Congress, Not Courts, Should Decide Apple Case

AT&T filed a “friend of the court” brief asking a California federal judge the court to vacate its order requiring Apple take extraordinary steps to assist the FBI in unlocking the iPhone used by one of the perpetrators of the San Bernardino shootings. In this case, the government seeks more than what can be supported under the law as it is written today. The solution is for Congress to pass new legislation that provides real clarity for citizens and companies alike.

March 6, 2016 Mark Curriden

Two Texas Lawyers Named “HNBA Top Lawyer Under 40”

Rich Rosalez, senior director of litigation at Samsung Electronics America in Dallas, and Emma Mata, litigation partner at Sefarth Shaw in Houston, are among 20 winners selected by the Hispanic National Bar Association.

February 10, 2016 Mark Curriden

Two Texas Lawyers Named "HNBA Top Lawyer Under 40"

Rich Rosalez, senior director of litigation at Samsung Electronics America in Dallas, and Emma Mata, litigation partner at Sefarth Shaw in Houston, are among 20 winners selected by the Hispanic National Bar Association.

February 10, 2016 Mark Curriden

Personal Reflections on Pro Bono Service and the Importance of Access to Justice

There are many things I recall about beginning my legal career in Dallas. But one thing I remember clearly, from the very first day on the job, was the pervasive sentiment that an indispensable part of being a lawyer – a real lawyer committed to the craft and the profession – is helping those who need access to our courts. It reminds us of why we became lawyers, and it underscores the importance of serving others as zealously as we support our clients.

January 12, 2016 Mark Curriden

Dean Foods GC Marc Kesselman Jumps to Yum! Brands

Kesselman takes over as the chief legal officer at Yum! on Feb. 1, where he will oversee a legal department of about 100 lawyers.

January 12, 2016 Mark Curriden

Handguns in the Texas Workplace – A Shorty for the Employer

The Texas Open Carry law went into effect Jan 1. The law allows a concealed handgun license holder to openly carry a holstered handgun in a shoulder or belt strap in most public or private places without violating Texas’ general prohibition against carrying handguns. Employers need to know their rights in light of this game-changing law. The article is divided into sections concerning (1) notice and regulated notice to employees, (2) regulated notice to visitors, (3) prohibited places/activities for carrying handguns and (4) the role of alcohol for the CHL holder.

January 8, 2016 Mark Curriden

Texas Lawyers Storm the Corporate Boardroom

When global investment firm PIMCO named former American Airlines GC Gary Kennedy to its corporate board, it was joining a national trend of publicly-traded companies adding lawyers as directors. The develop reverses a decades-old policy of corporations of ignoring lawyers for board positions because attorneys are viewed as too risk-averse and too narrow in their professional focus. But former Texas GCs Charles Matthews, Scott Rozzell and Jennifer Vogel are setting a new trend.

January 2, 2016 Mark Curriden

Shimabuku to Run USPTO’s Dallas Office

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office named Xerox Business Services Corporate Counsel Hope Shimabuku to be the first regional director of the agency’s newly-created Dallas office. A former lawyer at BlackBerry, Shimabuku will take office Jan. 4. She will be charged with building an office that will eventually include more than 100 examiners, judges, and outreach and administrative staff.

December 8, 2015 Mark Curriden

Exclusive: GC Forum’s Magna Stella Awards Go to…

Hewlett Packard, Tenet Healthcare, The Howard Hughes Corp. and Kinder Morgan were the corporate legal department winners at the General Counsel Forum annual meeting in San Antonio this week. The individual GCs honored were MetroPCS ‘s Chris Luna, Prophet Equity’s David Rex, Silicon Lab’s Nestor Ho, ABM Industries’ Lanesha Anderson and Texas A&M’s Ray Bonilla. The Texas Lawbook has exclusive coverage of the GC Forum meeting.

November 22, 2015 Mark Curriden

An Era Ends, Another Begins at AT&T’s Corporate Legal Dept.

Wayne Watts retires this Wednesday as GC at AT&T. Watts revolutionized the position of corporate general counsel. He guided the phone company through dozens of mega-mergers with a combined value of nearly $300 billion. He single handedly forced law firms to add more women and minorities to their lawyer ranks. In an extensive interview with The Texas Lawbook, Watts discusses why he became a lawyer, his 32 years at AT&T and why he handpicked David McAtee to secede him. Exxon Mobil GC Jack Balagia also dishes on Watts golf game. FYI: He hits the ball hard.

September 26, 2015 Mark Curriden

An Era Ends, Another Begins at AT&T’s Corporate Legal Dept.

Wayne Watts retires this Wednesday as GC at AT&T. Watts revolutionized the position of corporate general counsel. He guided the phone company through dozens of mega-mergers with a combined value of nearly $300 billion. He single handedly forced law firms to add more women and minorities to their lawyer ranks. In an extensive interview with The Texas Lawbook, Watts discusses why he became a lawyer, his 32 years at AT&T and why he handpicked David McAtee to secede him. Exxon Mobil GC Jack Balagia also dishes on Watts golf game. FYI: He hits the ball hard.

