Anti-SLAPP Legislation Bolstered by Courts in Texas
In two vastly different and utterly unrelated court decisions last week, the state of Texas declared itself to be among the staunchest guardians of public speech in the nation. On Friday, the Supreme Court of Texas reaffirmed their view of a dramatic reach for the Texas Citizen Participation Act—legislation designed to curtail retaliatory lawsuits, known as “SLAPPs.” And, on the same day a Harris County state judge ordered the owner of the Houston Aquarium to pay $624,000 in penalties and legal fees for filing a SLAPP suit against an animal rights organization.
Texas Rice Land Partners Revisited: Texas Supreme Court Sets Low Bar for Pipeline Common Carriers
Attorneys at T&K examine the SCOTX decision earlier this year in Denbury Green Pipeline–Texas, LLC v. Texas Rice Land Partners, Ltd. and determine the important implications for pipeline builders looking to establish status as a "common carrier."
Texas Rice Land Partners Revisited: Texas Supreme Court Sets Low Bar for Pipeline Common Carriers
Attorneys at T&K examine the SCOTX decision earlier this year in Denbury Green Pipeline–Texas, LLC v. Texas Rice Land Partners, Ltd. and determine the important implications for pipeline builders looking to establish status as a "common carrier."
Breaking News – Federal Judge Dismisses SEC Fraud Case Against AG Paxton, Again
U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant today dismissed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s fraud charges against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton with prejudice.
Complex Trade Secrets Trial Ends with Mixed Verdict
A Houston jury issued a mixed verdict Monday in a contentious fight between two Texas energy services companies over trade secrets, confidentiality and a non-compete agreement. M-I Swaco sued rival National Oilwell Varco for stealing one of its employees, Jeff Russo, who had signed a non-compete agreement. The verdict allows Russo to keep his job at NOV while finding that M-I Swaco acted in bad faith when it claimed Russo misappropriated trade secrets as a way to enforce the non-compete agreement. But the jury also found that Russo failed to comply with M-I Swaco's confidentiality provisions. The Houston Chronicle has full details..
Latham Advises in Prevailing Bankruptcy Bid for Appalachia Properties
Louisiana-based Stone Energy said Monday that it has closed its previously announced $527 million sale of its 86,000 acres in the Appalachian regions to Pittsburgh-based EQT Corp.
After Slow 2016, Optimism for Equity Offerings in 2017
Huge gains in the stock market since the election and an expectation of some form of tax reform and relaxation of regulations has many market professionals bullish on prospects for 2017, Bill Howell, a Dallas partner at Sidley, writes. In Texas, Howell notes that while we may see just a handful of technology, biotech and other industry representatives like Austin-based Yeti complete IPOs this year, energy will likely drive the number of new entrants to the public markets as in years past.
Mergermarket: Elite National Firms Get Fattest Slice of TX Megadeals
The battle to represent Texas corporations in their largest mergers, acquisitions and divestitures is being won by a half-dozen law firms with offices in Texas and more than a dozen that have no presence in the state at all. New data from independent research firm Mergermarket: shows Texas-based businesses are turning to national law firms headquartered outside of the state to handle the crème de la crème of mega-mergers, acquisitions and divestitures in 2016.