WBD Recruiting Success Stories: Jeff Whittle

Today’s episode is part of our Recruiting Success stories series. Lori Patton, our Chief Recruiting Officer, sits down with Jeff Whittle, a partner in our Houston office and Head of our Global Energy and Natural Resources team. The two discuss Jeff’s journey with Womble, his initial leap of faith to join the firm, and his experience in building the Houston office. 

More about WBD's Energy and Natural Resources practice

Transcript

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INTRO 

Welcome back to Womble Perspectives. Today’s episode is part of our Recruiting Success stories series. Lori Patton, our Chief Recruiting Officer, sits down with Jeff Whittle, a partner in our Houston office and Head of our Global Energy and Natural Resources team. The two discuss Jeff’s journey with Womble, his initial leap of faith to join the firm, and his experience in building the Houston office. And now, on to the episode. 

Lori Patton (1:15) 

I am here today with Jeff Whittle, I have known Jeff now for seven to eight years. I had just taken on the role of Chief Recruiting Officer and Jeff was one of the first partners that I had the pleasure to meet. Jeff joined us to make the leap of faith to join Womble and help us to open our Houston, Texas office. So Jeff, thank you for being with us today. 

Jeffrey Whittle (1:40) 

Thank you for having me, Laurie. Good to talk to you. Good to see you again, as always. 

Lori Patton (1:44) 

Good to see you. So Jeff, I want to go all the way back to seven, eight years ago in time. And when you think about the opportunity and taking that leap of faith, as I call it, to join the Womble office, what were you thinking about and what really launched you to make that decision? 

Jeffrey Whittle (2:04) 

Well, I think early on I was really attracted to the collegiality of the people. They made it clear that they valued the individual attorney. And this has really proven true. They have a real spirit of collegiality and want to help attorneys grow their practices. And that was communicated early on. The team really focused on the concept that rising tides float all boats. And individual stars arise, keep the collegiality kind of moving. There's nothing wrong with having stars.  

And you just build a team and kind of grow your practice around that. And it's been really wonderful. I think they made it real, real clear that we try to cheer for each other in some sense. In other words, if one of my partners or colleagues does a great job at trial, it does a great job on a big deal, I get excited to cheer for them. Because it's good for the firm and good for the practice as a whole. And I've really felt that since I've been here from day one. And I just think that spirit of collegiality and warmth and working together as teams has really meant a lot. 

Lori Patton (3:17) 

And so, Jeff, you not only jumped into this to work with a new firm and to engage in this culture that you described, but you took on an added challenge, which was opening an office. And you served as the office managing partner for this new office. Tell me a little bit about what that was like for you as you contemplated not only being a very successful partner practicing law. 

Jeffrey Whittle (3:45) 

Well, I like challenges. I like to say I'm a builder. So I like the hope of the build, where we're going in the future. And so Womble didn't have a Houston office at the time. And we had a group of initial partners. We kind of started fast. COVID slowed us down a bit. And so we had some change over time. But we picked right back up out of COVID coming up really strong.3:04 

And now we have over 25 attorneys and plus another 25 plus technical advisors and paralegals and support. It's been really a terrific experience for me. So we're really looking forward to not only, not only what we've built so far, we don't want to rest on our laurels, so to say. We want to continue to build. I’d really like to see the Houston office get even bigger because I think we have a real good community here. And I think it's, we started making some real good brand recognition, coming in at a market that's so competitive with 70 or 80 other firms already here at the time. And then being able to make a footprint like this and being able to continue to build on that is really significant. And I think Womble has been very supportive in that whole process. And it's just been a terrific time of growth for the Houston office and for the firm in general. 

Lori Patton (5:10) 

Jeff, I think your terminology of being a builder is perfect for you. And the reason I say that is that, again, you came into a location where we had to build an office while you're building your practice, and then you have stepped into yet another leadership role, and that's with the energy and natural resources sector. 

That is multidisciplinary and you are not only one of the US co-leaders, but also the global energy natural resources leader. Tell me a little bit about these opportunities for leadership and also talk about that energy natural resources practice and growing it here. 

Jeffrey Whittle (5:57) 

Sure. I think we started out fairly small. Started kind of boxing above our weight class a little bit. But I think really what's been exciting about it is being able to bring in top talent from across the country, across the community, across the world really, to help build the practice. It's really become a real strength of the firm, I believe. 

