Thompson & Knight
Encyclopedia
Thompson & Knight LLP is a law firm of approximately 350 attorneys based in the United States
. It has U.S. offices in Texas
, New York
, and Michigan
and international offices and associations in the Americas
, North Africa
, and Europe
. The Firm is known for its capabilities in energy finance, taxation, business transactions, and an ability to resolve its clients' controversies in or out of court. In addition to providing a wide range of traditional legal services to clients in many industries, it provides services to all areas of the energy industry - domestic and international, as well as upstream, midstream, and downstream. 76% of its U.S. partners are currently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®.
Nearly one hundred years ago, Thompson & Knight aided in the removal of the Texas and Pacific Railway Company tracks in downtown Dallas, eliminating a barrier considered detrimental to the development of the city. The Firm’s arguments to the Supreme Court of the United States
in 1930 led to the landmark decision that income belonged one-half to the husband and one-half to the wife, and could be reported separately for income tax purposes. The Firm’s assistance to another client in 1958 led to the development and successful testing of the integrated circuit, ushering in the semiconductor and electronics age.
In 2004, Emily Parker, a tax attorney who had previously won one of the largest income tax cases tried in U.S. history, returned to the Firm after serving two and a half years as Deputy Chief Counsel (including ten months as Acting Chief Counsel) of the Internal Revenue Service
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has U.S. offices in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and international offices and associations in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The Firm is known for its capabilities in energy finance, taxation, business transactions, and an ability to resolve its clients' controversies in or out of court. In addition to providing a wide range of traditional legal services to clients in many industries, it provides services to all areas of the energy industry - domestic and international, as well as upstream, midstream, and downstream. 76% of its U.S. partners are currently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®.
History
Thompson & Knight was founded in 1887 by William Thompson and R.E.L. Knight, who were among the earliest law graduates of The University of Texas.Nearly one hundred years ago, Thompson & Knight aided in the removal of the Texas and Pacific Railway Company tracks in downtown Dallas, eliminating a barrier considered detrimental to the development of the city. The Firm’s arguments to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in 1930 led to the landmark decision that income belonged one-half to the husband and one-half to the wife, and could be reported separately for income tax purposes. The Firm’s assistance to another client in 1958 led to the development and successful testing of the integrated circuit, ushering in the semiconductor and electronics age.
In 2004, Emily Parker, a tax attorney who had previously won one of the largest income tax cases tried in U.S. history, returned to the Firm after serving two and a half years as Deputy Chief Counsel (including ten months as Acting Chief Counsel) of the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
.
Offices
- Algiers
- Austin
- Dallas
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- London
- Mexico City
- Monterrey
- New York
- Paris
Recognitions
- 108 attorneys (76% of the Firm's U.S. Partners) selected for The Best Lawyers in America® (2012); 95 attorneys selected for The Best Lawyers in America® (2011); 96 attorneys selected for The Best Lawyers in America® (2010); 87 attorneys selected for The Best Lawyers in America® (2009); and 79 attorneys selected for The Best Lawyers in America® (2008).
- 29 attorneys (30% of the Firm's Partners) selected as "Leaders in their Field" (2011); 28 attorneys selected as “Leaders in their Field” (2010); 28 attorneys selected as “Leaders in their Field” (2009); and 21 attorneys selected as “Leaders in their Field” (2008) by Chambers USA.
- Ranked among Texas’ top firms in the fields of Antitrust, Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Corporate/M&A, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, Real Estate, Tax, and Technology: Outsourcing (Chambers USA 2011).
- Ranked among Michigan's top firms in the field of Litigation: General Commercial (Chambers USA 2011).
- 7 attorneys selected as "Leaders in their Field" by Chambers Latin America 2012.
- Ranked in the Latin America-wide region for both Corporate/M&A and Projects as well as in Mexico for Corporate/M&A, Labor & Employment, and Real Estate (Chambers Latin America 2012).
- 6 attorneys selected as "Leaders in their Field" by Chambers Global 2011. The Firm is ranked by Chambers Global 2011 in Algeria for Corporate/Commercial: Foreign Legal Consultants, the Latin America-wide region for Projects, Mexico for Corporate/M&A, and the United States for Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional).
- 17 attorneys recognized for their expertise in specific practice areas by The Legal 500 US (2011); 13 attorneys recognized for their expertise in specific practice areas by The Legal 500 US (2010); 20 attorneys recognized for their expertise in specific practice areas by The Legal 500 US (2009); and 16 attorneys recognized for their expertise in specific practice areas by The Legal 500 US (2008).
- Ranked among the nation’s top firms in the practice areas of Litigation, Energy, Environment, Media, Technology, and Telecoms: Technology: Outsourcing, Mergers, Acquisitions, and Buyouts: M&A: Middle-Market (Sub-$500m), Real Estate and Construction: Real Estate, Tax: Domestic Tax: Central (The Legal 500 US).
- 6 attorneys selected to the "International Who's Who of Oil and Gas Attorneys 2011" list by (Who’s Who Legal).
- 28 attorneys selected as 2010 "Leading Lawyers" in Texas (Who’s Who Legal: Texas).
- 76 attorneys selected as Texas Super Lawyers® in 2011, 79 attorneys selected as Texas Super Lawyers® in 2010, 76 attorneys selected as Texas Super Lawyers® in 2009, and 78 attorneys selected as Texas Super Lawyers® in 2008 (Texas Monthly Magazine).
- 31 attorneys selected as Texas Rising Stars® in 2011, 40 attorneys selected as Texas Rising Stars® in 2010, 37 attorneys selected as Texas Rising Stars® in 2009, and 28 attorneys selected as Texas Rising Stars® in 2008 (Texas Monthly Magazine).
- Listed as a recommended firm in Latin America 2006-2011 (Latin Lawyer 250 Directory).
- 35% of the Firm's U.S. Partners are members of the American College in their respective specialties (2011).
- 30% of the Firm's U.S. Partners are certified in their specialty by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2011).
Diversity Efforts
As the first Texas law firm to hire a full-time Chief Diversity Officer, Thompson & Knight continues to make strides in its goal to become the diversity and inclusion model for the legal communities. In recognition of these efforts, Thompson & Knight is honored to be the recipient of the following awards and designations:
- 2008 Ernst & Young Celebration of Diversity Award for "Workplace of the Year;"
- Community of Respect by the Anti-Defamation League;
- Chevron Law Firm Diversity Recognition Award;
- "MultiCultural Law's" Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity, Top 100 Law Firms for Women, Top 100 Law Firms for Hispanics, and Top 100 Law Firms for Native Americans;
- Navistar 2007 Law Department Diversity Recognition Award;
- Top 100 Law Firm for Diversity, Top 100 Law Firm for Women, Top 25 Law Firm for Hispanics, and Top 25 Law Firm for Native Americans by MultiCultural Law;
- "Mother-Friendly Worksite" by the Texas Department of State Health Services; and
- "Best Place to Work" by Dallas Business Journal (six consecutive years) and Houston Business Journal (three consecutive years).
External links
- 2008 Ernst & Young Celebration of Diversity Award for "Workplace of the Year;"