Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the addition of Charles E. Harrell as a partner in the Houston office’s Corporate & Securities practice. A widely respected corporate attorney, Charles focuses his practice on complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, cross-border matters, finance, and capital markets.

“We are excited to have Charles join the Firm. He is entrepreneurial, experienced, and an excellent advisor—all attributes that make him the perfect fit for Jackson Walker,” Firmwide Managing Partner Wade Cooper said.

With an entrepreneurial history and experience as a CPA, Charles guides clients ranging from technology, healthcare, and energy startups to mid-market businesses and Fortune 100 companies through all phases of the corporate cycle. He also counsels board committees on matters of corporate governance, strategy, and regulatory compliance.

In recognition of his practice, Charles has been named among The Best Lawyers in America since 2008 – including as Houston’s Lawyer of the Year for Corporate Compliance Law in 2015 and 2017. In addition, he was named a “Top 100 Lawyer – Corporate Law” in 2018 by Top 100 Registry Inc. and as a “Texas Super Lawyer” since 2003 by Thomson Reuters.

Prior to Jackson Walker, Charles previously served as a managing partner and founding partner of the Houston office of an Am Law 100 law firm with over 800 attorneys in offices in the U.S., UK, and Asia. Outside of his practice, Charles has held leadership positions with the National Association of Corporate Directors – Houston Chapter, the American Bar Association Section of Business Law, Lemonade Day National, Souper Bowl of Caring, Target Hunger, the Houston Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, and the Houston Technology Center.

“Over the course of his career, Charles has made a positive impact on his clients while serving as a leader within the Houston legal community,” Houston Managing Partner Priya Coffey said. “Our next generation of leaders will learn a lot from him.”

In his practice at Jackson Walker, Charles will counsel businesses both large and small across multiple industries, including energy, telecommunications, healthcare, and technology, on angel and venture capital funding, opportunities for growth and sustainability, defining formation structures, and maximizing value propositions.

On his decision to join the Firm, he noted, “Jackson Walker has cultivated a strong reputation in Texas as a superregional law firm with ties that reach beyond the state. I look forward to continuing to provide excellent service to my clients while also tapping into JW’s strong relationships across Texas.”

“I look forward to continuing to provide excellent service to my clients while also tapping into JW’s strong relationships across Texas.”

Corporate & Securities Chair Richard Dahlson added, “Charles is an outstanding attorney with connections in a variety of industries including energy, healthcare, and technology—three areas that Jackson Walker happens to have a lot of experience in. With his addition, we’re able to further cement the Firm’s role as a major force for dealmaking in Texas.”

Charles received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and his B.B.A. from The University of Texas.

Meet JW

Founded more than 130 years ago, Jackson Walker has played a vital role in the growth and development of Texas business. With more than 400 attorneys across seven Texas-based offices, the Firm represents Fortune 500 companies, multinational corporations, major financial institutions, insurance companies, and a wide range of public companies and private businesses around the globe. The Firm is ranked nationally in 27 practice areas in the U.S. News’ “Best Law Firms” rankings, has eight Chambers USA-ranked practices and 16 practice areas with Chambers-ranked attorneys, and has been recognized on the BTI Client Service A-Team since 2014.