Posting, Tweeting, Tagging #Gagging
Hey, did you know that you can get yourself in a whole lot of trouble on social media? No, seriously, you can! Wait, you already knew that? Everyone knows that? Well then, why does it keep happening?
Energy Future Holdings GC: The Need for Legal Aid is Critical
We have a motto in our legal department – “See It. Own It. Solve It.” This also applies to our pro bono service by helping to solve the legal problems facing those less fortunate in our communities. I believe that as members of a unique and special profession, we can and should do so much more. This article also includes a list of scores of individual lawyers and law firms that gave more than $1.1 million to Equal Access to Justice in 2014.
TPG Capital Hires Fort Worth SEC Lawyer as Corporate Compliance Leader – UPDATE
JoAnn Harris is about to get a big raise. The private equity firm is expected next week to name the SEC assistant director of enforcement as its new deputy director of corporate compliance. “TPG’s footprint is around the globe,” Harris told The Texas Lawbook. “It is definitely going to be a challenge, but it will be fun.”
Dean Foods Names Marc Kesselman New GC
Kesselman has left PepsiCo and Frito Lay to be the new general counsel and Executive VP at Dallas-based Dean Foods. In exclusive comments to The Texas Lawbook, Kesselman said that "Dean Foods provides a perfect opportunity for me to employ my legal and government experience in food and agriculture to help drive business growth."
Enterprise GC Hildebrandt Goes to Norton Rose Fulbright, V&E’s Murray is new GC
Enterprise Products, one of the world’s largest oil and gas pipeline companies, has named V&E corporate finance partner Craig Murray to replace Stephanie Hildebrandt, who announced she has joined Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner. The Houston midstream company also said that Locke Lord partner Vijay A. D’Cruz is Enterprise’s new head of litigation.
Enterprise GC Hildebrandt Goes to Norton Rose Fulbright, V&E’s Murray is new GC
Enterprise Products, one of the world’s largest oil and gas pipeline companies, has named V&E corporate finance partner Craig Murray to replace Stephanie Hildebrandt, who announced she has joined Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner. The Houston midstream company also said that Locke Lord partner Vijay A. D’Cruz is Enterprise’s new head of litigation.
Cyber Risk – What’s a Business to Do?
Is cyber risk insurable and if so, what products are available?
Cyber Risk – What's a Business to Do?
Is cyber risk insurable and if so, what products are available?
Exclusive: GC Forum Honors Nine In-House Counsel Who Made a Difference in 2014
SAN ANTONIO – The Magna Stella Award is the Oscar for corporate general counsel. On Thursday night, the General Counsel Forum awarded nine gold stars to chief legal officers and assistant GCs from American Airlines, LyondellBasell Industries, Scott & White Healthcare, MoneyGram, Dell, Kinetic Concepts, University of Incarnate Word and the Metro Transit Authority of Harris County. The Texas Lawbook was there and has all the details.
GC Forum’s 3rd Annual Charity Golf Classic Raises Most Money in its History for Texas Access to Justice
Close to 100 corporate general counsel, state supreme court justices, law firm leaders and legal service providers played through light showers and cool temperatures last week to raise the most money for legal aid in Texas in the General Counsel Forum’s 3rd Annual Charity Golf Classic.
Attn: General Counsel: What do You do when Domestic Abuse Affects the Workplace
Recent headlines about abusive NFL players, accompanied by dramatic video, have brought domestic violence into the forefront of the national conversation. What does a general counsel do when its his or her employee who is being abused at home? What are the ramifications if one of your employees is accused of abuse? These two experts provide practical guidance.
Exclusive – Xerox GC Don Liu to Texas Law Firms: “No Excuse” for Lack of Diversity
Don Liu minced no words over last week's God-awful findings by the Dallas Diversity Task Force. “There is no excuse. None,” Xerox's GC said. “The demographics of Dallas and Texas make hard for any law firm to justify these results.” Liu, who hires dozens of Texas lawyers to handle his company's legal business, recently fired a law firm because it refused to take diversity seriously. Clay Scheitzach says his boss "understands that a lot of law firms talk about being committed to diversity but their actions don’t back it up."
Exclusive: Fluor GC Carlos Hernandez Insists that Ethics Must Be Priority for Lawyers & Businesses
The General Counsel Forum honored Hernandez, a civil engineer-turned-construction lawyer, for a career committed to ethics, even during times of severe crisis. In an exclusive interview, Hernandez discusses his escape from Cuba as a boy, the tough days he spent as GC at grocery wholesaler Fleming and the need for increased diversity in law firms. “Carlos put a previous job as general counsel on the line," says Fluor asst. GC Craig Birchette. "He had to tell senior executives that their conduct was improper and that the CEO had to leave."
Exclusive: Fluor GC Carlos Hernandez Insists that Ethics Must Be Priority for Lawyers & Businesses
The General Counsel Forum honored Hernandez, a civil engineer-turned-construction lawyer, for a career committed to ethics, even during times of severe crisis. In an exclusive interview, Hernandez discusses his escape from Cuba as a boy, the tough days he spent as GC at grocery wholesaler Fleming and the need for increased diversity in law firms. “Carlos put a previous job as general counsel on the line," says Fluor asst. GC Craig Birchette. "He had to tell senior executives that their conduct was improper and that the CEO had to leave."
Fish & Richardson Teams Up with Sabre to Combat Human Trafficking
The firm is partnering with Sabre by providing IP protection in the U.S. and internationally for its signature corporate responsibility program on a pro bono basis.
How to Become In-House Counsel
How did such a dynamic young attorney only two years out of law school land such an amazing position? Kelly Noblin of legal and executive search firm Newhouse+Noblin shares lessons learned from Newhook's journey to her dream job.
Gaining a Competitive Edge in Hiring
Whether it is an employers’ or employees’ market, there is always competition for the strongest candidates in the job market. In a tight labor market, it is even more critical to have a candidate-friendly hiring process.
Stephen Porter Settling in as New GC at Mortgage Contracting Services
Stephen Porter told his partners at Barrett Daffin last fall that he planned to retire at the end of the year after 23 years at the Addison-based law firm, but the retirement only lasted a few days. Porter discusses his first six months as general counsel at Mortgage Contracting Services and what he is seeking in outside counsel.
American Airlines: From Chapter 11 to the World’s Largest Airline
The two authors of the article, Dallas partners at Weil, explain how American emerged from Chapter 11 in December 2013 as one of the most successful Chapter 11 reorganizations in recent history.
American Airlines Insiders Provide Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Recap of Historic Bankruptcy and Merger
Long-time American GC Gary Kennedy and other in-house and outside counsel in the American Airlines bankruptcy and merger with US Airways on Tuesday provided the most extensive behind-the-scenes tour of the historic reorganization. They discuss undercover flights to New York on a competitor's airline, angry calls with AMR board members, outside legal fees of $500,000 a day and closed door arguments between senior lawyers at the two airlines.