Following layoffs, 60-attorney law firm says it will close its doors by end of 2015
Hard hit by the downturn in the oil and gas industry, a 60-attorney Houston-based law firm is closing its doors at the end of the year.
Founded nearly a decade ago with two attorneys, the fast-growing Burleson firm at one point had over 140 lawyers on its roster. However, the decrease in oil prices led to a decision to close all five of its offices, managing partner Richard Burleson told Law 360 (sub. req.).
The Pittsburgh Business Times says lawyers got the news on Monday.
Last month, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported that Burleson had laid off lawyers including the managing partner of its office in Pittsburgh.
“It’s no secret that the oil and gas industry is going through a very difficult time and because this is our specialty, it’s most of our lawyers, we’re not immune to the downturn people are experiencing,” Burleson told the business publication at that time. “We’ve had to size our business accordingly and not just in Pittsburgh. Firmwide, we had to make adjustments to our staff.”
As of Tuesday morning, the law firm’s website featured a prominent announcement that it had opened an office in New Orleans.
Its other offices are in Denver and San Antonio, Texas.
Hat tip: Bloomberg BNA
See also:
ABA Journal (2013): “It’s a golden age for Texas’ oil and gas transactional lawyers”
ABAJournal.com: “Fast-Growing Burleson Doubles San Antonio Attorney Roster, After Recent Hires Elsewhere”
ABAJournal.com: “Burleson Opens New Office in Denver”
