SCOTX Examines Life Partners Disclosure Requirements under Securities Laws

By Janet Elliott – AUSTIN (Jan. 23) - The justices are weighing whether companies such as Waco-based Life Partners that sell investments in the secondary life insurance market should be required to provide potential investors more information about how they calculate policyholder's life expectancy.

Bracewell and V&E Advise in $3 Billion Kinder Morgan Purchase

By Natalie Posgate – (Jan. 22) – Houston-based Kinder Morgan has agreed to purchase oil billionaire Harold Hamm’s Hiland Partners for $3 billion. The transaction gives Kinder Morgan access to significant operations in the Bakken Formation, and provides Continental Resources CEO Hamm some padding following his recent $1 billion divorce and current slash in wealth due to the plummeting crude oil prices.

Branson to Appeal Court Reversal in $10.7 Million Doctor v. Doctor Business Dispute

By Mark Curriden – (Jan. 21) – Prominent trial lawyer Frank Branson will ask the Texas Supreme Court to reinstate a $10.7 million jury verdict favoring his client in a case accusing a fellow physician and a business associate of breaching their fiduciary duties in their joint ownership of two medical imaging centers in Plano. If the justices refuse, Branson said he will retry the case and he believes they will get the same or an even better result for his client.

Forshey Prostok Represents Life Partners in Bankruptcy

By Natalie Posgate – (Jan. 20) – Waco-based Life Partners Holdings filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code Tuesday in an effort to prevent federal regulators from seizing control and possibly dismantling the company. The life insurance investment company turned to Fort Worth bankruptcy lawyer Robert Forshey to lead its restructuring efforts.

TPG Capital Taps Fort Worth SEC Official to Lead Corporate Compliance

Mark Curriden – (Jan. 23) – The Fort Worth-based private equity giant is expected next week to name JoAnn Harris, an assistant director of enforcement at the SEC, to be a leader of its corporate compliance group. Harris is currently assigned to the Asset Management Unit, which oversees hedge funds and private equity firms. TPG GC Ron Cami and SEC Regional Director David Woodcock offer comments.

Dean Foods Names Marc Kesselman New GC

By Mark Curriden – (Jan. 21) – Kesselman has left PepsiCo and Frito Lay to be the new general counsel and Executive VP at Dallas-based Dean Foods. In exclusive comments to The Texas Lawbook, Kesselman said that "Dean Foods provides a perfect opportunity for me to employ my legal and government experience in food and agriculture to help drive business growth."

Charles Eskridge Moves Practice to Quinn Emanuel

By Natalie Posgate – (Jan. 21) – Eskridge is the fifth attorney in global litigation boutique Quinn Emanuel’s new Houston office, which made its Texas debut in July. Eskridge says the firm wants “to build the office up with several more outstanding lawyers.” He follows Karl Stern, who left his Houston managing partner role at Vinson & Elkins in December to join Quinn Emanuel.

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Douglas Alexander
Jeff Boyd
Frank Branson
Greg Bopp
Robert T. Cain, Jr.
Cleland "Cle" Dade
Charles Eskridge
David Gerger
Steve Gill
Marc Kesselman
Sonja McGill
Doug McWilliams
Kristofer Monson
Eric Stahl

Bracewell
Bell Nunnally
Quinn Emanuel
V&E

‘Shadow Banking’ Leads to Plunge in Texas Business Bankruptcy Filings

By Mark Curriden – DALLAS (Jan. 13) – Business bankruptcy restructuring in Texas declined 20 percent in 2014 and plummeted more than 56 percent during the past five years. Experts point to a booming economy, low interest rates, an unprecedented access to cash through the emergence of a shadow banking system and the ballooning cost of litigating a case in bankruptcy court. But the streak may end in 2015 thanks to falling oil prices.

“There is going to be a horrible re-awakening in March when E&P companies are required to reset their borrowing basis based on reserves,” says William Snyder of Deloitte. “We will see massive hemorrhaging in the smaller oil and gas companies. By May and June, we are going to see a lot of pain out there."

2014 was the Year of the Deal – Texas M&A Hit Record Levels

By Mark Curriden – HOUSTON (Jan. 2) – Texas companies were involved in more mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures in 2014 than in any year in history, shattering the previous record set before the financial crisis. Led by a trio of mega-deals, the accumulated value of 2014 M&A exceeded the dollar totals of all transactions from 2013 and 2012 combined. The Texas Lawbook has the exclusive data as well as an analysis of the M&A market.

Record Texas M&A, But Who is Doing the Legal Work?

By Mark Curriden – HOUSTON (Jan. 2) – Mergermarket reports that a handful of large corporate law firms are benefiting greatly from the M&A boom of 2014. Three Texas firms - V&E, Baker Botts and Bracewell - are leading their fair share of the deals. Out-of-state firms, including Latham, Jones Day and Kirkland, score big, too. The Texas Lawbook exclusively lists the top 20 M&A firms and there are some surprises.