Gibson Dunn Expanded Dallas IP Practice With Two Hires
Law firms in Dallas are bolstering intellectual property capabilities as high-stakes litigation remains a core local priority.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in People
Gibson Dunn added attorneys Nicholas Mathews and Erik Fountain as partners to its Dallas intellectual property practice group. The firm announced the move on Thursday, marking a strategic shift for its regional legal services.
Why it matters
Law firm talent acquisitions in specialized sectors like IP reflect broader competitive efforts to secure market share in high-stakes corporate litigation. For business owners, these shifts highlight the local availability of specialized counsel to manage proprietary technology and asset disputes.
The firm added two partners to its Dallas office, representing a direct expansion of its intellectual property team. These hires follow departures from their prior firm, McKool Smith, where both attorneys held long-term tenures.
The players
Gibson Dunn
A global law firm known for high-stakes litigation, complex corporate transactions, and regulatory defense.
McKool Smith
A trial-focused law firm recognized for its work in intellectual property and complex commercial litigation.
Nicholas Mathews
An intellectual property attorney who practiced at McKool Smith for 13 years before moving to Gibson Dunn.
Erik Fountain
A veteran intellectual property litigator who has held roles at both McKool Smith and Sidley Austin.
The details
The recruitment of Mathews and Fountain follows their extended tenures at McKool Smith, where both lawyers spent significant portions of their careers. By integrating these partners into its Dallas IP practice, Gibson Dunn scales its capacity to handle complex technical litigation. This transition highlights a common mechanism in Big Law, where firms compete for established rainmakers to build out specialized regional expertise.
Timeline
Nicholas Mathews began his tenure at McKool Smith in 2013.
Erik Fountain started at McKool Smith in 2015, left for Sidley Austin in 2021, and returned to McKool Smith in 2024.
Gibson Dunn announced the hiring of both lawyers on October 1, 2026.
Market Landscape
This move is part of the ongoing consolidation of IP-focused legal talent in the Dallas market. It follows a pattern of global firms aggressively recruiting senior partners from specialized boutique firms to expand their local footprint.
Business operators with active IP litigation or those evaluating outside counsel should monitor how the recent talent shuffle impacts billable rate structures. Review your current legal service agreements to determine if these personnel changes affect your firm's continuity of representation.
The takeaway
Top-tier firms prioritize seasoned IP expertise to manage the complexities of modern patent and proprietary asset disputes. Evaluate your firm's current legal strategy to determine if your existing outside counsel possesses the necessary bench strength for upcoming technical litigation.
Further reading
For more on shifts in the local legal market, see our coverage of People.
