As GE’s executive counsel for M&A, Houston lawyer Victoria Lazar quietly led the $23 billion integration of the legal departments for the merger of GE Oil & Gas and Baker Hughes. She is now heavily involved in GE’s efforts to reposition its corporate portfolio. In an exclusive Texas Lawbook interview, Lazar discusses her Romanian-Jewish family, her extraordinary legal career and big-time dealmaking.
GC of the Year, Litigation of the Year & Rookie of the Year: Finalists for the 2018 DFW Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards Are…
The general counsel and corporate legal departments at Adeptus Health, AT&T, Capital One, EnLink Midstream, Interstate Batteries, J.C. Penney, Kimberly-Clark, Match, North Texas Tollway Authority, NGP Energy Capital, Pier 1 and Toyota are finalists for the 2018 Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards in North Texas. The Lawbook has details.
Finalists for the 2018 DFW Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards Are…
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook received a record-smashing 126 nominations for the 2018 Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards. A panel of 18 prominent GCs and lawyers reviewed the submissions and The Lawbook has this year’s finalists.
Kelly Rentzel: GC of a Bank; ‘Pioneer’ for Mental Health Advocacy
Only four months before Texas Capital Bank General Counsel Kelly Rentzel became the bank’s first in-house lawyer, she tried to kill herself in her bathtub. Rentzel’s journey with bipolar disorder has seen both struggle and revelation. Natalie Posgate profiles Rentzel’s remarkable personal trials and her brave new effort to educate others.
Kerstin Arnold – A GC & Public Servant on the Front Lines of the Opioid Crisis
Texas Pharmacy Board GC Kerstin Arnold may be the most influential public health attorney in the U.S. and definitely is the single most important lawyer in Texas involved in the opioid crisis. Arnold, recently honored by the Texas GC Forum, has spent two decades “trying to change the world for the better.” This Lawbook profile shows how she’s done it.
Top Texas Biz Litigation Concerns: Cybersecurity, Contract Conflicts & Employment Disputes
Texas-based companies are facing fewer and fewer lawsuits and the lawsuits they are facing are costing them less, according to a new survey of corporate general counsel by Norton Rose Fulbright. But corporate in-house counsel in the state are increasingly worried about cybersecurity attacks and data breaches. The Texas Lawbook has the details.
ACC-Houston & Texas Lawbook Announce New Partnership
The Houston Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel is forming a new partnership with The Texas Lawbook designed to provide business lawyers and the public with more insight into corporate legal departments. The Lawbook plans to publish in-depth profiles of ACC-Houston members and the legal work they do. This article has complete details.
Exclusive: Texas GC Forum’s Magna Award Celebration Attracts Record Attendance & Great Times
A record number of GCs attended last week’s Texas General Counsel Forum annual meeting in Austin. The centerpiece event was the Forum’s Magna Stella Awards, honoring in-house lawyers from ConocoPhillips, ETP, GE, Hanger, Keurig Dr Pepper, Texas Pharmacy Board, LyondellBasell, McLane, Toyota and Varsity Brands. The Lawbook was there and has exclusive photos.
Tonja De Sloover – A New Generation’s ‘Litigation Warrior’
She’s only 41, but ETP’s Tonja De Sloover has become the new face of high-stakes business litigation – aggressive, strategic and unafraid to go to trial. She’s also the perfect role model for highly successful women in law today. The Lawbook has an in-depth look at De Sloover, who is being honored Thursday night by the Texas GC Forum.
As Keurig Dr Pepper Shakes Up Beverage Industry, GC Jim Baldwin Provides Steady Leadership
Jim Baldwin has led Dr Pepper through several multi-billion-dollar mergers, including a highly complex spinoff from Cadbury Schweppes and subsequent IPO in 2008 and its $18.7 billion merger with Massachusetts-based Keurig earlier this year. This week, the Texas General Counsel Forum honors Baldwin with its prestigious Magna Stella Award for General Counsel.
Lawyers from Major Oil Companies Drill Down on Today’s Key In-House Issues
If you were ever wondering what it takes to get hired on big cases for BP, Exxon or Chevron, look no further. A trio of lawyers from the major oil companies dished during a conference last week on qualities they’re looking for – or not looking for – in their outside law firms. Natalie Posgate was at the panel discussion and has the details.
Toyota Legal One’s Mission: ‘Achieve Diversity in the Legal Profession’
Since relocating its U.S. headquarters to Plano two years ago, the corporate legal department at Toyota has implemented a diversity protocol that is among the most aggressive in Texas. Next week, the Texas GC Forum is honoring Toyota with its Magna Stella Award. The Lawbook has details and exclusive interviews.
Trinity Industries Promotes Teachout to CLO, Richardson to Corp. Secretary
Dallas-based Trinity Industries promoted deputy general counsel Sarah Teachout to chief legal officer Thursday and Jared Richardson to the post of corporate secretary. Long-time CLO Theis Rice retains the title of senior VP and will serve as the industrial supply company’s chief corporate compliance officer. The Texas Lawbook has the details.
ACC-DFW to Texas Law Firms: Join Us Doing Pro Bono
More than 100 lawyers from corporate in-house legal departments across Dallas-Fort Worth gathered Tuesday evening at Toyota Motor’s new headquarters in Plano to participate in Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter’s second annual Pro Bono Fair and to learn about pro bono opportunities.
Ex-GC of Front Burner Restaurants Jumps to Fox Rothschild
John Gessner, who served as general counsel and corporate secretary of Front Burner Restaurants for the last nine years, has joined Fox Rothschild as a partner in its Dallas office.
Is GC for a Pro Sports Franchise a Dream Job? Yes, and those GCs have Stories to Tell
Many lawyers believe Dallas Stars GC Alana Matthews and Dallas Cowboys GC Jason Cohen have dream jobs. Guess what? Matthews and Cohen agree. Next week, they join their counterparts for the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Motor Speedway and FC Dallas in an exclusive CLE program hosted by The Texas Lawbook and ACC-DFW.
David Kirkland: Consummate Trusted Advisor, Counselor and Friend
David was the best lawyer I have ever known. He reveled in the complex but was able to devise simple and creative solutions when none were apparent to others. The Texas Lawbook has this tribute.
ACC-DFW & The Texas Lawbook Unveil Plans for 2018 Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards
This year’s awards ceremony will be Jan. 24 at the President George W. Bush Library and Institute. Save the date. This article has the details.
ConocoPhillips to Name Kelly Rose as New GC
Houston-based energy giant ConocoPhillips is expected to name Baker Botts corporate transactional partner Kelly Brunetti Rose as its new general counsel, The Texas Lawbook has learned.
Marc Kesselman Settling in as GC at Purdue Pharma
(Aug. 6) – Purdue Pharma needed a new chief legal officer to lead the privately held drug maker through a mountain of litigation it faces over the opioid crisis. Lawyers
Richard Stewart Sr.: A Father of Integrity, Courage and Inspiration
By Richard G. Stewart Jr. (Aug. 1) – Richard G. Stewart, Sr. was a member of the Greatest Generation, World War II veteran, breaker of racial barriers, entrepreneur and community