With Cruz, Morgan Lewis Plans Bigger Appellate Practice

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Texas solictor general Ted Cruz is headed for private practice. Come May 12, the wunderkind appellate lawyer will join Morgan Lewis as a partner, based out of both Houston and Washington, D.C. Morgan Lewis must be thrilled with its catch: Cruz was the youngest solicitor general at the time of his appointment in 2003; he's authored more than 70 U.S. Supreme Court briefs; and he's delivered 30 oral arguments (including seven before the Supreme Court). Politically conservative, the 38-year-old lawyer clerked for Justice William Rehnquist and worked on the Bush-Cheney 2000 Florida recount team. We got him on the phone earlier today to talk about the move.

Why are you making this move to private practice?
After five and a half years at the solicitor general’s office, I'm ready for another challenge. Another factor is that my wife and I just had a child, so it made financial sense, too.

Do you know anyone at the firm?
I know the managing partner in Houston [Brady Edwards]. We were summer associates together at Baker Botts.

The firm isn't known for its appellate practice. What does it offer you?
I was blessed to have a lot of other opportunities but Morgan Lewis offered a global practice with a sterling reputation and a significant commitment to grow in Texas. It also offered me an opportunity to build and lead an appellate/Supreme Court practice. My mandate is to help recruit Supreme Court superstars. I built an extraordinary team at OSG; it went from eight to 15 lawyers. They were all top graduates of top law schools and clerked with federal judges.

So will you raid OSG for the firm?
We will cast our net far and wide.

You've been handling hot constitutional issues for almost six years. Any concerns that time sheets and clients might be unsexy?
[He laughs.] It's true, I haven’t billed my time in a long time. But I had similar responsibility in dealing with legislators and the public. As solicitor general, every citizen in Texas is a client.

Your last stint at a law firm was ten years ago at Cooper Carvin, and you stayed less than two years. Do you expect to stay in private practice?
When I came out of law school I thought I would spend the vast majority of my career in private practice. But I had opportunities in public service that I couldn’t pass up.

What might lure you back to government work?
It's difficult to predict the future. At this stage I’m eager and excited to lead and build an appellate practice.

How are you keeping active in politics?
I'm supporting Senator McCain. My views on public service come from my family. My father fought with Fidel Castro, then ended up being imprisoned and tortured. He came to this country with $100 sewn into his underwear. . . . It's a wonderful experience to be a child of immigrants because it infuses [one] with the miracle of this nation. My dad risked his life to be here, so I expect to be in public service all my life.

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