Kimberly Priest Johnson, who formerly served as a U.S. magistrate judge in the Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas, has joined the Houston office of Shook, Hardy & Bacon as a partner in its complex litigation and strategic counseling practice group.
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Kirkland, Norton Rose Fulbright to Advise Clean Energy Business in Billion-dollar Bankruptcy
California-based Global Clean Energy Holdings, a renewable fuels company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Southern District of Texas early Wednesday. Citing between $1 billion and $10 billion in liabilities and assets in its original petition, Global Clean Energy and 15 of its affiliated companies hired Kirkland & Ellis as its lead legal advisor and Norton Rose Fulbright Houston partner Jason Boland as its local legal bankruptcy counsel.
Lowe’s Announces Acquisition of Dallas’ Artisan Design Group for Over $1.3B
Lowe’s announced on April 14 that it had entered an agreement to acquire Artisan Design Group, a Dallas-based designer, distributor and service provider for interior finishes, for $1.325 billion. Lawyers from Latham & Watkins and Covington & Burling are advising on the deal.
Dallas Jury Weighs $632M Patent Claim Against X
VidStream Inc., the successor to a bankrupt tech company, said the social media behemoth formerly known as Twitter infringed two patents to streamline the transfer of user-generated videos to online platforms and TV.
Judge Issues TRO Against Trump EO Targeting Susman Godfrey
Describing President Donald Trump’s executive order against Susman Godfrey as a “personal vendetta” and a “shocking abuse of power,” a federal judge Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order preventing critical provisions of the EO from being enforced.
Q&A With Trial Lawyer Chip Babcock
When more than 50 Texas Democratic senators fled the state in 2003 to deny the senate a quorum over a controversial Republican redistricting bill, they called Charles “Chip” Babcock, one of the finest First Amendment trial lawyers famously known for representing talk show host Oprah Winfrey in a six-week trial in Amarillo. Babcock, who is currently defending far-right cable network One America News against a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems, recently concluded a 25-year run as chair of the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee. He shares thoughts from his 40-year legal career in this Texas Lawbook exclusive.
Southwest Airlines Asks Judge for One Cent Judgment to End Litigation Over Squashed Free Flights Program
Lawyers for Southwest Airlines have asked a judge to enter a judgment ordering the Dallas-based airline to pay one cent and reasonable attorneys’ fees to the American Alliance for Equal Rights to end its lawsuit over a defunct program that offered free flights to low-income Hispanic students traveling to visit their parents. Southwest Airlines ended the charitable program “¡Lánzate!” — meaning “Take off!” — after political conservative Edward Blum’s AAER sued Southwest on behalf of a white student and an Asian student who claimed they were illegally denied benefits of the program. The AAER sought one cent in damages from Southwest. (Photo courtesy Ashlee D. Smith/Southwest Airlines)
Copart’s Former VP of HR Alleges Company Operates As ‘A Mad Men-Era Boys’ Club’
Dallas-based Fortune 500 company Copart has been sued by its former global vice president of human resources, who alleges she was fired after complaining about discrimination and harassment toward female employees. The online car auction company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Haynes Boone’s New Partner from EPA Bolsters Environmental Practice
Clarissa Howley Mills, a former deputy regional counsel for the Environmental Protection Agency, played a key role in one of the largest settlements nationwide relating to the Clean Air Act. She said her experience growing up on a crop farm in Northern Kansas gives her an appreciation for the environment and business related to it.
Texas Legislature Considers Entity Governance Legislation and Business Court Amendments
The 2025 Texas Legislature is considering a host of bills that relate to the governance of Texas entities. For lawyers who have a taste for entity governance issues, your mouths are probably salivating over the prospects of the Legislature passing several bills. In addition, an important bill that would amend various statutes relating to the Texas business court is also under consideration.