Shearman & Sterling, which has been eyeing the Texas market for some time, launched its first Texas office in Austin Thursday, bringing on seven partners and a counsel from Andrews Kurth Keynon.

The eight new Shearman hires all focus on advising emerging growth companies in the technology life sciences, and media and telecommunications industries. They include corporate partners Matthew Lyons, Carmelo Gordian, Alan Bickerstaff, Ted Gilman, Brian Dillavou and Russ Denton, litigation partner David Whittlesey and investment funds counsel J.R. Morgan. Lyons, who will head the Austin office, said a total of 18 lawyers will move from Andrews Kurth, including associates in the corporate and litigation practices.