News

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels is leaving his decades-long career in public service, and management of the nation’s third-largest county, to join the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

Judge Robert Eckels
Partner
Houston, Texas

Eckels, who was first elected as a state representative in his 20s, served six terms in the Texas Legislature before being elected Harris County Judge – a role in which he oversaw the executive, legislative and judicial functions of a Texas county that is home to more than 3.6 million residents.

"It is with great pride that I have served the citizens of Harris County, but the time has come for the next phase of my career,” Eckels said. "Fulbright is an excellent fit for my experience. Fulbright’s impressive client base in many industries, including energy, will benefit from my legislative, homeland security and governmental experience. Fulbright itself has an impressive record of public service, including Leon Jaworski’s work as the Watergate Special Prosecutor. The firm’s public finance practice is among the nation’s finest. I am honored to join such a distinguished firm.”

At Fulbright, Eckels intends to develop an administrative, regulatory and government relations practice serving clients who seek to be heard with respect to legislation, local ordinances or other government action. He will draw on his positive relationships with elected officials from both parties in Texas and Washington, D.C., and his experience in the Texas Legislature.

"Judge Eckels will be an asset to our firm’s corporate and governmental clients that want to find ways to enhance their relationships and explore new and innovative public-private partnerships,” said Steven B. Pfeiffer, chair of Fulbright’s Executive Committee. "Our attorneys worldwide value positive relationships with governmental leaders. Judge Eckels will significantly augment our existing relationships in Texas, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.”

Eckels also will contribute to Fulbright’s national public finance practice, particularly as disclosure counsel. Fulbright’s public finance group includes more than 50 attorneys, who have represented virtually every type of participant in the municipal securities market, including six of the nation’s 10 largest cities. The firm’s practice regularly helps finance more than $15 billion in public infrastructure annually. In 2006, Fulbright’s public finance practice was ranked 2^nd nationally as disclosure counsel, for clients including The City of New York, and among the top 10 as both bond counsel and underwriters’ counsel.

"Judge Eckels’ experience also will complement greatly our public-private partnership practice,” said Fredric Weber, head of Fulbright’s Public Finance and Administration Department. "As county judge, he led a study of the possible privatization of the Harris County Toll Road System. Although the county elected to retain governmental ownership and operation, his experience gives him special insight into public sector considerations affecting such partnerships. Judge Eckels’ experience with public-private partnerships and management of the budget and operations of a large urban county government will be invaluable to our clients.”

With 16 offices worldwide, Fulbright’s public finance practice offers the benefit of a local presence and global experience. Fulbright attorneys have helped bridge the gap in the nation’s transportation network through innovative financing of toll roads, highways, airports, transit systems, ports, bridges and parking facilities. Nationally, Fulbright’s public finance lawyers have assisted with more than 200 projects making up more than $45 billion in financings for publicly owned electric generation and transmission facilities.

Fulbright recently served as lead finance counsel to the New York Mets in an innovative financing of a new ballpark to replace Shea Stadium. The transaction was dubbed the "Deal of the Year” by the project finance community because of the uniqueness of the public-private partnership with The City of New York. Fulbright also has served as bond counsel to the Houston-Harris County Sports Authority during its financings of Minute Maid Park, Reliant Stadium and Toyota Center.

As county judge, Eckels was credited with helping Harris County finance without property taxes the three state-of-the-art sports facilities in or near downtown Houston, as well as improving transportation, flood control, homeland security and healthcare countywide. Eckels recently received national acclaim for helping coordinate the transformation of Reliant Astrodome and other county facilities into comfortable, welcoming shelters for those fleeing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. It was the largest shelter operation in U.S.history.

The judge’s work during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita was recognized through a number of awards, including one from Esquire magazine, which named Eckels one of the Best and Brightest of 2005 for his extraordinary leadership. "When the city of New Orleans evacuated to Houston, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels took them in. He was an island of competence in the face of catastrophe,” Esquire wrote.

"Throughout his tenure as county judge, Robert Eckels has been a caring, solutions-oriented leader, who has worked to bring people together in managing a variety of challenges,” said Michael W. Conlon, the head of Fulbright’s Houston office. "He exemplifies the type of resolution-oriented lawyer who will thrive in our practice – a practice where our experienced attorneys work each day to offer clients forward-thinking and creative solutions. Judge Eckels’ knowledge and background will greatly benefit our clients’ understanding of the inner workings of government and will bring a successful team-building approach to address their needs.”

left to right: Associate Adrian Patterson, Associate Heather De La Garza, Partner Richard Huff,
Judge Robert Eckels, Houston Partner-in-Charge Mike Conlon, former Houston Partner-in-Charge Frank Jones