Wilson Elser has grown its presence in Texas, adding nine attorneys to its Houston office and opening a Beaumont office with two attorneys. Among the group is Kent Adams, who now is regional managing partner of both offices.

Accompanying Adams are Allison Edwards, Tracy Freeman, Michael Jacobellis and Kristie Johnson, who will be named partners on January 1, 2016; Of Counsel State Representative Sarah Davis and Ronald White; and Associates John Busch and Cedar Manganiello. Attorneys Russell Heald and Ross Jones, also to be named partners on January 1, 2016, are located in the Beaumont office.

“We couldn’t ask for a more respected, capable team to join our firm,” said Daniel J. McMahon, Wilson Elser’s chairman. “Our aligned practices, combined with their national reach and the synergies among our attorneys in Texas and throughout the country, significantly increase our client-service capabilities in a number of key service areas.”

Practices represented among the new Wilson Elser attorneys include Admiralty & Marine, Commercial Litigation, Construction, Energy, General Liability & Casualty, Insurance & Reinsurance Coverage, Insurance & Reinsurance Defense, Product Liability, Professional Liability, Toxic Tort, Transportation and a London Market group.

“This is an exciting time for us,” said Adams. “We have joined a firm with attorneys we deeply respect and a culture that enables us to leverage litigation acumen and trial skills across practices and around the country to provide our clients with unmatched full-service legal solutions. We have known Wilson Elser attorneys for years and are happy to now call them our colleagues.”

“The acquisition of this group is part of Wilson Elser’s firmwide strategic growth initiative,” said Stratton Horres, regional managing partner of the Dallas office and the partner in charge of lateral hiring. “Throughout 2015, we have bolstered our traditional insurance-related practices as well as our nontraditional business lines, such as domestic and cross-border commercial services and intellectual property, among others.”

“With offices in Dallas, Houston, Beaumont and a newly opened Austin office, and with a deep bench of skilled attorneys, Wilson Elser has a formidable presence throughout Texas to service clients across all practice areas,” added Horres. “I look forward to working with Kent on implementing our shared vision for the firm of continued growth throughout the state of Texas and the southwest region.”