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<p>I wasn’t talking about the “strength” of legal markets, just size. Size is what corresponds with the number of jobs, which in turn corresponds with which school is “better” at placing students into big firms than others, which corresponds with higher rankings, which corresponds with higher demand by more talented students, which further corresponds with higher rankings. You get the picture. The CA and Chicago markets are much larger than Houston. By the way, your arguments didn’t touch on why Chicago is somehow economically poorly positioned.</p>
<p>The energy market is strong, but I hope you realize that energy companies don’t typically turn to Texas firms as their first port of call. For M&A, they will typically turn to the Wall Street firms for their biggest deals. For litigation, they will typically turn to top litigation firms. For example, BP has turned to Sullivan & Cromwell for a lot of their corporate work in terms of divesting companies for funding damages, to Kirkland & Ellis for much of their defense litigation, to WilmerHale for environmental and regulatory work in DC. I know a few Houston firms on the case, but their roles are secondary to the non-Houston ones.</p>
<p>If you look at Profits-Per-Partner this year, Houston firms are hardly the epitome of growth. Meanwhile, CA firms like Quinn, Irell & Manella, and Gibson Dunn are boasting $2.5mm+ PPP (on great growth). Wall Street firms again posted huge gains this year, with Cahill reaching a $3.6mm PPP. Indeed, even Chicago firms like K&E posted a $3mm+ PPP. Texas firms are still sort of below $1.5mm PPP (even the big three), and this is simply because they can’t command premium rates because they aren’t premium firms. </p>
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<p>I’m not sure this is true. Baker Botts recruited at 13 of the T14 (see: [NALP:</a> DLE - Directory of Legal Employers](<a href=“http://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp?fscid=F120301&orgtypeid=F]NALP:”>http://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp?fscid=F120301&orgtypeid=F)). The same with Vinson & Elkins (see: [NALP:</a> DLE - Directory of Legal Employers](<a href=“http://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp?fscid=f075901&orgtypeid=F]NALP:”>http://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp?fscid=f075901&orgtypeid=F)). Fulbright recruited at 8 of the T14, which is way more than “a third of them” (see: [NALP:</a> DLE - Directory of Legal Employers](<a href=“http://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp?fscid=f038001&orgtypeid=F]NALP:”>http://www.nalpdirectory.com/dledir_search_results.asp?fscid=f038001&orgtypeid=F)). In other words, you are wrong. </p>
<p>Regarding Brazil, I reiterate: [Report</a> from Sao Paulo - Adam Smith, Esq.](<a href=“http://www.adamsmithesq.com/archives/2010/10/report-from-sao-paulo.html]Report”>http://www.adamsmithesq.com/archives/2010/10/report-from-sao-paulo.html)</p>
<p>It seems like you haven’t read it. Read it, then report back.</p>