Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
The number of out-of-state law firms that opened new offices in Texas grew significantly in 2018, but the actual number of lawyers working at big corporate firms operating in the state declined last year. The result is that nearly half of all corporate lawyers in Texas are employed at out-of-state law firms. The Texas Lawbook has exclusive numbers and analysis.
Mark Werbner, the trial lawyer who engineered a historic billion-dollar jury victory against a Middle Eastern bank accused of aiding terrorists, has joined the Dallas office of Winston & Strawn. The Texas Lawbook has an exclusive interview.
In their monthly account of disciplinary actions, the State Bar of Texas reports discipline taken against three judges: a Waco judge who appointed a police detective as foreman of a controversial grand jury, a Parker County judge who hired and promoted an assistant with whom he was having a sexual relationship, and a judge in New Braunfels who interrupted jury deliberations in a criminal trial by announcing that God had informed him a conviction would be a miscarriage of justice. In other actions, one lawyer resigned his license, eight lawyers were suspended from practice and three received public reprimands.
Todd Arritola previously worked in KPMG’s Deal Advisory group for five years.
In Moneyball Michael Lewis wrote about the wholesale disruptions taking place in the world of baseball. His lecture at SMU over a decade ago was brought to mind by recent optimism for the Texas Rangers expressed by Evan Grant. Grant's unlikely optimism holds suggestions that are transferable for organizations of every type: including legal groups. Talmage Boston explains.
Katten Muchin opened in Dallas a year ago and has grown to three-dozen attorneys in Dallas. Now, the Chicago-based firm has signed a new long-term lease agreement for two floors at the PwC Tower at Park District in Uptown Dallas – a move that will give the firm space to double in size in the future.
The Texas Lawbook is conducting its annual survey of Texas law firms to gauge economic trends in the business law community. The deadline is March 15.
Former KRCL litigation partner Zach Mayer quietly opened his own shop in downtown Dallas six weeks ago, but he’s already adding partners, opening new offices and has a client list that most larger full service firms would envy. “It has been a fast, furious and chaotic couple of weeks,” Mayer says. The Texas Lawbook has details.
Keith R. Whitman was previously COO and general counsel at Kobre & Kim in New York.
When Baker Botts partners elected John Martin to be its new leader this week, the 179-year-old Houston-based corporate law firm sent a message that its future growth is likely beyond the borders of Texas. Martin, corporate transactional lawyer in the firm's Palo Alto office, is Baker Botts's first managing partner based outside the state.
Baker Botts, one of the oldest, largest and most successful corporate law firms in Texas, has chosen John Martin, a partner in its Palo Alto office, as its next managing partner. He is the firm's first non-Texas based partner to lead the 725-lawyer operation.
Two Houston judges who lost in the 2018 midterm elections announced Tuesday that they have landed at new firms. Natalie Posgate has the specifics.
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