As rumors of Howrey’s dissolution grew louder in early 2011, Jamie Baker, partner-in-charge of Baker Botts’ Washington office, reached out to Sean Boland, then Howrey’s vice chairman for finance. The two started to discuss the possibility of moving 35 antitrust attorneys from Howrey to Baker Botts. Within weeks, the deal was final.

Baker said he had wanted to expand the firm’s antitrust practice for years. He’d just been waiting for the right opportunity.