Taking Notice: Bloomberg, Law 360, and ATL Report on Brewer

June 15, 2023 – Major legal media outlets are taking notice of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors announcing that starting salaries for new lawyers are being increased to $250,000. Bloomberg Law, Law360 and Above the Law all reported on the big salary news.

Bloomberg observed that the starting salary for associates now exceeds the $215,000 salary level set under the “Cravath scale” that many major law firms use.

“When you start out in a higher place, you are able to contribute more significantly to the firm, your clients and in community impact cases,” partner William Brewer told Bloomberg. “A rising tide lifts all boats, so when we increase pay at the base level, everyone benefits.”

Law360 reported that Brewer said the firm is launching “the most ambitious hiring initiative in the history of our firm.” He added that “Like all self-perceived change agents, we view ourselves differently than the BigLaw crowd.” Brewer stated, “We believe our firm occupies a unique space in the market, hiring top talent and giving them unprecedented opportunity from day one.”

Law360 also reported that as part of the hiring push, the firm hired Matthew Davis as a Dallas partner. Davis stated that he was attracted to the bet-the-business cases and advocacy that have defined the Brewer firm.

 Above the Law highlighted that the Brewer firm’s news offered a bright spot as other law firms struggle with layoffs. The article described the firm’s “generous compensation scheme.”

Texas Lawyer Report: Brewer Firm Ups Associate Salary to $250,000, Aims for Growth

June 13, 2023 –Texas Lawyer reports that, effective immediately, the Brewer firm has increased first-year associate salaries to $250,000. The firm recently announced the hiring of a new Dallas partner, Matthew H. Davis, and is in the midst of expanding its national platform – adding professionals across various sectors.

Founded in 1984, the Brewer firm has a unique staffing model in commercial litigation. The firm is comprised of several professional groups – financial and management consultants, researchers and private investigators, and public affairs strategists – who work with the firm’s lawyers to develop insights that shape case strategy. All the groups are poised for expansion in the firm’s Dallas and New York offices.

The firm continues to promote one of the most aggressive partnership tracks in the nation. Associates who join Brewer are eligible to be promoted to partner after five years.

Brewer told Texas Lawyer, “We are looking for people who want to get out, have a great career, get involved in exciting things…down at the courthouse.”

Speaking of the firm’s hiring initiative, Davis said, “The idea is to expand the Dallas office and really push to grow the association head count. Our intent is to train them and have them stay at the firm through partnership. We plan to be very aggressive in recruiting.”

Brewer Firm Earns Industry Recognition, Named to Vault Law 2023 “Top 150 Under 150” List

August 4, 2022 - Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors is recognized on the Vault Law 2023 “Top 150 Under 150” list of leading small and midsize law firms with 150 or fewer lawyers.

Vault created the list to recognize smaller firms that “deliver big results.” The list was created by editorial and research teams after reviewing Vault survey data, news articles, trade journals, and legal publications. 

Vault representatives also spoke with lawyers and reviewed other published rankings. Vault evaluated firms based on prestige, quality of life, and professional growth opportunities.

Vault praises the Brewer firm as “not afraid to take on complex commercial litigation battles” and adds that “its no-holds-barred approach to litigation has earned grudging admiration from its competitors.” Vault also recognizes the firm’s unique in-house litigation consultants and investigation group.

Vault is a national legal research website that provides detailed law firm profiles and rankings on top law firms. The Vault editorial team provides insights into legal careers, law firm life, law school, legal diversity and the legal industry. 

Industry Takes Notice: Brewer Increases First-Year Associate Salaries to $235,000, Announces Increases for Other Professionals

February 15, 2022 – The Brewer firm today announced that, effective February 1, 2022, first-year associate salaries increased to $235,000. Also, the firm announced that many other lawyers, consultants, and other professionals will receive salary increases, based on merit and tenure. Adjustments in the firm’s compensation model are designed to benefit professionals at all levels of the organization.

Founded in 1984, the Brewer firm has a unique staffing model in commercial litigation. The firm is comprised of several professional groups – financial and management consultants, researchers & private investigators, and public affairs strategists – who work with the firm’s lawyers to develop insights that shape case strategy. All the groups are poised for expansion in the firm’s Dallas and New York offices.

In a communication to firm employees, firm partner William A. Brewer III congratulated staff members for their “unwavering commitment to winning.” He wrote, in the face of the pandemic, “we remain defined by our expertise – and the manner in which it positions us to handle our clients’ most important legal matters. We remain inspired by the firm’s core mission: advocacy at the highest level imaginable.”

The firm enjoyed a stellar 2021, handling a wide range of legal and regulatory matters for the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), advancing a closely followed case against Virgin Hotels in San Francisco, and advocating against Uber in a rider safety case that has captured national headlines. It has trials scheduled in San Francisco, Dallas, New York and elsewhere over the next three months.

