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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 Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Business Journal.

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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 Houston Chronicle and the Dallas Business Journal.

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.

Thompson & Knight Names Emily Parker Its New Managing Partner

Thirty-eight years ago, Thompson & Knight hired its first woman lawyer in an office of 40 white men. This week, the Dallas-based law firm announced that very same lawyer, Emily Parker, is its next managing partner – one of the few women lawyers leading law firms in Texas.

February 2, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

V&E Leads Dynamic Offshore Sale to SandRidge Energy for $1.3 Billion

Oklahoma City-based SandRidge Energy announced Wednesday that it is paying $1.275 million to acquire Dynamic Offshore Resources, LLC, a private oil and gas company that acquires and develops producing properties in the Gulf of Mexico.

February 1, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

V&E Leads Dynamic Offshore Sale to SandRidge Energy for $1.3 Billion

Oklahoma City-based SandRidge Energy announced Wednesday that it is paying $1.275 million to acquire Dynamic Offshore Resources, LLC, a private oil and gas company that acquires and develops producing properties in the Gulf of Mexico.

February 1, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

Mergermarket: V&E, Latham, and Fulbright Led Texas M&As in 2011

Energy Deals Go to Firms with Texas Offices

January 31, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

Mergermarket: V&E, Latham, and Fulbright Led Texas M&As in 2011

Energy Deals Go to Firms with Texas Offices

January 31, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

Jones Day-Dallas Leads Weir Group's Acquisition of Novatech

Jones Day’s Dallas office is advising The Weir Group PLC in its $176 million acquisition of Novatech.

January 27, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

Jones Day-Dallas Leads Weir Group’s Acquisition of Novatech

Jones Day’s Dallas office is advising The Weir Group PLC in its $176 million acquisition of Novatech.

January 27, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

James Matthews leaves V&E for Denbury Resources

James Matthews will become vice president, general counsel and secretary of Denbury Resources.

January 26, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

James Matthews leaves V&E for Denbury Resources

James Matthews will become vice president, general counsel and secretary of Denbury Resources.

January 26, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

Del Frisco's Goes Public

Gibson Dunn handles Southlake company’s IPO

January 24, 2012 Mark Curriden Leave a Comment

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Features

  • Joe Davidson – ‘A Proud Rice Owl’ Making a Difference - For 28 years, Joe Davidson has worked as an in-house lawyer at Rice University and is GC of Rice Management Company, the entity that includes Rice’s $7.8 billion endowment, which provides about 40 percent of the university’s operating revenues. His list of successes is long. “My biggest accomplishments have been to be able to facilitate and support the big visions and thinking of Rice’s faculty, students and administrators — supporting them in obtaining research funding, conducting fieldwork, publishing their results and licensing them for further research and commercial development,” Davidson told The Texas Lawbook.

    The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Lawbook honored Davidson on May 4 with the 2023 Houston General Counsel of the Year Award for a Nonprofit Institution. This is his story.
    May 22, 2023Mark Curriden

GCs, Lawyers & Firms

  • Winston Snags Rodney Moore, Sam Peca from Weil - Adding the dealmaking attorneys is part of Winston's strategy to further bolster its energy-focused ranks.
  • Lee Yeakel Joins King & Spalding
  • Q&A with Willkie’s Tan Lu
  • Omar Samji Departs Shearman for Weil
  • Sidley Lands Winstead Bankruptcy Partner Rakhee Patel
  • Erin McDowell: Range Resources New GC in ‘An Especially Dynamic Industry’
  • Sheppard Mullin Steals Real Estate Group from Jones Day
  • Range Resources GC David Poole Retires after 15 Years, Joins Wick Phillips
More GCs, Lawyers & Firms

