King & Spalding announced that former U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel of the Western District of Texashas joinedas Senior Counsel in the firm’s Trials and Global Disputes practice group in the firm’s Austin office. Judge Yeakel had announced his retirement from the bench in March.
“Judge Yeakel has had a long and distinguished career of more than 20 years as a federal judge and before that as the Chief Judge of the Third Court of Appeals,” said Andy Bayman head of the firm’sTrial and Global Disputespractice group. “His perspective on legal strategy, compelling arguments before juries and effective advocacy will be invaluable to clients and colleagues alike.”
Prior to being on the bench, JudgeYeakel had spent several decades in private practice. As here-enters that practice, Judge Yeakel seeks to utilize his insights to assist clients with matters across the state. He plans to engage in all facets of the dispute process, from counseling clients on dispute avoidance to actively representing them in court.
“We are well aware that Judge Yeakel had his pick of prominent law firms in Austin and we are thrilled to welcome him to King & Spalding,” said Mike Stenglein, head of the firm’s Austin Office. “Judge Yeakel’s arrival coincides with the 15th year anniversary of our launch in Austinand is a testament to the impact King & Spalding has made in the market.”
“King & Spalding has built one of the strongest disputes platforms in the market. The firm’s Austin office has grown and evolved as the city has grown and evolved,” said Judge Yeakel. “As part of that evolution, I was attracted to the firm’s vision in Austin, that includes work for the city’s historic institutions plus many of the recent international and technology clients that have relocated here. I am also excited that this next chapter will give me the opportunity to work with lawyers whose trial advocacy I have long respected. I am looking forward to engaging and counselling clients again.”
About Lee Yeakel
Judge Yeakel was appointed to the bench in 2003 by President George W. Bush and had served as Chief Justice and Justice of the Texas Third Court of Appeals from 1998 until his confirmation. He is a member of the American Law Institute, a life member of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, a sustaining life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Judge Yeakel was awarded the 2012 Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award by the Texas Bar Foundation, and theUniversity of Texas School of Law’s The Review of Litigation named Yeakel the Outstanding Texas Jurist for 2014. In 2020 the Texas Bar Foundation named him an Outstanding 50-year lawyer. The Honorable Lee Yeakel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court is named in his honor. Judge Yeakel received his BA and JD from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Master of Laws from the University of Virginia. Judge Yeakel also served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
About King & Spalding
Celebrating more than 130 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 1,300 lawyers in 23 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com.
