Multimillion dollar gift will support faculty recruiting and retention
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin today announced the
donation of a multimillion dollar gift from the Houston-based law firm Susman
Godfrey LLP, one of the nation's preeminent boutique litigation firms. The Susman
Godfrey LLP Fund for Faculty Excellence will be used to recruit and retain outstanding
faculty at the Law School.
In honor of the gift, the atrium in Townes Hall will be renamed the Susman Godfrey
Atrium. The atrium serves as a gathering venue for students, faculty, and Law
School organizations as well as a welcome center for guests. The Susman Godfrey
Atrium will be dedicated at a ceremony on Sat., April 16, at the annual alumni
reunion.
"This extremely generous gift from Susman Godfrey will enable us to attract
and retain the very best faculty. Nothing is more important for the Law School's
future. It is fitting that we honor this great law firm with the Susman Godfrey
Atrium, not only to thank them for their generosity, but also to recognize their
long connection to our Law School and prominence in the legal community,"
said UT-Austin School of Law Dean Bill Powers.
Steve Susman said "We are delighted to make this gift to UT Law School,
which has been so instrumental to the professional careers of Lee Godfrey, me
and many of our partners. Without UT Law School we never could have achieved
what we have as a law firm."
Lee Godfrey added "The faculty is the heart of our great law school. Through
the Susman Godfrey Fund for Faculty Excellence, UT will have the resources to
ensure that the law school faculty is the best anywhere."
H. Lee Godfrey, B.A. '66, J.D., '69 (with honors), Stephen Susman, J.D. '65
(with highest honors), and 14 of the firm's 36 other partners graduated from
UT Law.
Susman Godfrey LLP is a 70-lawyer firm with offices in Houston, Dallas, Seattle
and Los Angeles. The firm's practice is devoted exclusively to litigation, for
both plaintiffs and defendants. This month,The American Lawyer named
Susman Godfrey LLP as one of the two best litigation boutiques in the United
States. A link to The American Lawyer article and other information
about the firm and its partners can be found at the firm's web site, www.susmangodfrey.com.