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The five important business cases from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the first half of 2012 show a pragmatic, step-by-step approach to business cases. The Court tested whether an arbitration clause comported with basic principles of contract law, parsed each line of a pleading to test its sufficiency, enforced each element of the basic test for personal jurisdiction, and methodically applied Daubert to complex expert testimony. The five cases illustrate the work of a court that takes seriously the “blocking and tackling” basics of commercial disputes.

Texas has the potential to emerge as a leading epicenter for the U.S., and perhaps the world, especially in the areas of energy, specialty chemicals and medicine. The state’s leadership position is further strengthened with last week’s announcement of Dallas as a new satellite office for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.