Jackson Walker partner Edward C. Small was featured in a May 2014 Texas Bar Journal article that focused on the four generations of lawyers in his family.
The article, “The Smalls: Four Generations of Law and Helping Others,” discusses the Small family’s multigenerational legal legacy and involvement in Texas politics, beginning with Mr. Small’s grandfather, Charles Clinton Small, Sr., who graduated from The University of Texas School of Law in 1911. He served as a state senator for 12 years and founded the firm of Small, Craig & Werkenthin, which eventually merged with Jackson Walker.
Mr. Small’s own path to a career in law, which started while he was still an undergraduate student at UT playing football, was due in large part to the influence and reputation of his father, Charles Clinton Small, Jr., and his grandfather.
“What I remember about my grandfather is what people thought of him,” Mr. Small said. “And the aura of my father had a lot of impact on me. He received all the awards for top students in law school–he was smart.”
Mr. Small’s daughter, Cecily Small Gooch, was likewise inspired by the work of her great–grandfather, grandfather, and father, which led her to a career in law as well.
“Growing up, I saw my dad and grandfather as being very respected for helping others,” Ms. Gooch said. “And that’s why I wanted to go into the law. I did not realize that there was any kind of negative stigma to any part of the legal field probably until I was a third–year law student and started hearing lawyer jokes. But that’s not the way I look at it. My family has felt great pride in helping others through our legal careers.”
Mr. Small has more than 40 years’ experience representing clients before the Texas Legislature and Texas regulatory agencies, in addition to his litigation practice. His clients include associations and entities seeking solutions to issues affected by State Government. Mr. Small’s litigation experience includes water rights, boundary issues, condemnation, oil and gas, and other land related issues. He has been on the front lines of historic Texas agriculture policy initiatives. Perhaps most notable was his work in brucellosis eradication for TSCRA and boll weevil eradication for TBWEF. Mr. Small is listed in the 2007–2012 editions of The Best Lawyers in America. He was also voted “Best of Business Attorneys & Corporate Counsel” by the Austin Business Journal in 2005 for Legislative/Lobbying. Mr. Small earned his B.B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Texas.
