Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked a federal judge to dismiss recent charges of securities fraud filed against their client by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In court documents filed Friday, Paxton’s lawyers argue that the SEC’s newest allegations must be thrown out because they do “not alleged sufficient facts to support its theory that Mr. Paxton had a legal duty to disclose any sales commission arrangement.”
UPDATED: Exclusive – T. Boone Pickens v. J. Cleo Thompson Trial Begins
Lawyers for oil mogul T. Boone Pickens told jurors Friday during opening statements that the billionaire “may give money to charity, but he’s not going to let you cheat him out of his rights.” The trial pits Pickens against another legendary name in oil, J. Cleo Thompson, as well as three Midland exploration & production companies. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake.
Defense lawyers countered that Pickens’ case is not supported by the evidence and asked jurors to “clear the good names” of their clients.
Corporate Deal Tracker: Securities Offerings Jump Again in Q3
The Texas Lawbook’s Corporate Deal Tracker shows the number of securities offerings skyrocketed 72 percent and the size of those offerings jumped 65 percent during the third quarter of 2016 compared to one year earlier, but the totals fall far short of the record amount of corporate dollars raised during the first half of 2015. V&E continues to dominate the capital markets in the oil patch. The Texas Lawbook has the Q3 rankings and the details.
Corporate Deal Tracker Q&A with Capital Markets Leader Sean Wheeler
Sean Wheeler has had a productive year so far. The Houston-based Latham & Watkins partner led or co-led 17 securities offerings for issuers or underwriters during the first nine months of 2016. The Texas Lawbook conducted an in-depth Q&A with Wheeler to learn what he anticipates will keep him busy in 2017 and his insights into the current state of the market for securities offerings involving energy companies.
Corporate Deal Tracker Q&A with Capital Markets Leader Sean Wheeler
Sean Wheeler has had a productive year so far. The Houston-based Latham & Watkins partner led or co-led 17 securities offerings for issuers or underwriters during the first nine months of 2016. The Texas Lawbook conducted an in-depth Q&A with Wheeler to learn what he anticipates will keep him busy in 2017 and his insights into the current state of the market for securities offerings involving energy companies.
Group from Norton Rose Fulbright Works on Two Hospital Deals
A team of lawyers from Norton Rose Fulbright’s Austin, Houston and San Antonio offices handled two hospital transactions in Oklahoma worth at least $750 million. The team’s client called the lawyers “integral in completing our deal.” Details here.
Twinkies, LinkedIn & The Cloud: The M&A Chronicles of Jim Griffin
If one were to look at Jim Griffin’s 2016 monthly calendar, there would be quite a few events scribbled in. A 1,700-mile move and phone calls and meetings for Microsoft’s $26.2 billion purchase of LinkedIn would just be a couple. The Texas Lawbook recently sat down with Griffin at the Dallas Ritz-Carlton to learn about what has been occupying the time of one of the state’s busiest M&A lawyers of 2016.
Twinkies, LinkedIn & The Cloud: The M&A Chronicles of Jim Griffin
If one were to look at Jim Griffin’s 2016 monthly calendar, there would be quite a few events scribbled in. A 1,700-mile move and phone calls and meetings for Microsoft’s $26.2 billion purchase of LinkedIn would just be a couple. The Texas Lawbook recently sat down with Griffin at the Dallas Ritz-Carlton to learn about what has been occupying the time of one of the state’s busiest M&A lawyers of 2016.
No TX Lawyers on $32B Baker Hughes-GE Merger
Baker Hughes and GE turned to New York law firms to handle their merger that will combine GE’s oil and gas business with Baker Hughes to create a new publicly-traded company co-headquartered in Houston and London.
Billion-Dollar Showdown: T. Boone Pickens v. J. Cleo Thompson
A big-dollar showdown between two legendary oil and gas names in Dallas goes to trial this week in West Texas in a decade-long dispute over ownership interests and revenues from more than 160 wells in Reeves and Pecos counties. T. Boone Pickens’ Mesa Petroleum sued J. Cleo Thompson and three Midland E&P companies for allegedly violating the terms of a decade-old investment contract potentially worth up to $1 billion.