Change is afoot at Dallas-based Jenkens & Gilchrist for the new year with shareholder Patrick Mitchell poised to succeed Thomas Cantrill as chairman this month and the firm shutting the doors on offices in Washington, D.C., and Pasadena, Calif.

Mitchell says the 251-lawyer firm closed the two offices on Dec. 31, 2006, but both office closings have been in the works for several months.