Former Law School Associate Dean John Beckworth Joins Jackson Walker

October 19, 2018 | Attorney News



Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the addition of John Beckworth as Of Counsel in the Firm’s Austin office. As a Lecturer and former Associate Dean at The University of Texas School of Law, John brings to our Chambers-ranked Energy group an established practice in litigation and oil and gas law with substantial experience in domestic and international arbitration.

“To welcome an attorney of John’s exceptional reputation is a significant accomplishment,” Managing Partner C. Wade Cooper said. “He is a prominent voice in energy law and arbitration, having been in private practice for 30 years before joining The University of Texas School of Law. We are fortunate to have him on our team here at Jackson Walker.”

“To welcome an attorney of John’s exceptional reputation is a significant accomplishment.”

“Jackson Walker is a great fit,” John said. “I’m proud to join a firm with such a long track record of leadership in energy law and many areas, and one with a strong presence in Austin and throughout Texas.”

Meet John

John began his career in 1983 in the Litigation Section of Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston where he was a partner in the law firm before leaving in 1994 to start his own practice. During his time in private practice in Houston, John handled and tried civil cases and appeals in Texas and across the country, and he continues to serve as an energy and business lawyer and arbitrator.

In 2013, John left his active law practice in Houston to join The University of Texas School of Law in Austin as Associate Dean for Administration and Strategic Planning and as a Lecturer. “John has a tremendous following throughout the Texas legal and business communities – especially in Houston, where he lived and practiced for three decades before moving to Austin,” said Houston partner Alfred M. Meyerson. “Our clients will certainly benefit from his extensive experience and vast network of professional contacts.”

In addition to his roles as Associate Dean and Lecturer in the Law School, John has served The University of Texas as a former Trustee of the University of Texas Law School Foundation and as President and Chairman of the Board of the Texas Exes. In 2018 he was elected to become a Trustee of the LBJ Foundation.

John is a longstanding appointed member of the Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee. In 2017, he became a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Board Leadership Fellow.

Our Growing Energy Practice

Energy Chair Michael P. Pearson said, “Jackson Walker has long been a leader in energy law. We strive to provide our clients with the skills and the experience to meet their needs. John’s broad background in business litigation, arbitration, and oil and gas will add a new dynamic to our team.”

With the addition of John, Jackson Walker embraces its long history of recruiting prominent leaders from The University of Texas. Among its many alumni, 70 years ago, one of the Firm’s name partners, A.W. “Jess” Walker, Jr., left the School of Law faculty to join what would become known as Jackson Walker. And in 2015, the Firm welcomed former Dean of The School of Law and UT Austin President William Powers, Jr., who has played a crucial role in the development of legal talent and leadership skills among attorneys at Jackson Walker.

For more information about Jackson Walker’s history in energy law, visit our Energy practice page or view the timeline on our Meet JW page.

Meet JW

For more than 130 years, Jackson Walker has played a vital role in the growth and development of Texas business. Since our founding in 1887, our attorneys have represented some of the most influential companies in the state in key industries that shaped the course of Texas history, including railroads, the media, and oil and gas exploration. Today, we remain firmly rooted in Texas while serving clients around the globe. With more than 350 attorneys in our seven offices, we serve clients around the world in a broad range of practices and industries.


In This Story

John Beckworth
Of Counsel, Austin

C. Wade Cooper
Partner, Austin

Alfred M. Meyerson
Partner, Austin

Michael P. Pearson
Partner, Houston

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