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Mark Curriden

Mark Curriden is a lawyer/journalist and founder of The Texas Lawbook. In addition, he is a contributing legal correspondent for The Dallas Morning News.

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Mark Curriden

Mark Curriden is a lawyer/journalist and founder of The Texas Lawbook. In addition, he is a contributing legal correspondent for The Dallas Morning News.

Mark is the author of the best selling book Contempt of Court: A Turn-of-the-Century Lynching That Launched a Hundred Years of Federalism. The book received the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award and numerous other honors. He also is a frequent lecturer at bar associations, law firm retreats, judicial conferences and other events. His CLE presentations have been approved for ethics credit in nearly every state.

From 1988 to 1994, Mark was the legal affairs writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covered the Georgia Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He authored a three-part series of articles that exposed rampant use of drug dealers and criminals turned paid informants by local and federal law enforcement authorities, which led to Congressional oversight hearings. A related series of articles by Mark contributed to a wrongly convicted death row inmate being freed.

The Dallas Morning News made Mark its national legal affairs writer in 1996. For more than six years, Mark wrote extensively about the tobacco litigation, alleged price-fixing in the pharmaceutical industry, the Exxon Valdez litigation, and more than 25 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. Mark also authored a highly-acclaimed 16-part series on the future of the American jury system. As part of his extensive coverage of the tobacco litigation, Mark unearthed confidential documents and evidence showing that the then Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, had made a secret deal with a long-time lawyer and friend in which the friend would have profited hundreds of millions of dollars from the tobacco settlement. As a direct result of Mark’s articles, the U.S. Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation, which led to the indictment and conviction of Mr. Morales.

For the past 25 years, Mark has been a senior contributing writer for the ABA Journal, which is the nation’s largest legal publication. His articles have been on the cover of the magazine more than a dozen times. He has received scores of honors for his legal writing, including the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award, the American Judicature Society’s Toni House Award, the American Trial Lawyer’s Amicus Award, and the Chicago Press Club’s Headliner Award. Twice, in 2001 and 2005, the American Board of Trial Advocates named Mark its “Journalist of the Year.”

From 2002 to 2010, Mark was the senior communications counsel at Vinson & Elkins, a 750-lawyer global law firm.

Mark’s book, Contempt of Court, tells the story of Ed Johnson, a young black man from Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1906. Johnson was falsely accused of rape, railroaded through the criminal justice system, found guilty and sentenced to death – all in three weeks. Two African-American lawyers stepped forward to represent Johnson on appeal. In doing so, they filed one of the first federal habeas petitions ever attempted in a state criminal case. The lawyers convinced the Supreme Court of the United States to stay Johnson’s execution. But before they could have him released, a lynch mob, aided by the sheriff and his deputies, lynched Johnson. Angered, the Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the sheriff and leaders of the mob, charging them with contempt of the Supreme Court. It is the only time in U.S. history that the Supreme Court conducted a criminal trial.

You can reach Mark at mark.curriden@texaslawbook.net or 214.232.6783.

Cantey Hanger Elevates Three to Partner

The Fort Worth law firm has promoted Tawanna Cesare, Laura Hallmon and David Speed to equity partner.

February 8, 2017 Mark Curriden

Jury Rules for Homeowners Damaged by I-635 Express Lane Construction

In 2014, Farmer’s Branch homeowners Felipe and Aurora Rodriguez noticed huge cracks developing in their foundations, floors and walls. Big cracks. The value of their property plummeted. They blamed Trinity Infrastructure, the general contractor that handled construction of the LBJ Express Project, for causing the damage. On Tuesday, a Dallas jury agreed and awarded $248,723 in damages. Now, 230 homeowners with even more damage want their day in court.

February 8, 2017 Mark Curriden

What to Expect from the Texas Legislature in 2017

The Texas Legislature's 85th Regular Session poses new and old challenges. The Texas House has 22 freshman members. The Senate has three fresh faces. The House also has eight vacant committee chairmanships, including House Appropriations, House Public Education and House Natural Resources. The state’s biennial revenue estimate showing the state’s financial condition is about $105 billion for 2018-18, which is down $8 billion. What des it all mean? This article has the details.

February 6, 2017 Mark Curriden

Gibson Dunn Expands into Houston

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, a 1,200 lawyer global firm, is expected to announced this week that it is expanding its presence in Texas by opening a branch operation in Houston. The law firm, which has has 55-lawyers in Dallas, launch into Houston by luring eight partners who specializes in energy transactions and tax law from Baker Botts and Latham & Watkins, plus one corporate general counsel who is rejoining the law firm world. The Texas Lawbook has the details.

February 6, 2017 Mark Curriden

Tom Melsheimer’s Lateral Move He Didn’t See Coming

Tom Melsheimer planned to practice at Fish & Richardson for the rest of his career. Then Winston & Strawn came calling. The Chicago-based firm convinced the former federal prosecutor that he can significantly expand his complex commercial litigation practice nationally. Plus, the firm made him a generous compensation offer. In this Texas Lawbook exclusive, Melsheimer explains how it all came together.

