History has proven that industry leaders often emerge during tough economic times. Regarding the legal biz in 2009, one of those appears to be McKool Smith. The growing firm's latest coup: selection as one of 20 firms across the U.S. highlighted in The National Law Journal's first-ever "Midsize Hot List."

In selecting McKool Smith, NLJ editors noted the firm's successful expansion into Washington, D.C., and New York City during the past two years, as well as several high-profile lateral attorneys in core practice areas of commercial litigation, white collar litigation and intellectual property litigation.

Noting that midsize firms "have proven more agile than their bigger competitors," the NLJ staff also highlighted the firm's incredible trial performance last year, earning four of the Top 100 verdicts of 2008, more than any law firm of any size in the nation. The publication also details McKool Smith is on the forefront of meeting client demands by offering cutting-edge alternate billing arrangements and fee structures that do not rely on hourly billing.