Houston City Attorney Arturo Michel: ‘Do More with Less’

The son of Mexican immigrants, Arturo Michel grew up in Chicago, earned a degree from University of Michigan Law School, worked in San Antonio for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and then moved to Houston to work at Bracewell in its public law group for 18 years. Michel is now in his second tour as Houston City Attorney. The Texas Lawbook interviewed Michel about his biggest challenges, the current legislative session and what he seeks in outside counsel.

April 13, 2023 Nushin Huq

How Covid Has Left the Road to Arbitration Full of Potholes

With courts looking to offload their pandemic dockets, which in some instances face yearslong backlogs, virtual hearings in arbitration have dramatically increased. While these hearings are undeniably convenient, attorneys should be very leery before heading down the path of arbitration in the age of virtual hearings.

April 10, 2023 Paul Lackey & Bailey McGowan

Litigation Roundup: Citgo Hires Defense in $100M Suit, Landry’s Files TM Suits

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, Citgo Petroleum hires defense attorneys in a $100 million Citgo 6 lawsuit, a litigation funder says a Philadelphia firm owes $13.4 million and a former county attorney gets indicted on public corruption charges.

April 10, 2023 Michelle Casady

Dallas Textile Engineer Gets High-Thread-Count Sheet Patent Fight Tossed

Arun Agarwal and his company AAVN own 10 patents for a process that turns cotton and cotton-polyester blend materials into luxury, high-thread-count bedsheets. In the latest battle to protect his intellectual property, Winstead attorney Cory Johnson won dismissal of a federal suit in North Carolina where a competitor was trying to invalidate all 10 patents.

April 7, 2023 Michelle Casady

Susman Godfrey Turns 40, ‘Far and Away Our Best Year Ever’

When trial lawyer Steve Susman died unexpectedly in 2020, legal industry insiders wondered what would become of the firm he founded four decades ago. The verdict is in.

“We had a record year in revenues and profits in 2022,” Susman Godfrey co-managing partner Vineet Bhatia told The Texas Lawbook in an exclusive interview. “2022 was far and away our best year ever.”

Susman Godfrey does not release annual law firm financials. An analysis by The Texas Lawbook shows, however, that the firm has nearly 200 lawyers – 105 of them in Texas – and ranks in the top five in RPL and PEP. The Lawbook has the exclusive details.

April 6, 2023 Mark Curriden

Litigation Roundup: SCOTX Sides with Ex-Dallas Cowboy, Llano County Dealt a Book Ban Blow

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, an intermediate appellate court split widens regarding gross negligence claims, sanctions requested by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in a fight over unpaid attorney fees are upheld on appeal, and a federal judge undoes one Texas county’s book bans.

April 3, 2023 Michelle Casady

Samsung Challenges Insurance Industry Playbook in $400M Claim Dispute

A $400 million insurance recovery action filed by Samsung Austin Semiconductor is shining a light on the playbook that insurance companies rely upon to create an unfair advantage in claim disputes. While the damages in this case are eye-popping, the allegations in the lawsuit paint a picture that is all too familiar for businesses and property owners across the state.

April 3, 2023 Marc Gravely

Harris Co. Attorney Christian Menefee at ‘The Perfect Intersection of Law and Policy’

As a third-year associate at Norton Rose Fulbright, Christian Menefee attended an election night watch party in November 2016 that ended in a way no one in attendance expected. But it also was the night that changed his life and career path. Exactly four years later, Menefee became the youngest lawyer and the first African American to be elected county attorney of Harris County. In an interview with The Texas Lawbook, Menefee discusses his first two years as Harris County’s top legal officer, the current Texas legislative session, how he hires outside counsel and his plans for reelection. Photo credit: Marie D. De Jesús/Houston Chronicle

March 29, 2023 Nushin Huq