In the wake of devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country that claimed more than 100 lives, lawyers stand at the ready to help. The State Bar of Texas and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid are assessing legal needs that will arise in the days following the floods, and they encourage lawyers to sign up to volunteer or donate financial aid to these trusted resources. Also on Tuesday, the Texas Supreme Court issued an emergency order stating that flooding may impact court proceedings and that delays or modifications should be made “where reasonably necessary.” (Photo by Julio Cortez/The Associated Press)
‘It Wasn’t My Day to Die. I Wish that It Hadn’t Been Her’s’
Prominent Houston criminal defense attorney Randy Schaffer went to Facebook late Monday afternoon to write 637 heartbreaking words about the last few horrifying minutes that he spent with his wife Mollie on the banks of the Guadalupe River before she was swept away by “a river raging like Niagara Falls.” Schaffer, who has practiced criminal law for more than five decades and is a 1973 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, was staying at the River Inn Resort and Conference Center to celebrate his 46-year reunion when, in the pre-dawn hours Friday morning, a historic and deadly flash flood claimed the life of Mollie Schaffer and the lives of more than 100 other people.
‘Our Hearts Are Shattered’ — Texas Legal Community In Mourning Over Lives Lost in Kerr County Flood Tragedy
As the death toll climbed past 100 victims from the horrific weekend flooding in Central Texas, the tragedy hit home at multiple corporate law firms across the state.
Juneteenth Reading Recommendations from Half Price Books
The Texas Lawbook is pleased to begin a new partnership with Half Price Books. Stay tuned for a regular HPB branded column featuring Texas Lawbook subscribers’ favorite reads. Here, the HPB team highlights four books about Juneteenth on the fourth anniversary of it becoming a federal holiday.
Thought Leadership: Mission Control for International Disputes — Houston’s Arbitration Advantage
With corporate America increasingly voting with its feet by relocating to Texas and its business-friendly legal climate, general counsel and international arbitration practitioners should freshly consider Houston’s merits as a U.S.-based seat for international arbitration. By all objective criteria, Houston boasts the infrastructure, expertise, and supporting legal framework to match the leading global arbitration centers.
Judge Approves $91.3M in Settlements in GWG Bankruptcy
At the end of a roughly two-hour hearing, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez approved a $50.5 million settlement with directors and officers of GWG, a $30 million settlement with the law firm Mayer Brown, an $8.5 million settlement with Texas accounting firm Whitley Penn and a $2.3 million settlement with brothers Jon R. and Steven F. Sabes, the original founders of GWG.
The Essential Role of Counsel in Effective Crisis Management
Whether it be environmental disaster, a product defect or some other event, a company’s immediate response to a crisis can have a material impact on the outcome of any ensuing litigation or government investigation. Company counsel — both in-house and outside counsel — play a critical role in advising the company’s board and executives as they navigate these types of crises. This article outlines key considerations for counsel in dealing with crisis.