From an industry practice perspective, we cover the broad areas from oil and gas to renewables to power utility, kind of the regulatory side, and even nuclear recently. Growing our nuclear practice and then other areas as well. Mining, other mattering natural resource areas that have been really strong. I think we've done a good job recruiting and some of the key cities where energy, where you think of energy, not just Washington, but I mean, not just Houston, but Washington, DC, London, Denver, Boston, Raleigh, San Francisco. You know, we have a big Newcastle practice as well in the UK, as well as our London office, which is a lot of the hands on the ground kind of energy hands on people there too, as well. So I think that's been really kind of exciting to build that. think we have collectively over 100 attorneys that do more than 50% of their work on the energy side now and really top talent. So, I really am thrilled to see how the firm has grown and the firm's commitment strategically to the practice. I couldn't have done it without the firm's leadership support on it. And I give the firm credit for their commitment and seeing that kind of multi-generational vision of what energy practice brings to a firm. 

Lori Patton (7:45) 

Jeff, when you think about Houston specifically, as you have already said, it is such a competitive market. Tell me what you believe Womble brings in terms of being a really good fit for Houston and for Houston lawyers. 

Jeffrey Whittle (8:03) 

So, I think of Houston particularly as a really strong economy in Texas in general. I think we still have the consistently U-Haul ranks as the number one place where people move. So there's a huge workforce coming in. And I think it's because of the business climate here is very friendly for businesses. And it's changing and growing. And Womble likes to be in those innovation hubs. And I think of Houston and some of our other key locations as innovation hubs. 

And that's where the city and the community is really investing with businesses and growth. And I think Houston fits that really well. I think the other thing is a lot of people don't realize this, but the word Texas is Spanish for Tejas, which means friendly. And so the community and the state is really friendly. And so it's a really good climate for, it kind of fits with our culture at Womble very well. So we come into the city and we've done a good job penetrating the culture and knowing the people here, appreciating the community, the quality of the people, the quality of work, the type of businesses that have their activities here, and opportunity to serve the people in a really wonderful environment. 

Lori Patton (9:16) 

Jeff, I didn't know that definition about Texas. So I love that. When you think about that friendliness and that relationship building, you are well known for utilizing and working with people across the Womble platform. Tell me a little bit about how you got started doing that. What was your methodology, for lack of a better word, and how has that worked for you in your practice at Womble? 

Jeffrey Whittle (9:34) 

So, so I do really believe that it's part of the culture. I go back to the culture of the collegiality. It makes it easy to work as teams. I think people get along well. We like each other. I think we try to service clients with that common goal of a high level quality and skill and bringing the right talent to the project or the client's needs, as the case may be. And I think that makes it easy to go across offices. So we do cross office work a lot, as you kind of hinted to a little bit. That's if we need talent and we've got somebody special skill in mining or special skill in renewables, whether it's Denver or Raleigh or Boston, it’s easy to bring them into a client's needs and say, hey, we have the right team or right person for you. As long as we're kind of focusing on the client and servicing the client, that makes it easy for me. And that's what I sense the attorneys that I work with like to do. 

They want to work with those clients. like the work that we're doing, you know, kind of fun, sophisticated projects and interesting projects. And that keeps us engaged and keeps us kind of at the forefront. We want to be, you know, kind of strategic advisors for clients. So, you know, kind of value-add quality and being able to get in there as a team, and kind of building that network of relationships. 

I'm very adamant that I like our team to meet the client. It's not just about me, it's about who else is on the team. I like them to know the client and get to know the client, what the client's needs are. The client can call them directly just as much as they can call me so that we can kind of build around and service the client the best way, most efficiently, most cost sensitive sometimes, so ways to serve the client. 

Lori Patton (11:37) 

So, Jeff, as you have utilized so many different timekeepers across the firm, I know you have not only national clients, but international clients. How would you describe the way in which Womble has supported your international client base? How does it work for you? And how do you see that continuing and growing in the future? 

Jeffrey Whittle (12:01) 

So I'm still, even with this day of technology, I'm still a believer in relationships matter. So I think on the international front, Womble has been very supportive. We obviously have deep benches in the US and UK, which makes a really great foundation to do international work. And with those deep benches, we're able to reach into other countries for cross-border projects or projects specifically into countries. 

We are obviously a member of Lex Mundi Network. If people are not familiar with that, that's a global network of law firms that have been pre-screened by Lex Mundi for quality and service to clients and responsiveness. And with that, we're able to tap into that base, whether it's in South Africa or ⁓Saudi Arabia or South Korea or Thailand. We're able to tap into these law firms and use their skills locally on the ground when we need them on the ground.  