Lawyers in the News

Hover right to see full list

Kit Addleman
Geffrey W. Anderson
Daniel Avila II
Jon Benloulou
Mike Bielby
Jimmy Blacklock
Jane Bland
Thomas D. Bowers III
Denis Braham
Thomas Brandt
Ron Breaux
Kenneth Broughton
Kyle Carter
Brian Cathey
Michael Chambers
Tracy Christopher
David Coale
Samuel C. Cole
David S. Cook
Alicia G. Curran
Michael Darden
Joe Davidson
Joshua P. Davis
Adrienne Dominguez
Mollie Duckworth
Shannon Dugan
Keith Ellison
Jennifer Walker Elrod
Harper Estes
Andrew Fabens
Bill Finnegan
Bryan Flannery
Joshua Flores
Murray Fogler
Marc Fuller
Rob Goodin
Robert N. Grisham II
Richard Guiltinan
Charlie Haag
Stancell Haigwood
John Russell Hardin
Meagan Hassan
Chris Heasley
Michael Heidler
Sean M. Higgins
Laura Hill
Amanda S. Hilty 
Jim Ho
Russell Hollenbeck
Hillary Holmes
Kenneth Hoyt
Joan Huffman
Wallace Jefferson
David Johansen
Zona Jones
Jameson Joyce
Jacob Kring
David Lassetter
Tom Leatherbury
Debra Lehrmann
Brenda Lenahan
Luis Leos
Brice Lipman
Ieuan List 
Mey Ly-Ortiz 
R.J. Malenfant
Peter Marshall
Levi McCathern II
Pamela Medina
Dale Mellencamp
Todd Mensing
David Miller
Rodney R. Miller
Regina Montoya
Eric Moyé
Andrew Murr
Tim Newsom
Kurt Nondorf
Ethan Nutter
Robin O'Neil
Yvette Ostolaza
Matt Pacey
Sarah Patel Pacheco
Scott Parel
Danielle Patterson
Ken Paxton
Kelley Peacock
Eric T. Penner
Kyle Poelker
Chris Popov
Laura Prather
Gregory Pryor
Shirley Redwine
Aiesha Redmond
R. Douglas Rees
Justin Reinus
Samuel Rettew
Aaron Rigby
Justine Robinson
Ian Roffman
Kristen Rohr
James Ruiz
Dylan B. Russell
Russell Ryan
R.K. Sandill
Steven Sanfelippo
Valeria Sartorio
Neil Sawhney
Harrison Scheer
Karen Gren Scholer
Jonathan C. Scott
Tali Sealman
B. Jack Shepherd
Laura Sizemore
Ryan W. Smith
Britta Stanton
Harrison Steakley
Johnathan Stone
Gary Swaim
Laura Tamez
Matthew Turner
Rahul Vashi
Donald Verrilli Jr.
Brett Wagner
Darrin Walker
Hannah Walsh
Paul Watler
Kyle Watson
Alex Whitman
Cory T. Wilson
Randy Wilson
Travis Wofford
Eric B. Wolff
Thomas C. Wright
Angela Zambrano
Mingda Zhao

Firms in the News

Hover right to show full list

Alexander Dubose Jefferson
Allen & Overy
Anderson & Riddle
Ares
Autotalks
AZA
Azek
Azelis
Bair Hilty
Baker Botts
Beard Energy
BMW
Cozen O'Connor
Cunningham Swaim
Delta
DHLF
Dohery Wagner
Ducommun 
Fogler Brar O’Neil
Gibson Dunn
Greenberg Traurig
Gupta Wessler
Haynes Boone
Hedrick Kring
Hess Midstream
Holland & Knight
Hoover Slovacek
Hyatt
Jackson Walker
Kinder Morgan
Kirkland
Lancium
Latham
Lewis Brisbois
LG Chem
Lynch, Chappell & Alsup
Lynn Pinker
Marriott
McCathern
MoloLamken
Morrison Jones
Munger Tolles & Olson
Newmont
NOG
Nutter McClennen & Fish
Penn Law Firm
Perkins Coie
Reed Smith
Rice University
Schlumberger
Shearman & Sterling
Sidley
Sunnova
TADC
TEX-ABOTA
Texas Fueling Services
TLR
Toyota
Trafigura Trading
TTLA
United Airlines
USA Lending
V&E
White & Case
Winstead
Winston & Strawn
Womble
Wright Close & Barger

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