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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.

Akin Gump and V&E Work on $2.43B Reeves, Pecos Counties Assets Deal

Boone Pickens isn’t the only person to recently grace the tiny town of Pecos with his presence in search of some oil. Midland-based Diamondback Energy said Wednesday that it is purchasing $2.43 billion worth of assets in West Texas’ Reeves and Pecos counties from Brigham Resources Operating and Brigham Resources Midstream.

December 14, 2016 Mark Curriden

Akin Gump and V&E Work on $2.43B Reeves, Pecos Counties Assets Deal

Boone Pickens isn’t the only person to recently grace the tiny town of Pecos with his presence in search of some oil. Midland-based Diamondback Energy said Wednesday that it is purchasing $2.43 billion worth of assets in West Texas’ Reeves and Pecos counties from Brigham Resources Operating and Brigham Resources Midstream.

December 14, 2016 Mark Curriden

V&E Advises in $1.76B Oilfield Services Merger

Houston-based Patterson-UTI Energy has agreed to acquire Oklahoma City-based Seventy Seven Energy in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.76 billion, which will continue Patterson-UTI’s momentum as one of the leading high-spec oil rig makers in the country, the companies said this week.

December 14, 2016 Mark Curriden

V&E Advises in $1.76B Oilfield Services Merger

Houston-based Patterson-UTI Energy has agreed to acquire Oklahoma City-based Seventy Seven Energy in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.76 billion, which will continue Patterson-UTI’s momentum as one of the leading high-spec oil rig makers in the country, the companies said this week.

December 14, 2016 Mark Curriden

T&K Closes Two Mexico Energy Reform Bids

Lawyers from Thompson & Knight’s Dallas and Mexico offices recently worked on some of the most historic and highly-anticipated deals in Mexico in wake of the country’s 2013 energy reforms. One was for BHP Billiton, which won the right from Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) to develop the Trion field in the Gulf of Mexico. The other was for China Offshore Oil Corporation E&P Mexico's (CNOOC) obtainment of two license agreements from the National Hydrocarbons Commission in the oil-rich Perdido Basin.

December 14, 2016 Mark Curriden

T&K Closes Two Mexico Energy Reform Bids

Lawyers from Thompson & Knight’s Dallas and Mexico offices recently worked on some of the most historic and highly-anticipated deals in Mexico in wake of the country’s 2013 energy reforms. One was for BHP Billiton, which won the right from Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) to develop the Trion field in the Gulf of Mexico. The other was for China Offshore Oil Corporation E&P Mexico's (CNOOC) obtainment of two license agreements from the National Hydrocarbons Commission in the oil-rich Perdido Basin.

December 14, 2016 Mark Curriden

Texas Supreme Court Changes Mind, Tackles Arbitration Appeal

The Texas Supreme Court has agreed to hear Forest Oil’s challenge to a $16 million arbitration award over drilling waste pollution on the 27,000-acre McAllen Ranch in Hidalgo County. The neutrality of an arbitrator and the panel’s jurisdiction over the dispute are among the issues raised in a long-running dispute that has been before the Supreme Court previously, producing a 2008 decision that allowed the arbitration to proceed.

December 13, 2016 Mark Curriden

Fifty-Five Minutes at the Fifth Circuit – Trinity Industries Meets a ‘Hot Panel’ in Highway Guardrail Case

Trinity Industries told a Fifth Circuit panel last week that the record-smashing $663 million judgment against it should be reversed because any alleged violations of the False Claims Act regarding its highway guardrail design were inadvertent, minor and immaterial. “You say they are minor and they say they are killer,” Judge Patrick Higginbotham shot back. “I mean, come on.” For 55 minutes last Wednesday, a three-judge panel showed that oral arguments intended to focus on lofty legal principles can be turned upside town when the judges instead decide to closely examine facts and evidence. This article examines the Fifth Circuit's concerns in the Trinity FCA case, Trinity's response and whether oral argument before a so-called "hot panel" of judges even matters.

December 13, 2016 Mark Curriden

Ten Things GCs Should Know When Preparing Outside Counsel Guidelines

Managing outside counsel relationships can be challenging for general counsel. With a new year on the horizon, now is the perfect time for corporate legal departments to create or update an "outside counsel guidelines" that governs everything from billing practices and use of outside vendors to specifics about the lawyers and support staff you want working on your matters. In this edition of Ten Things, Miller reminds GCs that the many facets of an outside counsel relationship need constant management.

December 12, 2016 Mark Curriden

Houston Chronicle: Cameron drops non-compete suit after judge’s ruling

Houston Houston-based Cameron International dropped a non-compete lawsuit against FMC Technologies Singapore after a federal judge determined Cameron’s non-compete agreement was overly broad and couldn’t be used to stop an ex-Cameron employee from working for Houston-based FMC Technologies. A similar non-complete case brought by Schlumberger against National Oilwell Varco is scheduled for trial in February in Harris County district court.

December 12, 2016 Mark Curriden

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Features

  • Lee Cusenbary’s ‘Career Shows How Much One Person Can Do to Make a Difference in a Community’ - Lee Cusenbary is a legend in the Texas business and legal communities. His name and reputation will forever be connected to elevating ethics — so much so that the Association of Corporate Counsel San Antonio Chapter named its highest honor after him. During 17 years as the GC at Mission Pharmacal, Cusenbary successfully led the San Antonio company through several complex multidistrict litigation cases, highly-technical patent infringement disputes, and guided it through numerous acquisitions and divestitures.

