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America Invents Act Leads to Patent Litigation Spike

The number of new patent cases filed in the Northern District of Texas during the first half of 2012 more than doubled the number filed during the first six months of 2011. The Eastern District saw its new patent filings jump 63 percent. The Western and Southern districts witnessed significant increases, too. One likely reason, according to IP litigation Eric Findlay of Tyler, is the passage of the America Invents Act in September 2011.

Business Bankruptcy Filings in Texas Down 39% in 2012

The number of companies that filed for bankruptcy in Texas declined dramatically during the first six months of 2012, but legal experts say that is not necessarily good news for businesses in the state. In fact, many legal experts say that Texas Bankruptcy Courts could see a wave of new businesses filing for Chapter 11 protection if the economy gets better. If the economy worsens, the state would likely see an increase in Chapter 7 liquidations.

Michael King: SEC Lawyer “Calling the Shots” in Wal-Mart and Chesapeake Investigations

Very few corporate executives or general counsels have ever heard of Michael King. That is about to change. King is the SEC’s lead lawyer in two of the biggest corporate financial investigations the federal government is conducting: Wal-Mart and Chesapeake Energy. The two cases are likely to thrust King into the global spotlight, as fines could easily reach hundreds of millions of dollars. The investigations also could provide public redemption for the SEC’s much maligned Fort Worth Regional Office. “The pressure on Michael and the Fort Worth office right now is enormous,” says Kit Addleman, a partner at Haynes and Boone.

Fifth Circuit’s Top Five Business Litigation Cases for the First Half of 2012

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 is Climbing the Nanotech Charts

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.

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