We're not exclusively with Lex Mundi. We don't have to use them. There are situations where if attorneys have their own relationships with other law firms in other countries and things like that, we definitely can use those as the case may be, and we have in the past. Sometimes you need the right skill sets or the right relationship to get a project done. Somebody knows, you know, has the right connections or whatever the case is.  

And that makes a difference on the ground. So we support that too, of course. But I think that makes the deal, the international work really effective for us. So we have that network base to reach out to. And then just our attorneys have really good experience internationally. And we travel internationally, we go see clients, clients come to see us. As you may know, we started a Segundi program with bringing in international lawyers into the firm to help develop and train them and then send them back out to the clients as the case may be. And that's been a fun engagement both relationally and building our brand internationally. 

Lori Patton (14:07) 

So Jeff, if you can take me back to those early days when you joined Womble, you were not only introducing your clients to the firm, but also building that cadre of fellow partners, associates, other folks who would serve your clients. As you think back to those early days, what do you see may have been your success in terms of making those connections? 

Quite literally, what do you do, your secret sauce, terms of connecting so many people with the client? 

Jeffrey Whittle (14:46) 

I don't know if I have a secret sauce, I think I still go back with the relationships. I want the client to know the quality of people and the quality of attorneys that we have at the firm and build that relationships themselves. So I'm very confident in that in terms of introducing my peers and others to the client in that regard.  

I have a trust, you know, you have to trust your partners and trust your colleagues in that regard. So, I have a trust for that. And I think I try to communicate that I'm for them and not against them, and I want them to succeed. And if there's ways that I can help them succeed with my client or with their clients, I want to try to help do that. Because again, I go back to you know, rising tides float all boats. So I'm really, yeah. 

But you’ve got to have trust. And I believe the Womble attorneys, we have trust for each other ~ and a good friendship with each other so that we can get along well and work clients to serve them. And I think clients sense that. I think they sense that we work well as a team or sense that we like each other being around each other and they kind of enjoy coming back to us. then they, in turn, they trust us. Okay, now I have a different project and it's not anybody with your skill sets here. Who do you recommend this time? 

So you bring in another person and just keep plugging them into the client as much as you can to serve the client. And these are wonderful clients. I give them the credit. I think highly of them. So they've treated us very well over time. 

Lori Patton (16:30) 

Jeff, you have held a number of leadership roles in your time here at Womble, from office managing partner to the energy natural resources co-head leader, and also serving on the global board. Talk to me a little bit about how your leadership has positively impacted your clients and how have you taken advantage of those leadership roles for your own success? EDIT OUT BACKGROUND NOISES IF POSSIBLE 

Jeffrey Whittle (17:02) 

Well, I think number one, think that leadership roles have helped me learn more about Womble, openly. So I think you see a bigger picture in leadership roles and always encourage attorneys to explore leadership roles for that reason, among others. And I think it's over the years, it's given me exposure to some of high quality talent that we have and it makes it easier for me to connect.  

Keeping in mind that, that friendships or those collegiality at kind of the core. And it helps build more effective teams when you're in that situation, helps service clients more effectively. It helps me, it's kind of fun too, because it helps me get to know attorneys, law firm executives and legal staff even more on a personal level. You know, a little more about their families, what are their significant others, what they bring to kind of the real world where we all practice. We spend a lot of time around each other at work. 

It's nice to understand what's going on in people's lives a little bit as they understand what's going on in mine as well too. So, I think part of leadership is looking for that, looking to serve people in really effective ways so that you can collectively serve clients. And I think a part of that is listening. You to be a good listener, listen to what is going on in people's lives and going on with attorneys. And in turn, what, most importantly is going on with clients that you're trying to serve. But in leading, you have to listen a lot. And I think that's important to listen and take the heart with what people are communicating. 

Lori Patton (18:40) 

Jeff, it strikes me that in the time you've been here at Womble, so many successes have happened. Your practice successfully ramping up and utilizing so many people across the country and the world. Also, these leadership opportunities. When you think about that in terms of other people who may be looking for a firm home and want to have opportunities in leadership, how do you think these leadership opportunities came about for you? Or how did you make them happen so that other laterals who may be looking for leadership growth can hear about how we do that here at Womble? 

