AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jackson Walker is proud to announce that the Hon. Nathan L. Hecht, former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, has joined Jackson Walker as a partner in our Austin office. Justice Hecht brings to Jackson Walker a distinguished judicial career spanning more than four decades, marked by his unwavering commitment to the rule of law, access to justice, and the modernization of Texas courts.
“We are honored to welcome Chief Justice Hecht to Jackson Walker,” Managing Partner C. Wade Cooper said. “His legacy of leadership, integrity, and innovation in the Texas judiciary is unmatched. Justice Hecht’s experience and vision will be invaluable to our clients and our firm as we continue to serve clients across Texas and around the world.”
On his decision to join the Firm, Justice Hecht said, “I am honored to join Jackson Walker and to work alongside so many talented attorneys who share my commitment to excellence and service. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to upholding the rule of law and ensuring access to justice for all Texans. I look forward to contributing my experience to the Firm and its clients, and to continuing to advance the legal profession together.”
An Unparalleled Judicial Career
Justice Hecht’s tenure on the Supreme Court of Texas is unparalleled. He served on the Court for 36 years – longer than any other justice in the Court’s history – before retiring on December 31, 2024. Justice Hecht led the Court’s efforts to expand access to civil legal services for Texans of limited means and oversaw significant revisions to the rules of administration, practice, and procedure in Texas courts. Nationally, he served on the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules of the Judicial Conference of the United States and was the longest-serving president of the Conference of Chief Justices.
“Chief Justice Hecht’s deep understanding of the law, commitment to fairness, and dedication to improving the administration of justice have set the standard for all of us,” said partner Charles L. “Chip” Babcock, who worked alongside Chief Justice Hecht while he served as a member and then Chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee. “I am thrilled to welcome him as a Jackson Walker partner.”
Litigation partner David T. Moran added, “Chief Justice Hecht’s arrival is a tremendous asset to our appellate section and the entire Firm. He has seen and done it all over his distinguished career, and he will make us all better.”
Before his judicial service, Justice Hecht was a partner in a Dallas law firm, clerked for Judge Roger Robb of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
Justice Hecht received a B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from the SMU Dedman School of Law.
Meet Jackson Walker
Since Jackson Walker’s founding in 1887, our attorneys have represented some of the most influential companies and business leaders in the world. Today, we remain firmly rooted in Texas while serving clients around the globe. With more than 500 attorneys, we are the largest firm in Texas and have been recognized by Law360 as a “Texas Powerhouse” and an “elite law firm” that regularly provides counsel to industry-leading clients. Jackson Walker’s trial group is one of the largest in the Southwest, comprising about 30% of the firm’s more than 500 attorneys. To learn more, visit the Trial & Appellate Litigation practice page.
Contacts
Pat Shortridge
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