Two Big Law lateral partner hires on Tuesday in Texas, with Baker Botts involved in both deals, may indicate that firms are preparing for environmental regulatory and litigation work to expand under the Biden administration.

Baker Botts added Stephanie Bergeron Perdue, former deputy executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, as a partner in Austin, while Baker Botts environmental litigator Stephen Fitzgerald moved to Morgan, Lewis & Bockius as a partner in Dallas and Houston.