Ex-Jenkens Lawyers Land on their Feet at Hunton

One year ago, Jenkens & Gilchrist disbanded after a probe into the law firm's work on aggressive tax shelters. But many lawyers and staffers go to the same office and even sit at the same desks at Fountain Place in Dallas.

They’re working at Hunton & Williams, thanks to a meeting engineered by Pat Mitchell, the chairman of Jenkens & Gilchrist in its final failing year and now chairman of Hunton’s Dallas office, the Dallas Morning News reports. Mitchell knew Hunton wanted to expand in Texas, so he spoke to Hunton’s chairman over lunch, letting him know the Jenkens lawyers “were a perfect answer” to Hunton’s needs.

"If everybody had scattered to the hinterland, the lawyers would have been fine," Mitchell told the newspaper. "But all the others who worked so hard would have been without paychecks and medical benefits. I'm very proud that that didn't happen."

Mitchell took 93 former Jenkens lawyers and 96 staffers with him in the move to Hunton. Since then, 118 lawyers and staff members from Hunton’s office and Energy Plaza transferred to the Fountain Place digs, the newspaper says.

“Life right now is pretty good," Mitchell said.

Updated at 1:08 p.m. to correct the spelling of Jenkens & Gilchrist.