It took years of studying the Houston market before Sheppard Mullin launched an office in Texas’ largest city with lateral hires from several Big Law firms who practice in areas important to the Am Law 100 firm’s strategy.

Sheppard Mullin announced the Houston launch on Wednesday, but the office opened quietly this spring with lawyers from Norton Rose Fulbright, Winston & Strawn and Locke Lord, Partners identified earlier include  Andrius Kontrimas and Barclay Nicholson from Norton Rose Fulbright; Steve Peterson from Locke Lord; and John Keville, Michelle Replogle, and Robert “Rob” Green III from Winston & Strawn.