History
The firm was founded on November 1, 1945, when J. S. Bracewell and his two sons, J. Searcy Bracewell Jr. and Fentress Bracewell, joined with Bert H. Tunks to practice together in Houston under the name of Bracewell & Tunks. Searcy Bracewell was elected to the Texas Senate in 1946, representing Harris County, and ultimately becoming the Majority Leader of the Senate. Fentress Bracewell led the development of the firm, serving as the firm’s first managing partner. Fentress was appointed Houston Port Commissioner in 1968 and chaired the Port of Houston Authority for 15 years. Bert Tunks was appointed a district court judge in 1957 and was later named chief justice of the First Court of Appeals.
Harry W. Patterson joined the firm in 1951, and was made name partner in 1966 as Bracewell & Patterson prospered from the commercial growth of Houston. [4] National expansion began during the 1970s, followed by international expansion later.
On March 31, 2005, former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani joined the firm as a name partner, with the firm becoming known as Bracewell & Giuliani. [5] He helped the firm in establishing its New York office. [6] In January 2016, Giuliani left the firm [7] by “amicable agreement,” [8] and the firm was renamed Bracewell LLP.
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