Founded in Houston in 1945 by lawyers who tried cases, Bracewell has always had a strong focus on litigation. But the firm’s litigation section underwent a change in 2015, essentially becoming a litigation boutique inside a large law firm.

Houston partner Stephen Crain, head of the litigation section, said his intent was “to undo some boundaries and energize everybody to work together. I wanted to get away from the notion of creating little fiefdoms.”