Jeffrey Whittle (19:25) 

Hmm. So I really believe leadership opportunities often help motivate laterals if they're coming over. I think it was a motivation for me too, but I think it's a motivation for them to step in. Because we want to develop strong leaders over time as a firm. You know, we're looking for long-term planning and things like that. As we grow, we've got to have more leaders. It's just true. Attorneys that are willing to step up to the table and really take a part in this. So, you know, we kind of have a general rule as you know, that you can stay in a leadership role for six years, assuming they're doing well and they want to continue. And I think that's a great model. And the reason is I think you develop younger talent, you develop different talent. This doesn't have to be younger, it should be different. Because they bring perspectives and angles and things, you know, other approaches that I don't think about. And I think that's the refreshing thing. I say, you know, that's really a good idea. That's really, and I like to mentor potential leaders. I like to affirm potential leaders and try to help them step out because we need it. The firm is better for it when we do that. And I'm a real believer in it. And I think I encourage attorneys to get connected laterals coming over too, because I think it makes it easier for them to grow their practices and get to know the firm that way. 

And they have real opportunities to step into roles that I think are significant roles. And we give them a lot of rope to build  really terrific practices or sub-practices or the case as the case may be. 

Lori Patton (21:08) 

So Jeff, you talked a lot about all of the energy and time that you have put into your practice and leadership roles. How has the Womble culture also supported your personal life and passions or your community interests? Because I know that you're a community interest person as well. Tell us a little bit about that and how you spend your free time and how you relax. EDIT OUT BACKGROUND SOUND IF POSSIBLE. 

Jeffrey Whittle (21:35) 

Sure, I enjoy our greater Houston communities, for example, outside of work. My wife and I work with the Houston Park systems, with the Houston education systems, the Houston healthcare systems, and our local church to serve our community. We really, we do, we really enjoy it. We serve and continue to serve on numerous nonprofit boards and help guide some of our passions in these areas. 

And it's not just serving on boards. We like to actively get out and do things with the community and experience. It's just part of it. I'm a biker, so I do road bikes a lot. So we have these wonderful parks in Houston that have been built over the last 15 years. So I enjoy a group of executives and I get out regularly, usually once a week or once every other week to bike the park pass. 

And we do long distances and so it's really a fun time and just, you see the city from a different viewpoint. You see it from a bicycle. We also of course walk the pass and things like that too, but it's just fun to see it from outside your car and just with biking and walking you can go into shops and cafes and restaurants. Just to that you would never even realize were there before if you didn't get out and mix. And Houston is such a big city, great, great culture, mix of people. think there's hundreds of languages spoken here. So it's it's a really a neat mix of people here. 

Lori Patton (23:12) 

Absolutely. I'm curious, Jeff, as you think about some of the questions that we've talked about today from your trajectory leadership, the Womble culture, are there other things that have occurred to you that would be valuable for laterals to hear that we haven't specifically asked about today? 

Jeffrey Whittle (23:35) 

We talked about a lot. I think that what people would want to hear, I think, is I want to go back to the hope of the build. I think there's a lot of energy and maybe that's a pun of some sort, this energy. But I think there's a lot of energy behind the idea of moving into a growing firm, a growing firm that's really dynamic, wants to grow, is very supportive of attorneys that want to grow practices, and build and find collegiality and teamwork rather than silos. And I think that's what we're trying to communicate to attorneys that we are really in that mindset of helping attorneys grow practices and build, going back to the hope of the build. But I really believe that. I really am adamant about it. I think that attorneys will find that collegiate and that support. We coach, we mentor. I think steadily if people have a slow time period or something like that, we come alongside them, introduce them to new people. You know, we want them to succeed here. And I think Womble has that mindset of innovation, growth, and client service oriented while practicing in a real collegial environment. 

Lori Patton (25:11) 

Jeff, you hit on a great topic, which is growth. And I I often will hear from either search professionals or laterals, hey, tell me about your growth. Is the growth intentional? Is it opportunistic? Tell me your view, your perspective about the way in which we have grown in the time that you've been here at the firm. How would you describe it as intentional and strategic or other ways to describe it? 

Jeffrey Whittle (25:38) 

Well I think. I think obviously I mentioned before about the energy growth that we've had in our practice. So that's that's been really significant. But I think as a firm, as a whole, we're looking to serve clients and be in markets that are growing, dynamic markets. And I think if you look at the pockets where we're going, where we've been, where you added, I think it's because those are growing hubs in the United States and the UK I think as we look internationally, we'll be doing the same thing. We're looking for growing hubs where we can serve clients and kind of be involved and engaged in the growing national. Respective. National. But global economies is the case. May be. 

Lori Patton (26.20) 

Jeff, I think that sums us up perfectly. Thank you for being with us today 

Jeff Whittle (26:27) 
Thank you so much. Appreciate you all. 

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