Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is pleased to announce the continued growth of its banking and financial technology practices with the addition of Erin F. Fonté as partner and co-head of the firm’s financial institutions corporate and regulatory practice. Fonté is based in the firm’s Austin office. More >>

Elizabeth “Heidi” G. Bloch, a prominent Texas appellate lawyer, has joined the Austin office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP as a shareholder. The addition of Bloch to the firm further extends the depth and experience of Greenberg Traurig’s Texas Appellate Practice while also strengthening the firm’s already robust foothold of more than 125 attorneys in Texas. Bloch previously headed the Appellate Section and served as a partner for nearly three decades at one of Texas’ oldest law firms, Brown McCarroll, which later merged with Husch Blackwell LLP. More >>

Butler Snow is pleased to announce Christopher R. Cowan, Cedric E. Evans, Eric J.R. Nichols, Amanda G. Taylor, and Karson K. Thompson have joined the firm’s Austin office. Cowan, Nichols, Taylor, and Thompson will practice with the firm’s commercial litigation group. Evans will practice with the firm’s pharmaceutical, medical device, and health care litigation group. More >>

Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that attorney Stephen A. Mason has joined the firm’s rapidly growing Austin office as a Member. More >>

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, further expanded its presence in Texas with corporate partners Todd Reed, Bentley Harris and associate Amy Simmons in Austin, Texas. They complement Akerman’s core strengths in M&A and corporate governance across dynamic client sectors, including financial services, real estate, restaurant and retail. A veteran corporate lawyer and advisor to private and public companies, Reed also will serve as Akerman’s Austin office managing partner. More >>

Shearman & Sterling is delighted to announce the opening of a new office in Austin – its first in Texas – with seven partners focusing on advising emerging growth companies in the technology, media and telecommunications, and life sciences industries. The new Austin-based corporate partners are Matthew Lyons, Carmelo Gordian, Alan Bickerstaff, Ted Gilman, Brian Dillavou and Russ Denton. They are joined by litigation partner David Whittlesey and investment funds counsel J.R. Morgan. They all join the firm from Andrews Kurth Kenyon. More >>