September 26, 2015 Mark Curriden

Ten Things: Explaining Litigation to the Board and the CEO

When facing a large lawsuit, corporate general counsel sometimes need to remember to the CEO and the board of directors informed about the litigation. Neither senior management nor the directors have much, if any, experience with litigation. GCs can avoid a lot of frustration and second-guessing by taking the time upfront to explain the litigation process to them and provide regular updates thereafter. Because GCs need sign-off from the CEO or board regarding many decisions, including settlement authority, alternative dispute resolution (e.g., mediation) and budgeting, GCs will avoid second-guessing by keeping senior management and the board fully informed. This column provides a check list for GCs.

September 17, 2015 Mark Curriden

Faith & Perseverance Helped Sidley Partner Close His Biggest and Most Important International Deal

Cliff Vrielink has represented some of the world’s leading energy companies in highly complex international transactions valued in the billions of dollars. But for four years, Vrielink and his wife tried to adopt two children from Haiti. A legal process that should have taken weeks became years. The couple took a dozen trips to Haiti. They hired lawyers in Haiti and sought help from U.S. officials in New York. Nothing they did helped or mattered. “I’ve done multi-billion-dollar global mergers and acquisitions involving multiple corporations and assets in multiple countries that were simpler than the adoption process we faced,” said Vrielink, a 20-year veteran of international M&A law. This is the story of Cliff and Ayse Vrielink’s efforts to adopt a boy and a girl from Haiti and why an antiquated international adoption system must be fixed.

September 8, 2015 Mark Curriden

Faith & Perseverance Helped Sidley Partner Close His Biggest and Most Important International Deal

Cliff Vrielink has represented some of the world’s leading energy companies in highly complex international transactions valued in the billions of dollars. But for four years, Vrielink and his wife tried to adopt two children from Haiti. A legal process that should have taken weeks became years. The couple took a dozen trips to Haiti. They hired lawyers in Haiti and sought help from U.S. officials in New York. Nothing they did helped or mattered. “I’ve done multi-billion-dollar global mergers and acquisitions involving multiple corporations and assets in multiple countries that were simpler than the adoption process we faced,” said Vrielink, a 20-year veteran of international M&A law. This is the story of Cliff and Ayse Vrielink’s efforts to adopt a boy and a girl from Haiti and why an antiquated international adoption system must be fixed.

September 8, 2015 Mark Curriden

EFH GC Stacey Doré: “The Smartest Person in the Room”

At age 43, Energy Future Holdings GC Stacey Doré is one of the few women corporate general counsel at a Fortune 500 company and she is certainly one of the youngest. She finds herself leading one of the largest business bankruptcies in U.S. history, even though she had no prior bankruptcy law experience. No business lawyer in Texas is under more pressure or scrutiny these days than Doré. But lawyers with intimate knowledge of the situation say that EFH’s executive leadership and board specifically chose Doré to be the general counsel in 2012 to lead the company through what it knew could be a long and contentious bankruptcy.

August 27, 2015 Mark Curriden

AT&T GC Wayne Watts Retires

AT&T says David McAtee, a former partner at Haynes and Boone, will replace Wayne Watts as its chief legal officer on Oct. 1. Watts, widely recognized as one of the most influential business lawyers in the U.S., was directly involved in negotiating dozens of mergers and acquisitions with a combined value of nearly $250 billion. He did the legal work on nearly every deal that transformed Southwestern Bell, the smallest of the Baby Bells, into the world’s largest communications business. Watts notes he was raised in southwest Dallas. “920 South Oak Cliff Boulevard,” Watts said this week in an exclusive interview with The Texas Lawbook. “If you look at that house, nobody would have predicted my career.”

August 21, 2015 Mark Curriden

AT&T GC Wayne Watts Retires

AT&T says David McAtee, a former partner at Haynes and Boone, will replace Wayne Watts as its chief legal officer on Oct. 1. Watts, widely recognized as one of the most influential business lawyers in the U.S., was directly involved in negotiating dozens of mergers and acquisitions with a combined value of nearly $250 billion. He did the legal work on nearly every deal that transformed Southwestern Bell, the smallest of the Baby Bells, into the world’s largest communications business. Watts notes he was raised in southwest Dallas. “920 South Oak Cliff Boulevard,” Watts said this week in an exclusive interview with The Texas Lawbook. “If you look at that house, nobody would have predicted my career.”

August 21, 2015 Mark Curriden

10 Things: How to be a Successful In-House Counsel

Whether you are new to the in-house department or a long-term veteran, the general counsel or just a basic contract lawyer, there are a number of things that can help make you more successful in your career. Learn the business. Don't let the boss get surprised. And realize there's never going to be enough money, time or people. The GC Suite is a new column written by in-house lawyers and CLOs about their experiences, challenges and concerns.

August 14, 2015 Mark Curriden

JC Penney Slashes Corporate Legal Dept. Staff

The Plano-based retailer laid off about two-dozen lawyers and staff last week. The company had about 50 in-house lawyers just three years ago, but now has less than 25 after deciding to outsource most litigation, employment and labor law and tax law needs.

August 3, 2015 Mark Curriden

Texas Lawyers Differ on New US-Cuba Relations

Fluor Corp. General Counsel Carlos Hernandez vividly remembers Christmas Eve 1958. He and his family were huddled in their house in Cuba as warplanes flew overhead. Weeks later, they fled Cuba for the United States in fear of their lives. Hernandez admits there is a split among Texans of Cuban descent about the Obama Administration's softened stance toward his homeland. “We lost our freedoms. They took all of our property,” Hernandez says. “I am not yet prepared to forgive them. They should be held accountable for the atrocities they committed.”

July 21, 2015 Mark Curriden