All corporate law firms struggle with racial and gender diversity, but Norton Rose Fulbright appears to have figured out the formula for inclusion among its highest ranks. Four of its U.S. management committee are women – three are women of color. The firm’s new global chair is an African American woman. Six of the 11 associates promoted to partner this week are ethnic minorities or women. The data begs the question: How did a century old global law firm achieve so much diversity in its leadership ranks?
Marlie Ruth’s Cancer Fighting, Mutton Bustin’ Gives GC Kevin McDonald Perspective
Kevin McDonald has experienced extraordinary career successes. He has rung the opening or closing bell on the New York Stock Exchange three times with three companies. In 2019, he helped engineer a $1.8 billion merger between Keane Group and C&J Energy, creating an oil field services powerhouse with more than $4 billion in annual revenues. For those achievements and more, McDonald is the 2020 Houston Corporate Counsel General Counsel of the Year for a Midsized Legal Department. The Texas Lawbook has his complete story – and an amazing story it is.
Dallas COA Reverses $98M Verdict Against BBVA
Citing three recent Texas Supreme Court decisions declaring the sanctity of written contracts and the deficiency of extra contractual statements, the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas has reversed a $98 million fraud judgement against BBVA Compass Bank.
Meet New Texas Lawbook Writer Nushin Huq
Houston energy reporter Nushin Huq views the articles she writes like they are her children. “I don’t have a favorite. I love them all. I love stories where I interview interesting people, learn something new or surprising,” she said. The Texas Lawbook is pleased to introduce Nushin Huq, a former writer with Bloomberg and S&P Global Platts, as our newest journalist in Houston.
Susman Godfrey: Associate Bonuses Hit $170K Amid ‘Heartbreaking’ Year
The Houston-based litigation powerhouse Susman Godfrey announced Monday that it paid six-digit bonuses to its associates, promoted six lawyers to partner – including four women – and significantly increased the amount of money the firm is giving to charities that focus on racial justice. Despite the great financial year, 2020 was still ‘heartbreaking’ for the four-decade old firm.
Updated – Shauna Clark – From a Segregated Prom to First African American Woman to Chair of a Global Law Firm
Shauna Clark, a Houston mother of four who represents some of the largest corporations in the world, will become the highest ranking African American woman to ever lead or co-lead a global corporate law firm. Norton Rose Fulbright, which has about 3,200 lawyers in 52 cities around the world including 400 lawyers in Texas, announced Thursday that Clark will be the next chair of its supervisory committees overseeing for the firm’s global and U.S. operations, which is essentially the second highest ranking post within law firm partnerships.
This article has been updated with a clarification about Clark’s new role.
Implicit Bias in the Courts and at the Bar
Everyone has biases. Not everyone tries to identify theirs. Some don’t realize they are discriminatory. And lawyers who see prejudice with judges or other lawyers “need to pushback against it,” U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore told the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter in a CLE webcast last week called “Implicit Bias in the Courts.”
Latham, Hunton AK, Porter Hedges, Simpson Take Roles in Superior Energy Bankruptcy
Within a few hours of Superior Energy Services filing for bankruptcy Monday in the Southern District of Texas, the court docket was filled with notices of appearance by at least five law firms and five financial advisors. The Texas Lawbook has the names.
Bankruptcy Experts: More Pain and Uncertainty Coming
As Texas ends 2020 with a record number of business bankruptcies, four legal experts, including SDTX Chief Bankruptcy Judge David Jones, say there is much more carnage to come, especially in the world of real estate, retail and midstream energy, according to a panel of leading corporate bankruptcy and restructuring experts. At an exclusive CLE Friday, the panelists predicted that business restructuring cases are going to get increasingly difficult to resolve in a positive manner and that many companies seeking to reorganize will be forced to liquidate instead. The Texas Lawbook has exclusive details.
Kirkland, Jackson Walker Lead Seadrill Partners in Ch. 11, Houston Retailer Francesca’s Files in Delaware
A Houston boutique retailer and a London oil rig operator filed for Chapter 11 last week. Francesca’s hired no Texas lawyers, while Seadrill filed for bankruptcy protection in SDTX and multiple law firms in Texas are involved.