Corporate Litigator Casey Berger leaves Winston for Latham
Berger, a 1996 graduate of UT Law, worked at Winston for 15 years. The corporate litigation veteran called his move to Latham "the next natural step."
Dentistry Dreams to Megadeals: Dallas Native Powers AI Infrastructure Gold Rush
Melissa Kalka once imagined herself in a white dentist’s coat, peering into mouths across bicuspids and middle molars.
Instead, now she examines balance and term sheets, drilling into multibillion‑dollar deals for hidden risk and opportunity. A transactional partner at the richest law firm in the world, she has become one of the firm’s go‑to architects for complex, capital‑intensive energy and infrastructure deals.
The Texas Lawbook caught up with her about her upbringing and career and the deals she's leading now.
Exxon Shareholders Approve Texas Reincorporation Plan
Exxon shareholders approved the move to Texas, first recommended in March, with more than 70 percent of shareholders voting in favor.
The move may prove more historical than controversial. While the company's relocation received some opposition, the controversy was nothing compared to Exxon's legal and historical past.
Buffey Klein Takes Her BR Practice to Blank Rome
Blank Rome announced this week that veteran bankruptcy attorney Buffey Klein is joining their Dallas office. Klein leaves Husch Blackwell after 23 years, the last three as the firm’s Dallas managing partner.
Carlyle-Diversified Energy Partnership Fuels $1.175B Deal for Anadarko Basin Assets
Diversified Energy Company and its finance partner Carlyle Global Credit announced a $1.175 billion purchase agreement for oil and gas assets in Oklahoma’s Anadarko Basin owned by Camino Natural Resources.
Diversified is advised by Citi and Truist on finance and Kirkland & Ellis as outside legal counsel. Carlyle was advised on legal matters by Paul Hastings and Latham & Watkins. Jefferies is lead financial advisor to Camino with RBC Richardson Barr as co-advisor. Camino outside legal counsel is Vinson & Elkins.
Paul, Weiss Snags Two More Houston Partners from Kirkland, Latham
Paul, Weiss, Rifkin, Wharton & Garrison announced Monday that its Houston office has added two major deal lawyers: Aisha Lavinier, from Kirkland & Ellis, to its corporate department and Jim Cole, from Latham & Watkins, to tax.
Clifford Chance Promotes 28 to Partner, Including Two Dealmakers in Houston
Clifford Chance announced Thursday that Joclynn Marsh and Kyle Kreshover, both of Houston, are among 28 lawyers across 11 of its global offices who have been promoted to partner.
Jones Walker Adds a Pair of Maritime Lawyers
Jones Walker has added two maritime lawyers to its Houston office.
The new laterals are Kelly Haas and Hayley Stancil, who worked together in the Houston office of Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea, BenMaier & Eastham.
Chevron USA Wins Big at SCOTUS
The U.S. Supreme Court Friday decided that an environmental damages lawsuit in a Louisiana state court against oil and gas giant Chevron USA should rightly be removed to federal jurisdiction because of the company’s history as a vendor for petroleum products during World War II.
Chevron was represented by Paul Clement of Clement & Murphy. Plaquemines Parish was represented by Louisiana Solicitor General J. Benjamin Aguiñaga and Victor Marcello of Talbot, Carmouche & Marcello in Baton Rouge.
Omar Samji Heads Back to Gibson Dunn
Omar Samji, the Houston-based lawyer whose career in power and renewables spans more than two decades and six law firms, has left Weil for Gibson Dunn, the firm is announcing today.