    "Lee has left a lasting mark on the in-house counsel community, the San Antonio legal profession and the broader public," said Dykema member Jeffrey Gifford. "Lee made his career about being more than an excellent corporate counsel. He also made it about building a culture of ethics and of giving back.”

    ACC San Antonio and The Texas Lawbook are awarding Cusenbary the 2025 San Antonio Corporate Counsel Award for Lifetime Achievement.
    October 20, 2025Mark Curriden

GCs, Lawyers & Firms

  • Erin Hopkins: Another Veteran Paul Hastings Hire - Erin Hopkins, a veteran energy transactions partner at Baker Botts, is moving to the Houston office of Paul Hastings, his new law firm announced Tuesday. Hopkins brings with him 15 years of experience in energy and renewables transactions.
  • Midwest Law Firm with Texas Offices Merges with Northeast Firm
  • White & Case Adds Energy M&A Dealmaker in Houston
  • Norton Rose Hires Veteran Finance Partner from Winston & Strawn
  • Invitation Homes Selects Former SEC Associate Director as VP of Litigation and Investigations
  • Houston Trial Firm Boosts Associate Salaries
  • SALSA Names New Executive Director
  • New GE Vernova GC of Wind Energy Dionne Hamilton: ‘We’re Working to Make the World a Better Place’
  • Ross & Smith Announces Partnership with Full-Service Maryland Firm
  • Martin Sosland, Candice Carson Join Vartabedian Hester
More GCs, Lawyers & Firms

Lawyers in the News

Hover right to see full list

Chip Babcock
Chris Bankler
Jamie B. Beaber
David J. Beck
Bill Benitez
Jessica Berkowitz
Brent Bernell
Tyler Bexley
Shawn Blackburn
Michael Blankenship
Jeffrey Brill
Anita Brown
Ian Brown
Stuart Campbell
Jack Chadderdon
Paul Clement
Erin Nealy Cox
Scott Craig
Kevin Crews
Shamus Crosby
Hannah M. Crowe
Geoffrey Culbertson
Sean Cunningham
John Daywalt
Rajiv Dharnidharka
James Ducayet
Brian K. Erickson
Scott Everett
Weiru Fang
Elizabeth Freeman
Tad Freese
Melanie Fry
Geoff Gannaway
Paul Genender
John J. Gilluly III
Rodney Gilstrap
Andrew Gorham
John Greer
Joseph Grinstein
Matthew Haddad
Colleen Haile
Breen Haire
Shahmeer Halepota
Dionne Hamilton
Troy Harder
Rusty Hardin
Michael Hawes
Nathan Hecht
Stephen Hessler
Hillary Holmes
Marc Jaffe
Lauren Jenkins
David Jones
Atma Kabad
Susan Kennedy
David Kinder
Justin King
Allan Kirk
Melanie Koltermann
Doug Kubehl
Joe Laurel
Sang Lee
Steven Lockhart
Arthur Lotz
Barbara Lynn
Mike Lynn
Nora McGuffey
Stephanie McPhail
Mark Melton
Jeri Leigh Miller
Kimberly A. Moore
Mark Moore
Shelby Morgan
Alia Moses
Davis Mosmeyer III
Darren Nicholson
Eamon Nolan
Ivy Nowinski
Holland O’Neil
George Padis
Ian Peck
Jonathan Platt
Chase Proctor
Doug Rayburn
Joel Reese
Kevin Richardson
Andrew Rodheim
Seth Rubinson
Mazin Sbaiti
Ana Sanchez
Vincenzo Santini
Jeffrey Scharfstein
Robert Schroeder III
Scott Seidel
Steven Sexton
Ahmed Sidik
Robert Slovak
Emily Smith
Melissa R. Smith
Jonathon Soler
Robert Soza
Lande Spottswood
Craig Stanfield
Justin Stolte
Josh Teahen
Kelly Tidwell
Linda Tieh
Rafael B. de Toledo
Monica Uddin
Rhett Van Syoc
Rahul Vashi
Gabe Vazquez
Patrick Venter
Sarah Walden
Kandace Walter
Kyle Watson
Mikell Alan West
Noël Wise
Meng Xi

Firms in the News

Hover right to show full list

AZA
Baker Botts
The Bandas Law Firm
Beck Redden
Boies Schiller Flexner
Bracewell
Bradley Arant
Burns Charest
Clement & Murphy
Condon & Forsyth
DLA Piper
Dykema
Foley & Lardner
Gibson Dunn
Gillam & Smith
Haynes Boone
Holland & Knight
Jackson Walker
King & Spalding
Kirkland & Ellis
Latham & Watkins
Lynn Pinker
Mayer Brown
MoloLamken
Pamela Welch PLLC
Patton Tidwell Culbertson
Paul Hastings
Porter Hedges
The Probus Law Firm
Reese Marketos
Rusty Hardin & Associates
Sbaiti & Company
Sidley Austin
Simpson Thacher
Skadden
Squire Patton Boggs
Sullivan & Cromwell
Susman Godfrey
Troutman Pepper Locke
Vinson & Elkins
Weil
Willkie
Winston & Strawn

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