Winston & Strawn Sees Partner Exodus in Texas Amid Merger Plans
Over a dozen partners have departed Winston & Strawn's Texas offices despite its pending merger.
Why it matters: Partner departures during a firm merger can destabilize operations and affect market standing. For BigLaw professionals tracking lateral moves, this signals competitive shifts in Texas legal markets.
- Winston & Strawn plans to merge with Taylor Wessing's UK business, launching Winston Taylor in May 2026.
- The combined firm will have 1,400+ lawyers in about 20 offices, generating $1.75 billion revenue.
- Since merger announcement, multiple partners have left Winston's Texas offices, including litigators joining Latham & Watkins.
- The firm has made strategic hires in Texas, adding IP lawyers like Aimee Fagan and Morgan Mayne to bolster its practice.
Winston & Strawn LLP and Taylor Wessing's UK-led business announced their intention to combine, creating Winston Taylor, a transatlantic law firm slated for a May 2026 launch. The combined firm will feature more than 1,400 lawyers across roughly 20 offices, with anticipated revenue near $1.75 billion.
Amid this major merger, Winston's Texas offices have seen significant partner turnover. In February 2026, Latham & Watkins LLP added two litigators in Texas, one originating from Winston & Strawn, illustrating talent flight even as the merger progresses (Law360).
To counterbalance departures, Winston appointed Brett Johnson and Jordan Klein as co-managing partners of its Dallas office in April 2026 (Winston & Strawn). The firm also strategically strengthened its Texas intellectual property practice by bringing in Aimee Fagan, a first-chair trial lawyer, in April (Winston & Strawn) and former Baker Botts partner Morgan Mayne in May (Texas Lawbook).
These movements highlight internal disruption at Winston & Strawn's Texas offices amid the looming merger. While the firm seeks to enhance market positioning by expanding key practice groups locally, the partner departures signal sustained talent flight challenging this stability.
By the numbers:
- 1,400+ lawyers — size of the combined Winston Taylor firm
- 20 offices worldwide — firm footprint post-merger
- $1.75 billion — anticipated annual revenue of merged firm
What's next: Winston Taylor is expected to formally launch in May 2026, shaping the transatlantic legal market.