Houston Litigation Firm Vasquez Waite Off to ‘Fast and Furious’ Start

Cara Vasquez and Mark Waite are “complete opposites” on paper, but the unlikely duo decided to launch their own firm in 2024 focused on representing petrochemical and construction companies in litigation. Vasquez, who spent her entire career at DLA Piper, and Waite, who was a senior in-house lawyer at LyondellBasell before practicing at DLA for the past six years, launched Vasquez Waite on Jan. 1 and have been “way busier” than they anticipated.

February 8, 2024 Brooks Igo

Baker Botts Expands U.S./Asia IP Capabilities with New Hires

Houston attorney Jeffrey Johnson and California partner Robert Benson join from Orrick, where they worked closely together for clients in the U.S., Taiwan and China.

February 7, 2024 Brooks Igo

2023: A Year in Review for Trade Secret Litigation

2023 confirmed that, in some ways, trade secret litigation remains the Wild West for litigants. Large verdicts and unsettled law have made this a popular venue for plaintiffs. 2023 did little to disrupt the status quo.

February 7, 2024 Aimee Fagan

Crane Collapse Injury Suit Settles on Eve of Trial

A Dallas jury who heard a wrongful death case last year for the same crane collapse awarded $860 million — the second-largest Texas jury verdict in 2023 — to the parents of a woman killed. This week, companies Greystar and Bigge Crane & Rigging Co. avoided a second trial in a lawsuit brought by a man who was pinned in his car when the crane toppled onto the apartment building and parking garage.

February 6, 2024 Krista Torralva

Litigation Roundup: Fifth Circuit OKs Lockheed’s Win in Discrimination Suit, Exxon Says ‘Activist Shareholders’ Withdrew Climate Proposal

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the dispute between ExxonMobil and two activist shareholders could be over, the battle between Yelp and Texas over pregnancy crisis center disclaimers continues and the Fifth Circuit agrees that a discrimination lawsuit against Lockheed Martin was rightfully tossed.

February 5, 2024 Michelle Casady

Steptoe, Blank Rome Add Litigators to Houston Offices

The firms announced new hires Monday to their Houston offices. Claudia Wilson Frost comes to Steptoe from Orrick, while Audrey F. Momanaee leaves Balch & Bingham for Blank Rome.

February 5, 2024 Krista Torralva

Brister, Gunn, Matthews Among Applicants for TX Business Court and 15th Court of Appeals

Twenty lawyers, including several former Texas appellate and trial court judges, have applied for appointment to the newly created business courts and intermediate appellate court. They include prominent figures such as former Texas Supreme Court Justice Scott Brister, appellate specialist David Gunn and Houston MDL Judge Sylvia Matthews. Five candidates from the Texas AG’s office also are seeking positions. Gov. Abbott will appoint the judges and justices, who begin hearing cases in September. The Texas Lawbook obtained the applications through a public information request.

February 1, 2024 Janet Elliott

Litigation Roundup: Electric Co-op Draws $100M Injury Suit; ‘Red Flags’ Doom $20.8M Recovery

In this week’s edition of Litigation Roundup, the Dallas appellate court undoes a $20.8 million award in a fight between a landlord and a grocery company after finding “red flags” during the negotiation process were ignored, a federal jury convicts a software company CEO of bilking investors out of at least $25 million and prosecutors go after a business mogul who they say hasn’t paid taxes since 1992.

January 29, 2024 Michelle Casady