Writer: Joshua Andino
2 min read April 2023 — The metroplex’s professional services industry provides clients with a deep bench of industry expertise. Whether navigating new regulations, ensuring balance sheets align with strategy or simply providing expert counsel, attorneys, accountants and other professionals around the Dallas-Fort Worth region are working to ensure the greatest success possible for their clients. Given the number of factors influencing today’s economy, Invest: spoke to two regional firms to see how their organizations and industries are responding to today’s environment, the growth across North Texas and what’s on their minds as they move forward.
How is the region’s growth creating opportunities for professional services firms?
Monica Latin, Managing Partner, Carrington Coleman Sloman Blumenthal: We represent many developers who are looking at land use and are considering how to wisely develop these growing regions. We work collaboratively with our clients to help them solve problems. We also represent many local governments and work closely with them. So we see issues from all sides and understand the competing interests. It’s not just zoning, there are long-term issues for the region, such as water and power. These issues are potentially significant challenges for the region and the state and they need to be managed.
Angie Walters, Office Managing Partner, EisnerAmper: It is clear that companies want to do business in North Texas. We have a very strong economy and companies continue to relocate here at an unprecedented pace. I heard recently that Texas is now the second-largest state based on population, so that opens more opportunities for our industry. We’ve expanded our footprint and service offerings into nontraditional services to accommodate all that growth.
What has North Texas’ growth trajectory looked like throughout your tenure?
Latin: One of the incredible changes of the last 10 to 15 years is the emergence of serious commercial economic engines in many different parts of the region. The law firm community may become less connected due to more geographic separation. Hopefully, we’ll continue to maintain collegiality and a community that will benefit the clients we’re all trying to serve.
Walters: North Texas is seeing unprecedented economic and population growth. The influx of company relocations and business startups creates an exciting environment for anyone in the client services business. I enjoy helping clients navigate the changing business landscape and speaking with interesting prospects. There has never been a more exciting time to be serving business clients in North Texas. I was born and raised in the area and I am proud when I hear folks who have recently moved here say how easy it is to live in the North Texas area.
How is North Texas’ growing diversity reflected in the firm’s DEI efforts?
Latin: It’s at all job levels in the firm. It starts at the high school and college level. We love welcoming interns into the firm and many come in through diversity, equity and inclusion programs, including from Paul Quinn College, which is a phenomenal institution. We’ll sometimes have an intern join us and stay for years, throughout their schooling. We want to create an environment to help students experience the business community. We’re very determined to make it a priority on the hiring side. It’s difficult in our marketplace, especially for lawyers. We all need to do more to promote DEI in schools and in law schools, contributing to that pipeline of talent. It’s definitely of high importance and focus for us.
Walters: Internally, we have DEI groups and initiatives within the firm. We strive to cultivate a culture where colleagues feel comfortable, heard and included. We achieve this through collaboration, community and connections. Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are employee-led and driven. They foster community and belonging by bringing together people from different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives. We have regular newsletters and events through our ERGs to highlight different stories. We can all learn from each other’s unique experiences.
How are your respective industries growing and what are your individual firm’s priorities moving forward?
Latin: It’s going to keep growing. Businesses will all need legal services. It’ll be interesting to see how many of the largest firms our market can support. We’ll continue to see a variety of options when it comes to picking a law firm. We believe a firm like ours remains squarely in the mix as a desirable choice for businesses who value that independent positioning and personalized service.
Walters: Our top priorities are to continue to bring excellent service to our middle-market client base and provide our colleagues with innovative and interesting career opportunities that allow them to elevate their careers. We will also continue to grow organically and through our strategic combination activities.
For more information, visit:
