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Jackson Walker, U.S. Trustee Reach Agreement Resolving Objections to Bankruptcy Fee Settlements - Since about 5 p.m. Tuesday — Day 1 of a three-day hearing on approval of nine settlements with former bankruptcy clients totaling roughly $4 million — Jackson Walker’s counsel and the U.S. Trustee had been working, at the judge’s direction, on reaching a compromise on the settlement language.
At the heart of the matter was the effect and scope of the language in the settlement agreements. March 18, 2026
At the heart of the matter was the effect and scope of the language in the settlement agreements. March 18, 2026
Remembering Judge E. Grady Jolly — ‘A Fifth Circuit Original’ - Judge E. Grady Jolly, who served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for 43 years, died Monday. He was 88.
Former Fifth Circuit Judge Gregg Costa wrote in a LinkedIn post that Judge Jolly had a "razor-sharp wit, was a world-class raconteur, and brought uncommon wisdom and judgment to deciding cases.
“Judge Jolly cared about the law and his views as much as anyone on the court. But after arguing his position with aplomb, he would walk out of the conference with his arm draped around the colleague with whom he had just disagreed, telling jokes on his way to toasting the colleague with a cocktail. We need more of that good spiritedness these days." March 18, 2026
Former Fifth Circuit Judge Gregg Costa wrote in a LinkedIn post that Judge Jolly had a "razor-sharp wit, was a world-class raconteur, and brought uncommon wisdom and judgment to deciding cases.
“Judge Jolly cared about the law and his views as much as anyone on the court. But after arguing his position with aplomb, he would walk out of the conference with his arm draped around the colleague with whom he had just disagreed, telling jokes on his way to toasting the colleague with a cocktail. We need more of that good spiritedness these days." March 18, 2026
Goldman Sachs Accused of Age Discrimination, Wrongful Termination in Arbitration Claim - Dallas-based Rogge Dunn Group has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitration claim against Goldman Sachs, alleging that it committed age discrimination, wrongful termination and unlawful withholding of earned deferred compensation. The complaint seeks more than $2 million in damages and $1 million in punitive damages. March 18, 2026
Evidentiary Hearing Begins Over Jackson Walker Bankruptcy Settlements - On the 867th day since the U.S. Trustee moved to vacate fees awarded to Jackson Walker in bankruptcy proceedings in 34 cases involving former Houston bankruptcy judge David Jones and a former firm partner, the parties met in federal court in downtown Houston for the start of a three-day hearing. March 18, 2026
Judge Rejects $950M Punitive Damages Award Against J&J - A California judge has rejected a jury’s $950 million award of punitive damages against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson. The jury awarded $16 million in compensatory damages in October 2025.
This is just one of many cases Dallas-based Dean Omar Branham Shirley is involved with against J&J at the moment. March 17, 2026
This is just one of many cases Dallas-based Dean Omar Branham Shirley is involved with against J&J at the moment. March 17, 2026
Chief Justice Deflects Criticism of SCOTUS at Texas Appearance - John Roberts spoke with U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal during a public visit to the Baker Institute for Public Policy about the U.S. Supreme Court, its history and current challenges, and why he chose Rice University for a return visit. March 17, 2026Judge Grants Robert Morris’ Motion to Clarify, Stay - In a short hearing, Dallas County Judge Emily Tobolowsky granted Robert Morris’ motion to clarify and stay so they can proceed with mandamus before the Fifth Court of Appeals. The parties had reached an agreement. March 17, 2026
Litigation Roundup: ERCOT Scores Another Win in Winter Storm Uri Case - In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the Texas Supreme Court undoes a jury’s $26 million damages award in a fight involving a contract to deliver fracking water in North Dakota and Texas’ attorney general claims victory in a short-lived Oklahoma border dispute. March 16, 2026
Centerpiece
‘Law as a Profession Rises and Falls on Leadership’ - Jim Coleman, a role model and mentor for scores and scores of Texas attorneys, openly worried that law was quickly becoming just like every other business and was no longer a noble profession.
“The law, as a profession, rises and falls on leadership,” he told The Texas Lawbook in 2015.
Never have those words been more important than today.
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Lawbook are pleased to announce the launch of the Texas Lawbook Leadership Symposium, which will focus on issues facing legal industry leaders, provide insight into leadership decision-making and honor corporate general counsel and law firm executives and managing partners who have demonstrated great leadership during an era of disruption. March 17, 2026
“The law, as a profession, rises and falls on leadership,” he told The Texas Lawbook in 2015.
Never have those words been more important than today.
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Lawbook are pleased to announce the launch of the Texas Lawbook Leadership Symposium, which will focus on issues facing legal industry leaders, provide insight into leadership decision-making and honor corporate general counsel and law firm executives and managing partners who have demonstrated great leadership during an era of disruption. March 17, 2026
Robert Morris in Jail, Gateway Church in Court: A Look the Multifront Battle Across Texas - While Robert Morris, the convicted child sex offender and former pastor of Gateway Church, is sitting in a jail cell in Osage County, Oklahoma, the wake of his crime continues to ripple as the high-stakes litigation involving the megachurch and its elders is spreading and unfolding in courts across North Texas.
Morris, the church, its elders and congregants and Gateway’s insurance company are mired in lawsuits playing out in state and federal courts. Claims range from defamation to dishonesty about the allocation of tithe money to a dispute over retirement payments to Morris.
The Texas Lawbook's Michelle Casady takes you inside the morass of civil litigation. March 16, 2026
Expert Voices
The Lateral Portal — Clients are the Winners - Much has been written about the “hot” lateral market for law firm partners in recent years. This publication, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and others have all noted the fierce competition for talent. In years past, that competition centered around transactional or corporate lawyers. Today, it also centers around trial lawyers. Why? With fewer cases going to trial than ever before, even as deals are being done at historically record levels, why would trial lawyers be as in demand as deal lawyers? The answer: There aren’t that many of us around. March 11, 2026
Learning from One of the First Business Court Trials - When the Texas Business Court opened its doors in September 2024, following years of discussing its potential promise, there was a flood of excitement from the business and legal community. Cases streamed into the new court in greater-than-expected numbers, especially in Houston and Dallas. But filing a case and trying it are two very different things. March 10, 2026
Stories You Might’ve Missed
Texas Courts Cold as Ice to Winter Storm Uri Victims - Winter Storm Uri brought single-digit temperatures and freezing precipitation to Texas in February 2021. Power lines snapped. Natural gas and power generators went silent. Pipelines froze. At least 246 people died. Thousands and thousands more suffered serious medical injuries. In all, 31,600 Texans and businesses sued energy companies for gross negligence. But five years later, not a single case has made it to trial. February 13, 2026
