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Dallas Dealmaker Co-Leads Earth-Shattering $1.25T SpaceX Merger - Texas-based SpaceX has acquired xAI to scale their combined operations “to make a sentient sun to understand the universe and extend the light of consciousness to the stars” in a record-setting transaction. In what would be the largest merger of all time, the deal was co-led by a Dallas lawyer from Gibson Dunn. February 3, 2026Paul Weiss To Open Houston Office with Longtime M&A Dealmakers - Paul Weiss announced Tuesday that it has found the lawyers needed to open and run a new office in Houston, both from Kirkland & Ellis. February 3, 2026
Ganjei Confirmed as SDTX Judge - The U.S. Senate confirmed Nicholas Ganjei, who was the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, to a lifetime federal judgeship in Houston Tuesday. He succeeds retired Judge Lynn H. Hughes. February 3, 2026
Texas Federal Courts are Largely Rejecting Administration’s New Interpretation of Immigration Detention Law - Federal district court judges in Texas — from across the political spectrum — are rejecting the Trump administration’s reinterpretation of immigration law in order to detain immigrants without the opportunity to seek bond while they contest the government’s attempts to deport them, even if they’ve lived in the U.S. for decades and have no criminal record.
One case is headed for review before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Tuesday morning.
At least one U.S. district judge in El Paso is urging lawyers in related habeas corpus cases to be prepared for dispositive hearings following the Fifth Circuit panel’s decision, saying his court has been receiving up to 25 such cases each week. February 3, 2026
One case is headed for review before a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Tuesday morning.
At least one U.S. district judge in El Paso is urging lawyers in related habeas corpus cases to be prepared for dispositive hearings following the Fifth Circuit panel’s decision, saying his court has been receiving up to 25 such cases each week. February 3, 2026
‘To the Gates of Hell’ One Dallas Lawyer Was Willing to Go in Federal Habeas Fight Over ICE Detention - Charles Gearing felt an itch last summer to get more involved in pro bono work. The healthcare litigation lawyer at Weaver Johnston Nelson in Dallas found a project that advertised a limited scope — helping detained noncitizens apply for bond — that seemed like work that required less lawyering than sleuthing and logistical hustle, or so Gearing thought. He took on the case of Pedro Romo Navarro, a Mexican citizen living in Dallas for the past three decades who was facing deportation after being stopped by police for riding a bicycle without a front light.
What began as a seemingly simple bond request plunged Gearing into a nationwide legal and political controversy over the detention of longtime U.S. residents with no criminal records, often for months at a time in unsanitary facilities and without the opportunity for a bond hearing. Lawyers argue that these detentions violate the Immigration and Nationality Act and constitutional due process rights. February 3, 2026
What began as a seemingly simple bond request plunged Gearing into a nationwide legal and political controversy over the detention of longtime U.S. residents with no criminal records, often for months at a time in unsanitary facilities and without the opportunity for a bond hearing. Lawyers argue that these detentions violate the Immigration and Nationality Act and constitutional due process rights. February 3, 2026
Groundhog Day: More Competition for Texas Talent - Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and the first week of February has seen at least 20 business lawyers in Texas on the move, including a new Oil & Gas co-chair at Baker Botts. February 3, 2026
Centerpiece
Melsheimer, Stodghill Lead Nine-Partner Litigation Team to King & Spalding - Prominent Dallas trial lawyer Tom Melsheimer, long-time law partner Steven Stodghill and seven other litigation partners from Winston & Strawn started their new positions as partners at King & Spalding in Dallas today. “I was on top of the mountain with Winston,” Melsheimer told The Texas Lawbook. “But then I saw another mountain. King & Spalding made an offer that I could not say no to, so I didn’t. King & Spalding understands that this is a war for the best talent because the best talent attracts the best clients. King & Spalding is in it to win this war.” February 3, 2026
2025 DFW Corp. Counsel Award Winners: ‘It Was a Challenging Year’ - Brinker, Children’s Health, Comerica, Energy Transfer, Match, PGA, Schwab, Solo Brands and Trintech were the big winners Thursday night at the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards. Eight of the 14 award categories, including Business Litigation of the Year, M&A Transaction of the Year and Corporate Legal Department of the Year, featured multiple finalists, with judges describing them as photo finishes. More than 360 of the most prominent general counsel, senior in-house counsel and law firm partners celebrated the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards at the George W. Bush Institute. This was the ninth year that the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook partnered on the awards event. February 2, 2026Expert Voices
How Businesses Can Protect Insurance Claims After Winter Storm Fern - Winter Storm Fern left a historic trail of damage across more than 30 states, affecting an estimated 230 million Americans. With a predicted six more weeks of winter ahead, property owners face a critical window to protect both their physical assets and their legal rights to insurance recovery. This guide outlines essential actions for business owners navigating the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern. February 2, 2026
AI and the Limits of the New ‘Introduction’ Rule in Petitions for Review - A 2026 rule amendment by the Texas Supreme Court mandates that petitions for review begin with an introduction of no more than 1,000 words explaining why review should be granted. At first glance, the rule seems sensible, given the hundreds of petitions that the court must promptly review every year. But that perceived benefit may be illusory. January 26, 2026
Stories You Might’ve Missed
The Legacy of Pennzoil v. Texaco 40 Years Later — The Civil Jury Trial of the Century - Pennzoil v. Texaco's legacy remains significant, as it changed how companies handle mergers and acquisitions, caused the Chamber of Commerce to designate Texas as a judicial hellhole in 1986 and directly led to two decades of massive tort reform efforts that dramatically limited the rights of Texans to sue businesses, doctors and insurance companies for wrongdoing. It also launched Texas trial lawyer Joe Jamail to national stardom and made him the richest trial lawyer in American history.
In this in-depth article, The Texas Lawbook provides a detailed timeline of the events involved in the historic litigation, as well as comments from more than a dozen lawyers about the legal strategies employed. November 18, 2025
