We sat down with Houston office co-managing partners Cliff Vrielink and George Vlahakos. They spoke about the firm’s competitive advantage in the city and how high-level work and homegrown talent are key to a successful office culture.
Sidley has quickly established itself as a leading firm in the Houston market since opening an office in 2012. What factors contributed to this success?
Cliff: Through the years, we have always maintained an elite transactional practice with considerable experience in a variety of related disciplines and industries — most notably energy. We have intentionally been broad across all the various transactional sectors in order to provide our clients with the most comprehensive range of services possible. So, while some national firms in Houston have decided to go really deep in only a few areas, our approach has been much different, more wide ranging. That has served us well, especially as this market keeps getting more competitive.
George: Having access to a reservoir of talent across practices and offices is a huge differentiator and contributing factor to our success. For instance, our transactional partners work closely with colleagues from our leading regulatory group, bringing to bear that combined strength — in a very concentrated fashion — for the Houston market. Thus, we can provide our local clients with targeted legal guidance in regulatory investigations, compliance, and enforcement proceedings.
Cliff: Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data privacy also are hot-button issues for many businesses here in Houston. So when clients need support with technology-related issues, we can quickly and efficiently tap into our resources in Palo Alto, or elsewhere, to bring them the cutting-edge solutions they need, when they need it. This is not something that you get with many of the Texas-based firms.
Houston is the energy capital of the world. What type of work are we doing for clients in this space?
George: Sidley is known as a destination firm in the Houston market for complex energy transactions and development projects. Our lawyers represent clients across the entire energy value chain, including those engaged in energy transition, power generation, upstream, midstream, downstream, and oilfield service-related activities. In terms of our energy capabilities, we’ve got the full gamut covered. Few other law firms can match the depth and breadth of our global energy platform.
Cliff: Like all industry sectors as of late, energy has had to navigate various headwinds and tailwinds. Our clients, especially now, are transacting in an ever-changing market. With a wide breath of capabilities and experience, we routinely advise clients facing a variety of complex challenges and opportunities, including private equity transactions and novel energy transition projects. Predicting the future of the energy market can be challenging, but we are confident in our ability to provide the necessary guidance and solutions that our clients need to meet these challenges head on.
Are there any accomplishments you are proud of?
Cliff: All of us take great pride in the transactional work we do here in Texas. Over the last few years, Sidley has been consistently ranked among the top law firms — in both deal count and value — in The Texas Lawbook’s M&A Deal Tracker report. Considering our size in comparison to the other out-of-town firms, we seem to be punching above our weight. We would like to grow more, and seize every opportunity out there, but it is a considerable achievement to have our name be top-of-mind when clients need the best representation in Houston.
George: I have been really proud of our organic growth efforts. Originally, the Houston office was founded by a group of senior lawyers with decades of market experience at other leading law firms. Over the years, we have promoted a number of our homegrown lawyers to partner in recognition of their exceptional skills and client service. This organic growth is a testament to our ability to attract and retain top-tier talent, our focus on career-long learning, and our firmwide professional development initiatives.
How would you describe the office culture in Houston?
Cliff: The hallmark of our culture, in many ways, is reflected in the high-level work we do for clients and in our everyday operations. We are really big on investing in talent, while placing a premium on collaboration and diversity. That goes with the organic growth that George mentioned earlier. Our junior lawyers get really substantive experience — they are not just sitting in the third row. There are a lot of opportunities for interaction and mentoring between our associates and established partners throughout the Houston office.
George: Our office is composed of a wonderful mix of talented, client service-oriented partners and associates working together on meaningful and challenging projects. No matter what level, our associates are given as much responsibility as they are capable of handling, and that doesn’t mean being regulated to menial tasks. I am proud to say that we have fifth- and sixth-year associates who I would put up against partners at other firms all day long.
Giving back is also a big part of our culture here. Many of our partners serve as board members or volunteers with a wide range of charitable organizations, hospitals, and other civic institutions. Just recently, we had an event at the Houston Food Bank with some of our summer associates and partners. Right now, it is important that we not only be seen as a leader amongst our peers in the legal community, but also that we set an example of how to live and work within Houston and the greater state of Texas.
