Eversheds Sutherland added Eric Kristiansen, Cleve Glenn and Ryan Pittman to the firm’s Houston office as partners, further expanding its litigation and corporate benches. The trio joins from BakerHostetler, bringing immediate scale and prominent experience in serving clients.
Kristiansen joins the litigation group and will serve as co-office managing partner of the Houston office as well as the Texas strategic growth partner. Pittman also joins the firm’s litigation group, while Glenn joins the firm’s corporate group. Together, the three bring deep industry knowledge, long‑standing client relationships and a shared focus on expanding the firm’s capabilities in Houston and across Texas, particularly in energy, construction, private equity‑backed businesses and sophisticated commercial matters.
“Houston, and Texas more broadly, are critical markets for our clients,” Lino Mendiola, global co-CEO and U.S. chief executive of Eversheds Sutherland, said. “Eric, Cleve and Ryan are talented lawyers with proven track records that align with how we serve our clients in Texas and across the firm. Their arrival reflects a deliberate investment in top-tier growth, notably in energy and industrials. We are excited about our recent growth in Texas, and this is another big step forward.”
Olga Greenberg and Michael Bahar, co-heads of global litigation, jointly added, “Demand for sophisticated litigation counsel continues to grow, especially in industries central to the Texas economy. Eric and Ryan are exceptional trial lawyers and trusted advisors who know the Houston market deeply. Their arrival strengthens our bench of first-chair litigators and reinforces our commitment to building a preeminent litigation practice that can support clients locally, nationally and across borders. We are particularly excited by their proven ability to attract other top-flight talent in Houston and across Texas.”
Adding meaningful depth to the firm’s corporate practice, Glenn supports commercial and financial services clients on transactions and governance matters in Texas and other major markets.
“Cleve is a versatile corporate partner with a strong track record and a history of building close client relationships,” Bob Copps, co-head of global corporate, said. “His focus on advising private equity sponsors, companies, and family offices makes him an excellent fit for our platform, and his presence in Houston will immediately enhance our ability to serve clients, especially Texas-based and Texas-focused clients, with their complex, cross-border and multijurisdictional needs.”
Kristiansen and Pittman jointly said, “Houston is one of the most active litigation markets in the country, particularly across energy and construction. Eversheds Sutherland’s litigation practice, trial experience and industry-specific focus provide a strong foundation for advising clients on their most challenging disputes in Texas and beyond.”
Glenn added, “Eversheds Sutherland’s depth in energy, private equity and complex transactions was a key factor in my decision to join, as clients expect increasingly sophisticated legal advice. The firm’s integrated platform supports Texas‑based and Texas‑connected clients across their transactional, governance and broader strategic needs.”
Glenn advises clients on M&A, commercial transactions, corporate governance and strategic counseling, representing buyers and sellers in transactions and serving as outside general counsel to a range of businesses, particularly in the energy and real estate sectors.
Kristiansen focuses on complex commercial litigation, regularly representing clients in high-stakes business disputes, construction and indemnity matters, and product and premises liability cases. He is widely regarded as a strategic advisor, often counseling clients before disputes arise on risk management and litigation strategy.
Pittman is a first-chair trial lawyer with significant experience representing energy and construction companies in state and federal courts across the country. His practice includes oil and gas litigation, construction disputes and condemnation proceedings, drawing on his firsthand industry experience prior to entering the legal profession.
