of a forged will. The eventual administration of Rice's estate helped establish the educational institution now known as Rice University, linking the firm's history to one of Houston's major civic institutions. During the twentieth century, Baker Botts expanded its legal and institutional influence. Its lawyers served in senior public positions, on courts, and in national regulatory roles. The firm's work increasingly reflected the economic importance of Texas energy companies while also developing substantial litigation and intellectual-property capabilities. In 1997 it acquired the New York intellectual-property litigation firm Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond. In 2001 it merged with Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin, a Washington, D.C., litigation boutique known especially for criminal defense and investigations. The merger strengthened Baker Botts' federal litigation and white-collar capabilities. The firm formally adopted the shorter Baker Botts name in 2000. Subsequent managing partners included Walter J. Smith, Andrew M. Baker, John W. Martin, and Danny David. Martin's 2019 election was notable because he was based in Palo Alto and became the first managing partner elected from outside Texas. The firm has continued to represent businesses in complex disputes, transactions, intellectual property matters, competition law, energy projects, and technology-related work. Publicly identified former lawyers and partners include government officials, judges, senior diplomats, and members of the United States Supreme Court and state supreme courts. Baker Botts also maintains a community-service and pro bono profile. Following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the firm provided legal assistance to affected residents and organizations. During the COVID-19 crisis, it published a community resource guide intended to help individuals and organizations navigate emergency legal and public-support issues. The firm remains active, with approximately 725 lawyers according to the referenced encyclopedia material, although its exact lawyer count and office footprint can change over time.

Baker Botts traces its origin to 1865, when Peter W. Gray and Walter Browne Botts established Gray and Botts in Texas. James Addison Baker joined the partnership in 1872, after which it became Gray, Botts & Baker. Gray later left to serve on the Supreme Court of Texas, and the remaining partners renamed the practice Baker & Botts. Captain James A. Baker, the son of Judge James Addison Baker, entered the firm as a clerk in 1877, qualified as a lawyer in 1881, and became a partner in 1887. The firm's name then became Baker, Botts, and Baker. Captain Baker's representation of William Marsh Rice became a defining episode in the firm's early history. Rice was murdered in 1900, and a later will presented by his New York attorney was challenged as forged. Baker acted as a witness and helped investigators obtain evidence concerning the document. After years of litigation, the disposition of Rice's estate supported the creation of the educational institution that became Rice University. The firm continued through the twentieth century as Houston and Texas developed into major commercial centers. Its practice became particularly associated with energy and industrial clients, while lawyers also handled constitutional, appellate, commercial, and regulatory matters. The Baker family connection continued into later generations: James A. Baker III, who held senior positions in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, joined as a senior partner in 1993 after leaving public service. Baker Botts expanded through strategic combinations. In 1997 it acquired Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond, a New York practice focused on intellectual-property disputes. In 2001 it merged with Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin, a Washington, D.C., litigation boutique that had represented prominent individuals and organizations in criminal, congressional, and commercial matters. The combination added federal litigation and white-collar depth. The firm adopted the Baker Botts name in 2000. Its leadership in the twenty-first century included Walter J. Smith, Andrew M. Baker, John W. Martin, and Danny David. Martin's election in 2019 was notable because he practiced in Palo Alto and was the first managing partner chosen from outside Texas. David became managing partner in 2023. The firm has maintained a broad business-law platform spanning corporate transactions, complex disputes, intellectual property, antitrust, energy, technology, and regulatory counseling. The firm's alumni and former lawyers include United States cabinet officials, national-security advisers, federal and state judges, diplomats, legislators, and Supreme Court justices. Former Miller Cassidy lawyers who later reached prominent public positions included Jamie Gorelick, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Seth Waxman. Baker Botts has also undertaken community and pro bono projects, including legal assistance after Hurricane Harvey and publication of a COVID-19 resource guide. A controversy reported by the Dutch newspaper NRC concerned the firm's representation of Rosneft in litigation connected with the Yukos dispute. NRC alleged that lawyers working for Rosneft helped prepare or transmit an Armenian court ruling later used in Dutch proceedings, and identified partner Ryan Bull and Moscow associate Izabella Sarkisyan in its account. Rosneft and Baker Botts denied the allegations. The matter is included here as a reported controversy rather than an established finding of misconduct.

