Michelle Casady & Mark Curriden

KBR’s Kriste Sullivan Instrumental in ‘Mighty Big’ Win

When a federal jury in Houston hit KBR with a $71 million verdict in a trade secrets case involving processes used to manufacture polycarbonate, the engineering and construction firm’s senior counsel Kriste Sullivan didn’t flinch.

She knew the plaintiffs had taken a big gamble. And she knew she had an ace in the hole. But it wasn’t just the luck of the draw that resulted in KBR eventually completely pouring out Trinseo’s $360 million trade secrets case.

Citing that win, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook have honored Sullivan, KBR and the lawyers at Susman Godfrey and Bracewell the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Award for Business Litigation of the Year.

May 28, 2026 Michelle Casady & Mark Curriden

Energy Transfer’s Sam Hardy Reflects on ‘Verdict of A Lifetime’

Energy Transfer Partners faced months of protests that delayed the Dakota Access Pipeline, prompting a defamation suit against Greenpeace and allied groups over allegedly false statements that fueled sometimes‑violent demonstrations.

Sam Hardy became deputy general counsel in 2022, inheriting the case and hiring Gibson Dunn’s Trey and Collin Cox and former Judge Gregg Costa, valuing their deep trial experience and alignment with Energy Transfer’s aggressive, trial‑ready culture. By 2025, the company sought $350 million; a North Dakota jury instead awarded $667 million, including $400 million in punitive damages.

Hardy’s team also won a complete defense win in a $150 million fraud and contract case against Goldman Sachs and secured a $15 million settlement of a securities class action once valued above $2.1 billion, earning Hardy the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter and The Texas Lawbook’s recognition as a finalist for the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for Business Litigation of the Year.

January 20, 2026 Michelle Casady & Mark Curriden

Premium Subscriber Q&A: Sam Hardy

In this Q&A with The Texas Lawbook, Sam Hardy discusses the traits he seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working with him and more.

January 20, 2026 Michelle Casady & Mark Curriden

Another Billion-Dollar Win for Keurig Dr Pepper, Another Nomination for Business Litigation of the Year

Two years ago, Stephen Cole reflected on his career as the vice president and assistant general counsel of Keurig Dr Pepper and was confident his best day at the company came after a summary judgment ruling resulted in a $925 million win against competitors Coca-Cola and BodyArmor.

But Cole, now a five-year veteran of KDP, has stayed busy ever since.

In July, the company’s legal team, along with outside counsel at Kirkland & Ellis, defeated a lawsuit from Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling that had been seeking more than $1 billion in damages over the ending of an agreement that had allowed Reyes to distribute Dr Pepper/Seven Up in California and Nevada.

Because of this work, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter and The Texas Lawbook have named Cole a finalist for the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for Business Litigation of the Year.

January 12, 2026 Michelle Casady & Mark Curriden

Premium Subscriber Q&A: Stephen Cole

In this Q&A with The Texas Lawbook, Stephen Cole discusses the traits he seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working with him and more.