AT&T and the SEC announced they have agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the Dallas-based telecom giant of selectively leaking confidential financial information to Wall Street analysts in hopes of potentially manipulating revenue projections during the first quarter 2016. Two AT&T in-house counsel and a slew of lawyers from Norton Rose Fulbright, Tillotson Johnson & Patton, Willkie Farr and Haynes and Boone represented AT&T and its executives.
Baker Botts Awards $20K-$115K Annual Bonuses to Associates
Baker Botts became the first Texas-based law firm to announce year-end bonuses to associates. The Houston-based firm, in a Dec. 2 memo by Baker Botts managing partner John Martin, said associates hired out of law school in 2021 will get a $20,000 bonus this holiday. The scale accelerates up to $115,000 bonuses for seven- and eight-year associates hired in 2015 and before.
David Peavler Leaving SEC is ‘A Big Loss’
For nearly two decades, David Peavler has roamed the offices of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Fort Worth Regional Office – first as a rookie lawyer in its enforcement position, later as assistant regional director and for the past three-and-a-half years as the head of the office. The SEC announced Thursday that Peavler is stepping down as the director of the Fort Worth Regional Office this Saturday. Associate regional directors Eric Werner and Marshall Gandy will fill the role until a replacement is announced. Experts say Peavler scored huge successes during his time at the SEC and his departure is a major loss.
The Texas Lawbook Team Gives Thanks
When I started The Texas Lawbook 11 years ago this month, I had no idea what I was doing. My team may tell you that I still don’t. But the success The Lawbook has achieved seems like a miracle.
The reason: The Lawbook team. Without them, I would be operating a blog that not even my parents would pay to read. This week, I celebrate Thanksgiving because of my colleagues.
Fifth Circuit Rejects EDTX Class Action Against Southwest, Boeing
A three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit ruled Monday that a class action lawsuit pending against Southwest Airlines and the Boeing Company should be dismissed because the plaintiffs suffered no actual damages. Southwest CLO Mark Shaw told The Texas Lawbook the decision is a major win for the airline and he praised three Southwest in-house counsel and lawyers at Norton Rose Fulbright.
Texas Law Schools Silent on U.S. News Rankings
The deans at Texas law schools are declining to take a stand regarding allegations that the U.S. News law school rankings system is biased, flawed and hurting the future of the legal profession. Law deans at Yale, Harvard, California-Berkeley, Georgetown, Stanford and Columbia have quit participating in the rankings. Leaders at all but one of the 10 law schools in Texas declined to comment to The Texas Lawbook.
Just Energy’s $335M Bankruptcy Dispute at Fifth Circuit
In yet another example of the massive complex litigation stemming from 2021’s Winter Storm Uri, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is being asked to balance the usually broad authority of federal bankruptcy judges in restructuring cases against the potential sovereignty of Texas energy regulators to set rates. Canadian energy retailer Just Energy and the ERCOT squared off Tuesday before a three-judge panel in a dispute over whether a Houston bankruptcy judge can order ERCOT to repay Just Energy up to $335 million from payments made following the February 2021 storm.
Paul Yetter’s Excellent 25-Year Adventure
Paul Yetter was a thriving young partner at Baker Botts in 1997 when he faced a decision: Drop a big client or leave one of the most prestigious corporate firms in Texas. He chose the later and this year Yetter Coleman, now a highly-respected 50-lawyer boutique in Houston, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Texas Lawbook recently interviewed Yetter about the firm’s successes and challenges during the past quarter century, why he thinks Yetter Coleman survived and thrived and what still lies ahead.
Republicans and Democrats Score Texas Appellate Court Victories
The three Republican incumbent justices on the Texas Supreme Court easily won re-election Tuesday, but the district courts of appeals seem to have provided mixed results for the two political parties. Republican candidates for the Houston courts of appeals appear to be cruising to victory, as do Democratic appellate candidates in Dallas and Austin. The voters in San Antonio split their votes. And incumbent Texas Supreme Court Justice Rebeca Huddle received more votes than any other candidate statewide.
Q&A with Newly-Appointed Pro Bono, Public Service and Diversity Reporter Natalie Posgate
Natalie shares why she wanted to take on the new beat, how the public service bucket is different from pro bono and issues of particular importance to her.