• 2023

  Danny David becomes managing partner

  [1]Baker Bottsen.wikipedia.org

  Danny David is elected to lead the firm.

• 2019

  First non-Texas managing partner elected

  [1]Baker Bottsen.wikipedia.org

  Palo Alto-based corporate lawyer John W. Martin becomes managing partner.

• 2001

  Miller Cassidy merger

  [1]Baker Bottsen.wikipedia.org

  The firm merges with Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin to broaden its litigation capabilities.

• 2000

  Current Baker Botts name adopted

  [1]Baker Bottsen.wikipedia.org

  The firm formally uses the shorter Baker Botts name.

• 1997

  New York intellectual-property expansion

  [1]Baker Bottsen.wikipedia.org

  Baker Botts acquires Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & Raymond.

• 1887

  Captain James A. Baker becomes a partner

  [1]Baker Bottsen.wikipedia.org

  The partnership adopts the Baker, Botts, and Baker name.

• 1872

  James Addison Baker joins

  [1]Baker Bottsen.wikipedia.org

  Baker's admission changes the firm's name to Gray, Botts & Baker.

• 1865

  Gray and Botts is founded

  [1]Baker Bottsen.wikipedia.org

  Peter W. Gray and Walter Browne Botts establish the Texas law partnership that becomes Baker Botts.

A longstanding, business-focused American law firm with roots in Texas and a strong reputation in energy, technology, intellectual property, complex litigation, and corporate law.

• Legal services

  Corporate and transactional services

  Advice on mergers and acquisitions, financings, securities, governance, joint ventures, and commercial transactions for companies and investors.

• Legal services

  Energy and infrastructure practice

  Legal counsel for energy producers, infrastructure owners, and related businesses in transactions, projects, disputes, regulation, and environmental matters.

• Legal services

  Technology and intellectual property

  Patent, copyright, trademark, trade-secret, licensing, and technology litigation services, supported by the firm's long-running intellectual-property practice.

• Legal services

  Litigation and investigations

  Representation in complex commercial disputes, arbitration, appellate proceedings, white-collar defense, criminal investigations, and government inquiries.

• Legal services

  Antitrust and competition

  Counseling and litigation involving mergers, competition regulation, monopolization, investigations, and other antitrust issues.

• NRC allegations concerning Rosneft and the Yukos litigation

  The Dutch newspaper NRC reported allegations that Baker Botts lawyers helped prepare or transmit an Armenian court ruling used to support Rosneft's position in Dutch proceedings arising from the Yukos dispute. The report identified partner Ryan Bull and Moscow associate Izabella Sarkisyan. Baker Botts and Rosneft denied the allegations; the supplied material does not establish a judicial finding that the firm committed misconduct.

  Source

Read more

• 2020COVID-19 Community Resource Guide

  United States

  The firm published a guide collecting community resources and legal information relevant to the COVID-19 crisis.

  Outcome. The guide served as a public-facing information and support resource during the emergency.

  Source
• 2017Hurricane Harvey pro bono response

  United States

  Baker Botts provided legal support to victims and communities affected by Hurricane Harvey.

  Outcome. The effort extended the firm's community-service and pro bono work during a major Texas disaster.

  Source

• 2001

  Merger with Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & LewinM&A

  Background

  Miller Cassidy was a Washington, D.C., boutique with experience in litigation, criminal defense, and government-related matters.

  Action taken

  Baker Botts merged the boutique into its firm.

  Aftermath

  The combination strengthened federal litigation, investigations, and white-collar defense capabilities.

  Source

• 2000

  Adoption of the Baker Botts nameStrategy

  Background

  After more than a century of name changes reflecting successive partners, the firm sought a shorter public identity.

  Action taken

  The partnership renamed itself Baker Botts.

  Aftermath

  Baker Botts became the firm's continuing market identity.

  Source

• 1997

  Acquisition of Brumbaugh, Graves, Donohue & RaymondM&A

  Background

  The New York firm specialized in intellectual-property disputes, an area Baker Botts sought to expand.

  Action taken

  Baker Botts acquired the practice and integrated its intellectual-property capabilities.

  Aftermath

  The transaction broadened the firm's national platform in technology and intellectual-property litigation.

  Source

1. 1Baker Bottsen.wikipedia.org