The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

More Stories

CDT Roundup: Fiber, Towers and Rare Earths Fuel Diverse Deal Slate

For the week ended April 25, the Roundup reported on 11 deals worth about $19.7 billion, or maybe $69.7 billion, depending on how SpaceX’s latest acquisition pans out.

Aside from the SpaceX rent-to-own deal this week’s slate of transactions includes the acquisition of a Brazilian Rare Earth source with a 15-year offtake agreement with the U.S.-backed buyer already in place; a $1.5 billion investment in a REIT that specializes in communications towers; the reverse-merger of an offshore oil services firm with a Houston-based competitor; the acquisition of a fiber provider in Alaska; the sale of a compression services provider to a Lubbock firm and the sale of a minority stake in a hyperscale data center developer.

That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.

Jones Walker Adds a Pair of Maritime Lawyers

Jones Walker has added two maritime lawyers to its Houston office.

The new laterals are Kelly Haas and Hayley Stancil, who worked together in the Houston office of Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea, BenMaier & Eastham.

Veteran-Led Trial Firm Ryman Clark Announces its Opening

Two University of Texas School of Law graduates, who are also veterans, are striking out on their own to start Ryman Clark, a boutique firm focused on tenants’ rights and complex property and construction litigation. Alexander Clark and Kyle Ryman, who were then practicing at Haynes Boone and McKool Smith, respectively, first discussed launching their own firm last year at a gala benefiting the Texas Access to Justice Commission’s Veterans Committee.

P.S. — Texas Appleseed Launches 30th Anniversary Campaign with $1.5M Goal 

In this edition of P.S., the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers’ 2025 Leadership Class capped its nearly yearlong charitable efforts Saturday with a day of service at Viola’s House, a nonprofit that provides maternity housing and support for expectant mothers facing unstable living situations. The lawyers are now exploring ways to package the professional development curriculum for Viola’s House and other nonprofits. Several DAYL Leadership Class projects have become lasting initiatives, including The Freedom Run 5k run and one-mile walk, created by the 2001 Leadership Class that raises funds for the Dallas Police Association’s Assist the Officer Foundation. 

Also, the nonprofit public interest justice center Texas Appleseed has launched a fundraising campaign aimed at raising $1.5 million in celebration of its 30th anniversary.

Also, today is the deadline to nominate a corporate counsel and in-house Texas attorney for the Texas Access to Justice Commission Corporate Counsel Pro Bono Award.

Surveillance by Design? How the California Invasion of Privacy Act Threatens Texas Businesses

The California Invasion of Privacy Act stands out because it allows for both criminal charges and civil lawsuits for statutory violations. This sets CIPA apart from more recently enacted consumer privacy laws in both California and Texas, which do not include civil enforcement. This has turned CIPA into the go-to law for attorneys looking to challenge web privacy practices in court.

CIPA’s broad reach brings Texas companies into the crosshairs, with Texas companies becoming increasingly aware of and worried about potential claims under CIPA.

‘People Are Definitely Going to Get Sick’: Trial Over Texas Prison Heat Awaits Ruling

More than 30 lawyers across six firms, including the Texas offices of O’Melveny & Myers and Winston & Strawn, have worked on a lawsuit challenging the lack of air conditioning in Texas prisons, contributing over 5,000 pro bono hours valued at more than $5 million. At the end of a nine-day trial this month, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman said the case ranks among the most significant of the lawyers’ careers. 

Asked & Answered with Bracewell’s Steve Benesh: Legal Deserts, Star Trek and Gold

Second-generation lawyer and Bracewell partner Steve Benesh went to the University of Texas, following in the footsteps of his brother.

“For my 18-year-old mind, I needed no other reasons, other than having a brother there and Longhorn sports,” Benesh said.

Benesh recently sat down with The Texas Lawbook to discuss his time as state bar president and the issues he’s seeing in the legal practice.

Gibson Dunn, Kirkland Advise on SpaceX, Cursor Deal

SpaceX said in a social media post that it has an option to acquire Cursor later this year for $60 billion, “or pay $10 billion for our work together.” That work is aimed at creating “the world’s best coding and knowledge work AI.”

Gibson Dunn advised SpaceX, while Kirkland advised Cursor.

History Rhymes as Tension Between Executive and Judicial Branches Climbs

An American president denounces the judiciary, accusing courts of usurping power and judges of being politically motivated. His supporters warn of judicial tyranny.

The political figures being described were President Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Chase, an associate justice of the Supreme Court.

“Fooled you, didn’t I? You thought I was talking about another day,” Nathan Hecht told an audience at the University of Houston Law Center.

© Copyright 2026 The Texas Lawbook
The content on this website is protected under federal Copyright laws. Any use without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.