AUSTIN, Texas—Susman Godfrey LLP, one of the nation’s pre-eminent boutique litigation firms, has given a $2 million gift to the Law School at The University of Texas at Austin for use in recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty.
The gift from the Houston-based law firm will support the Susman Godfrey LLP Fund for Faculty Excellence.
In honor of the gift, the atrium in Townes Hall will be renamed the Susman Godfrey Atrium. The atrium is a gathering venue for students, faculty and Law School organizations as well as a welcome center for guests. The Susman Godfrey Atrium will be dedicated at a ceremony on Saturday, April 16, at the annual alumni reunion.
“This extremely generous gift from Susman Godfrey will enable us to attract and retain the very best faculty,” said School of Law Dean Bill Powers. “Nothing is more important for the Law School’s future. It is fitting that we honor this great law firm with the Susman Godfrey Atrium, not only to thank them for their generosity, but also to recognize their long connection to our Law School and prominence in the legal community.”
Steve Susman said, “We are delighted to make this gift to UT Law School, which has been so instrumental to the professional careers of Lee Godfrey, me and many of our partners. Without UT Law School we never could have achieved what we have as a law firm.”
Lee Godfrey added, “The faculty is the heart of our great law school. Through the Susman Godfrey Fund for Faculty Excellence, UT will have the resources to ensure that the law school faculty is the best anywhere.”
H. Lee Godfrey, B.A. ’66, J.D. ’69 (with honors), Stephen Susman, J.D. ’65 (with highest honors), and 14 of the firm’s 36 other partners graduated from UT Law.
Susman Godfrey LLP is a 70-lawyer firm with offices in Houston, Dallas, Seattle and Los Angeles. The firm’s practice is devoted exclusively to litigation, for both plaintiffs and defendants. This month The American Lawyer magazine named Susman Godfrey LLP as one of the two best litigation boutiques in the United States. A link to The American Lawyer article and other information about the firm and its partners can be found at the Susman Godfrey Web site.
For more information contact: Laura Castro, UT Law, 512-232-1229, and Neal S. Manne, Susman Godfrey LLP, 713-653-7827.
