Mark Smith

‘Third Time Is a Charm’: After Two Hung Juries, Credit Card Execs Take Plea Deal

Two former executives of a Virginia-based credit card processing company received 36 months of probation after pleading guilty to defrauding the city of Sherman. As part of the plea agreement, Edward Walsh Vaughan, the former president of Electronic Transactions Systems Corp., and Hadi Akkad, the company’s former executive vice president, will forfeit $5.3 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

“This is a rare case, very unusual,” said Fort Worth criminal defense attorney Jeff Kearney, who negotiated the plea agreement with Houston trial lawyer David Gerger. “I never thought this case would get resolved. [Gerger's] persistence and ingenuity got this settled.”

October 6, 2025 Mark Smith

Banks Brings Decades of Experience to Husch Blackwell’s New Biz Dev Leadership Role

Husch Blackwell has hired veteran Texas legal marketing and business development professional Erin Banks to bolster the firm’s growth, innovation, and enhance brand visibility by “allowing lawyers to focus on lawyering.” The Texas Lawbook recently caught up with her about her new role.

September 9, 2025 Mark Smith

Texas Attorney Helps New Jersey Reach Potential $2B PFAS Settlement Mid-Trial

A Texas attorney served as lead counsel in what could be a $2 billion settlement in New Jersey with chemical giants DuPont, Chemours and Corteva, marking the largest environmental recovery for a single state’s claim in U.S. history, according to New Jersey officials. (File photo by Joshua A. Bickel/The Associated Press)

August 4, 2025 Mark Smith

Thousands of Texas Hemp Jobs at Risk as State Legislature Passes THC Ban

Thousands of Texas hemp retailers and their employees face looming legal and financial uncertainty after lawmakers approved a sweeping ban on psychoactive THC products, including popular delta-8 and delta-9 edibles, vapes and beverages. Gov. Greg Abbott has stayed neutral on the issue, declining to say whether he plans to use his veto pen or let the bill become law by the June 22 deadline. (Photo by Jim Vertuno/The Associated Press)

June 13, 2025 Mark Smith

Inside a Whistleblower’s Ordeal: Tyler Shultz Details the Battle to Expose Theranos

Tyler Shultz still remembers the exact moment he realized that Theranos, a Silicon Valley health technology startup claiming to have revolutionized blood testing, was a fraud. Shultz shared his story of blowing the whistle on Theranos during a panel discussion hosted by The Texas Lawbook, SMU Dedman School of Law and the SMU Rowling Center for Business Law & Leadership. And he has a powerful call to action for lawyers.

May 28, 2025 Mark Smith

Trump’s First 100 Days Marked by Record Number of Executive Orders

In his second term, President Donald Trump has issued more executive orders in the first 100 days — 35 of them focusing on energy, environmental and infrastructure efforts and law firms — than any other president in history, creating a flurry of governmental actions, broad economic implications and legal challenges, according to a panel of legal experts hosted by The Texas Lawbook.

May 12, 2025 Mark Smith