February 6, 2017 Mark Curriden

Updated – Melsheimer, Stodghill, Orwig, Goolsby Lead Winston & Strawn Opening in Dallas

Winston & Strawn is officially launching an office in Dallas with two-dozen partners from eight different law firms. The Chicago-based law firm has lured business litigators Tom Melsheimer, Steve Stodghill and Matt Orwig and corporate transactional attorneys Bryan Goolsby and Tom Hughes to lead North Texas outpost. Legal industry analysts say it is one of the largest law office openings in Texas by a national firm. The Texas Lawbook has exclusive details.

February 6, 2017 Mark Curriden

Updated – Melsheimer, Stodghill, Orwig, Goolsby Lead Winston & Strawn Opening in Dallas

Winston & Strawn is officially launching an office in Dallas with two-dozen partners from eight different law firms. The Chicago-based law firm has lured business litigators Tom Melsheimer, Steve Stodghill and Matt Orwig and corporate transactional attorneys Bryan Goolsby and Tom Hughes to lead North Texas outpost. Legal industry analysts say it is one of the largest law office openings in Texas by a national firm. The Texas Lawbook has exclusive details.

February 6, 2017 Mark Curriden

Polsinelli Dallas Associate Caitlin Morgan Named to The Warren Center Board of Trustees

Morgan focuses her practice on litigation matters. She has represented private colleges, collegiate sports conferences and hotel owners in addition to publicly-traded and closely held corporations.

February 4, 2017 Mark Curriden

Trump’s Freeze on New Regs Ices MLP Income Guidance

On Inauguration Day, the Trump administration froze the issuance of new regulations, including those defining master limited partnership qualifying income. While the final MLP qualifying income regulations by the Obama Administration were a significant improvement over the proposed regulations issued in May 2015, they still reflect a more restrictive view of the scope of MLP qualifying income than prevailed in the IRS and the industry prior to May 2015. The fate of the regulations in the wake of the Trump’s freeze is unclear.

February 3, 2017 Mark Curriden

Porter Hedges Announces Two New Practice Group Leaders

Jeremy Mouton and Robert Viguet will lead the firm's Property & Finance and Corporate practice groups, respectively.

February 3, 2017 Mark Curriden

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Features

  • P.S. — House Moves to Slash Legal Aid Funding as Senate Proposes Increase, SALSA Makes Plea for Giving, Texas Tech Tops ABA Competition and More - In this week’s P.S. Column, we cover the House Appropriations Committee’s vote to cut Legal Services Corporation funding by 46 percent, a move that could leave millions without access to legal aid. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Legal Services Association makes a plea for donations to support core operations. September 12, 2025Krista Torralva
  • A Tribute to Alistair Byrne Dawson - Alistair Dawson loved the courtroom. He relished the crucible of trial, the chance to stand before a judge and jury and advocate with clarity and conviction. His skill was evident early. At an age when most lawyers are still finding their footing, he was entrusted with cases involving some of the nation’s most prominent executives and businesses. He represented real estate magnate Sheldon Solow in a high-stakes dispute in New York. He led a case for Marvin Davis, the legendary oil wildcatter. He took on complex antitrust litigation for AT&T. These were not assignments given lightly nor to just anyone. Clients who could have hired any lawyer in the country chose Alistair. And they chose wisely. His loss is immeasurable. September 9, 2025David J. Beck

GCs, Lawyers & Firms

  • Ross & Smith Announces Partnership with Full-Service Maryland Firm - Dallas-based bankruptcy and litigation boutique Ross & Smith announced Thursday that it has inked a business partnership with Offit Kurman, a 280-attorney full-service firm founded in Maryland that now has 20 offices across the U.S.
  • Martin Sosland, Candice Carson Join Vartabedian Hester
  • Banks Brings Decades of Experience to Husch Blackwell’s New Biz Dev Leadership Role
  • Former Energy GC Brock Degeyter Joins Troutman Pepper Locke in Dallas
  • Houston Law Firm Adds Former Texas Supreme Court Justice to Name 
  • Hunton AK Adds New Leader of Appellate Practice
  • Dallas PE Partner Boomerangs Back to Weil
  • Ret. Judge Barbara Lynn Joins Lynn Pinker
  • Holland & Knight Hires Another Longtime King & Spalding Healthcare Veteran
  • Barnes & Thornburg Adds PE Hire in Dallas
More GCs, Lawyers & Firms

Lawyers in the News

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Barry Barnett
Wes Bearden
Emily Westridge Black
Michael Burke
Alicia Campbell
John Campbell
Madeleine Carpenter
Alexander Clark
Dawn Pittman Collins
Richard Finneran
Elizabeth Freeman
David Gail
Elizabeth Gibson
David Jones
Frank Lopez
Abbe Lowell
Neal Manne
Billy Marsh
Tom Melsheimer
Tasha Moser
Justin Nelson
Reed O'Connor
Kate Pennartz
John “J.” Pieratt
Danielle Reyes
Christopher Richardson
Randy Sorrels
Harry Susman
Larry Vincent
Victor Vital
Brent Walker
Matt Weybrecht
Melody Wilkinson
Alex Wolens

Firms in the News

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A&O Shearman
Bryan Cave
Cozen O'Connor
Haynes Boone
Holland & Knight
Jackson Walker
King & Spalding
Kirkland & Ellis
Law Office of Liz Freeman
Paul Hastings
Porter Hedges
Sorrels Law
Susman Godfrey
Toyota
Troutman Pepper Locke
Willkie
Vinson & Elkins
Weil
Winston & Strawn

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