Outside of its commercial litigation docket, the firm continues to actively promote its community legal affiliate, the Brewer Storefront, and the Brewer Foundation. This past year marked the 20-year anniversary of the Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program, which lights a path to college for urban youth, and the Brewer / NYU International Public Policy Forum (IPPF). The IPPF is the first global debate contest that offers high school students the opportunity to participate in written scholarship and oral advocacy on public policy issues.

“The firm has always been defined by a culture of service,” Brewer says. “It is a privilege to work with clients and to help effect change in the community.”

Legal industry outlet Above the Law reported on the salary increase in an article titled, “Elite Firm Shrugs at Milbank Scale, Instead Offers Starting Salaries of $235K – Extremely exciting news!” The article noted that boutique firms are unveiling their generous compensation schemes, and added that the Brewer firm “blew right past” the $215K salary scale. The article added that the Brewer firm “has paid salaries at or above market for years…”

Law360 Reports on LGBT Bias Suit Brought By Bankruptcy Attorney

On March 31, 2021, Law360 reported that Brewer client Trey A. Monsour, who is a prominent bankruptcy attorney, brought a lawsuit in Texas federal court against the law firm Polsinelli PC, accusing the firm of discriminating against him based on his sexual orientation. 

Mr. Monsour, a former partner at the firm who is gay, alleged that the firm began discriminating against him after he was hired as a partner in the firm's Houston office in 2017. 

William A. Brewer III, who represents Monsour in the suit, said in a statement that his client is suing "to expose what he believes is a troubling pattern of discrimination based on sexual orientation at Polsinelli -- and to champion a call for diversity, tolerance and inclusion in the legal industry." 

Law360 reported that according to the lawsuit filing, "Whereas almost all newly hired partners were invariable provided with associate and administrative support, the firm denied Mr. Monsour these basic resources, despite his repeated appeals to management for help. The suit alleges that firm leaders also made "derogatory comments" regarding gay employees and that Monsour felt "isolated and without recourse." 

Read more.

Bloomberg Law Reports on Discrimination Lawsuit Against Polsinelli Law Firm

On March 31, 2021, Bloomberg Law reported on a lawsuit filed by Brewer client Trey Monsour against Polsinelli PC law firm in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas alleging discrimination. 

 Bloomberg reported, "Polsinelli PC's push to increase its level of diversity and inclusion was just an empty attempt to shed its reputation as a Midwestern, 'good old boys' law firm, for which its 800-plus workforce pay 'the real-world consequences,' a gay former partner charges in a federal lawsuit in Texas." 

 Bloomberg reported that Monsour, a former Polsinelli bankruptcy partner who is gay, alleged in the lawsuit that he was treated differently from than other similarly situated non-LGBTQ Polsinelli employees. According to the suit, he was denied the assistance of junior attorneys and administrative support that almost all other newly hired partners received. 

 Bloomberg reported that the lawsuit charges that Polsinelli's commitment to diversity was "nothing more than a marketing ploy." The lawsuit alleges that he was discriminated against based on his sexual orientation and age. 

Read more.

Brewer News Release - Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Polsinelli Law Firm

Dallas, TX… March 31, 2021 – Brewer client Trey A. Monsour, a prominent bankruptcy attorney, filed a lawsuit against the law firm Polsinelli PC alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation.  

Mr. Monsour worked as a partner in the Bankruptcy Practice Group in the firm’s Houston office. 

Filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, on March 30, 2021, the lawsuit alleges discriminatory treatment of Mr. Monsour, an openly gay man, after he became an equity partner in June 2017 in its then newly founded Houston office.  

According to the complaint, Mr. Monsour, was quickly subjected to harassment, denied adequate support and resources, and terminated for his sexual orientation.  

The lawsuit claims Polsinelli violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and committed Fraudulent Inducement, among other claims.  

“Mr. Monsour alleges he was discriminated against at Polsinelli law firm because he is gay,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel to Mr. Monsour. “By any measure, Mr. Monsour is a successful and established attorney. He brings this lawsuit to expose what he believes is a troubling pattern of discrimination based on sexual orientation at Polsinelli – and to champion a call for diversity, tolerance and inclusion in the legal industry.”     

According to the complaint, “From the outset, Polsinelli treated Mr. Monsour differently from other similarly situated non-LGBTQ employees. Whereas almost all newly hired partners were invariably provided with associate and administrative support, the firm denied Mr. Monsour these basic resources, despite his repeated appeals to management for help.”   

The complaint says, “Polsinelli’s adverse employment actions were made on the basis of Mr. Monsour’s protected age and sexual orientation, a fact starkly punctuated by derogatory comments by firm leaders regarding gay employees that Mr. Monsour overheard firsthand, as well as observations and stories of contemporaneous experiences relayed by Mr. Monsour’s colleagues.”   

The complaint alleges that Polsinelli’s self-proclaimed commitment to diversity and inclusion on its website and in marketing materials is a ruse. In fact, diversity numbers remain low at the firm. Mr. Monsour claims that he was induced to join the 800-lawyer firm, based on its public representations and “commitment” to diversity and inclusion.  

Joining William A. Brewer III in representing Mr. Monsour is William A. Brewer IV.