White & Case septupled its M&A deal count in Texas so far this year. Skadden Arps, Alston & Bird and Shearman & Sterling at least tripled its Texas M&A activity during the first six months of 2021. But one law firm broke Mergermarket’s record for most transactions for H1 in Texas history. The Texas Lawbook has exclusive details.
Three TK IP Partners Jump to Winstead
Three intellectual property partners who joined Thompson & Knight 15 months ago from Haynes and Boone are on the move again – this time to practice at Winstead due to reported client conflicts with Holland & Knight, which is merging with TK in two weeks.
Sidley Wins Dismissal of Covid-19 Insurance Case Brought by Dentist
A Dallas federal judge ruled Tuesday that insurance companies do not have to cover claims of financial damage caused by Covid-19 brought under their “all risk” commercial property policies because the Covid-19 virus did not “cause direct physical damage or loss” to her dental office as required by the insurance policy. The Texas Lawbook has details.
Weil Joins Nat’l Firms in Relocating Partners to Texas
Weil Gotshal announced Monday that one of its New York bankruptcy partners, Gabe Morgan, is moving to the firm’s Houston office. The New York-based Weil is the latest large national corporate law firm to relocate partners and associates from their other offices to Texas due to the tight legal market where the demand for legal services has far outpaced the supply of experienced legal talent.
Fifth Circuit: Some Texas Bar’s Lobbying Efforts Violated Constitutional Rights of Bar Members
The Fifth Circuit decision is a major defeat for progressives in the state bar, but legal experts say the opinion could have been much, much worse. The Texas Lawbook has the full story, including a statement from the state bar’s executive director.
John Strasburger Reunites with Dave Bissinger
At a time when large corporate law firms operating in Texas have been feasting on talent from litigation boutiques, Bissinger, Oshman & Williams has landed a reply punch. The six-lawyer Houston litigation firm announced Thursday that John B. Strasburger, a partner in the trial department at Winston & Strawn, has joined Bissinger Oshman.
Jackson Walker, Locke Lord, McGuireWoods, Kirkland – A Week of Lateral Moves
The first six months of 2021 ended in a flurry of lateral moves, as nearly a dozen partners were on the move this week. Jackson Walker, Locke Lord and Kirkland beefed up their Austin offices. McGuireWoods added a partner in Houston. The Texas Lawbook has the details.
Four NRF Partners Open O’Melveny’s Office in Dallas
Twenty-two days after O’Melveny & Myers opened its first Texas office in Austin, the Los Angeles-based firm announced Tuesday it is launching an office in Dallas with four partners from Norton Rose Fulbright. Leading the move to open O’Melveny’s Dallas office is Lou Strubeck, who led Norton Rose Fulbright’s global corporate bankruptcy and restructuring practice, and three other Norton Rose Fulbright partners. The Texas Lawbook has an exclusive interview with Strubeck about how the decision came about.
Thompson & Knight, Holland & Knight Partners Vote to Merge on Aug. 1
In one month and three days, there will be one fewer large full-service corporate law firm headquartered in Texas. Thompson & Knight, a 134-year-old law firm that has deep roots in the oil patch and represents some of the most important energy companies in North America, will officially merge with Holland & Knight on Aug. 1. Together, they will create the seventh largest corporate law firm operating in Texas, according to The Texas Lawbook 50.
SCOTX Refuses to Dismiss Houston Sex Trafficking Case Against Facebook
The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that some – but not all – allegations in three separate lawsuits brought against Facebook by three teenagers who say they were victims of sexual predators can move forward to trial Houston. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act does not provide absolute immunity to internet providers such as Facebook in civil lawsuits when their own “misdeeds” are part of the allegation, justices said.