DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The Mayor of Dallas has landed an additional job.
Mayor Eric Johnson has joined Locke Lord’s Dallas office as a Partner in the Firm’s Public Finance Practice Group.
“Mayor Johnson is very well regarded within the business community in North Texas and throughout the state, is a Dallas native, and has been practicing law in Dallas for over 15 years, bringing to the Firm a depth of experience in the public finance industry,” said Locke Lord Chair David Taylor. “We are honored someone of his caliber and background who shares our Firm’s core values is now a Partner.”
Johnson most recently worked at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, and prior to that at Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP, where he helped establish both firms’ presence in the North Texas public finance market.
“I have long respected Locke Lord, its lawyers, its public finance practice, and its deep ties to the Dallas community,” Mayor Johnson said. “I’m excited to be joining such a venerated law firm. I can’t think of a better situation — working for the people of my hometown as their Mayor, and practicing law with some of the most talented lawyers in the world. I’m also looking forward to working closely with Firm leadership to further enhance the Firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.”
While Dallas has had former mayors also serve as lawyers, it may be something Johnson’s political opponents will try to use against him.
“When Ron Kirk was mayor, you would hear every once in a while about the fact that he was being paid by his law firm,” SMU Political Science Professor Dr. Cal Jillson said. “I think that will come to face Eric Johnson as well.”
Locke Lord’s Deputy Managing Partner Whit Roberts says they will make sure that there will not be conflict of interest between the firm and Johnson serving as Dallas mayor.
“We are both focused, as a law firm and the mayor, highly focused on making sure that we comply with ethics rules with the City of Dallas and our rules of professional responsibility as lawyers,” Roberts said.
The Mayor addressed any concerns about the additional job in a statement.
“To Dallas’ residents, I want to say that my duties as Mayor will always come first. As a practicing lawyer in my early 40s, however, it is also important that I maintain my law license and continue to practice law as time allows,” Mayor Johnson said. “And I will always do so in accordance with all applicable laws, as well as the ethical standards of the legal profession, with respect to conflicts of interest.”
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