Coming off another cohesive term, the Supreme Court of Texas began its new session hearing arguments this week in a variety of cases. The Texas Lawbook hosted a panel of appellate experts on Tuesday to discuss some of the upcoming cases they are watching and reviewed significant decisions from last term.
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Gibbs & Bruns Associate Re-launches Debate Classes for Houston Prisoners
On Thursday, Caitlin Halpern will host a pizza party to commemorate the re-launch of a program that teaches public speaking and critical thinking through debate to incarcerated people in Harris County. Natalie Posgate collected details on the event, the program and the organization behind it that marries Halpern’s passions for debate and criminal justice reform.
CDT Roundup: 12 Deals, 8 Firms, 102 Lawyers, $6.4B
Kirkland dominated this week’s Roundup with participation in four of the seven M&A/Fundings deals reported last week. But according to the firm, that’s also been the case during the summer, especially in the energy sector. They provided some rankings from Deal Point Data to back that up. We tested their data against some numbers from our own Corporate Deal Tracker, and the results may reveal some good news for everyone. And, of course, there’s the usual rundown of firms and lawyers involved in all the deals last week.
Fifth Circuit to IBM in $1.6B BMC Appeal: What Do You Want Us to Do?
U.S. District Judge Gray Miller, who presided over a bench trial, determined in May 2022 that IBM committed fraud in a dispute involving IBM’s removal of BMC’s mainframe products from their largest mutual client, AT&T. The case was argued before the Fifth Circuit Sept. 5.
Baker McKenzie Names Marredia Crawford as Chief ID&E Officer
The firm’s new top inclusion, diversity and equity official talked with The Lawbook about her background, the challenges the DEI industry is facing, how to retain diverse talent and why the firm leads with “inclusion” in her job title.
Litigation Roundup: Dallas Luxury Apartment Co. Sued over Mistaken Eviction, Fifth Circuit Revives False Arrest Claim Against Texas Police Chief
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the University of Houston gets a retaliation lawsuit tossed on appeal, a group of investors in a Dallas-area chain of hot chicken restaurants settles its suit with a hospitality group and the Fifth Circuit sides with the National Labor Relations Board in a suit involving fired plant workers.
Avantax Inks $1.2B Take-Private Deal with Cetera
Sidley Austin and Haynes Boone counseled Dallas-based Avantax and Willkie assisted Genstar-backed Cetera as consolidation continues in the asset management industry.
Evolving Case Law and Recent Legal Actions Influence Compilation of Boards of Directors of ESOP-Owned Companies
The unique ownership structure of a company owned by an employee stock ownership plan and trust expands the fiduciary duties of the board of directors of the ESOP company. This article examines best practices for ESOP boards relating to board compilation, fiduciary duties and committees.
Simpson Lures ‘Rising M&A Star’ Lukaszewski away from Sidley
The UT Law grad joins the firm’s energy and infrastructure practice. Her past clients have included Neste, Mitsui and Kimmeridge as well as various consumer brands.
Energy Companies Racking Up Hundreds of Millions in Legal Bills in Winter Storm Uri Litigation
More than 400 lawyers at more than 30 elite corporate law firms in Texas have made a total of more than $280 million in legal fees related to disputes involving Winter Storm Uri — a tab that legal industry insiders estimate will easily top a half-billion dollars before the litigation is over — even though not a single case has even been set for trial.
And those are only the lawyers representing energy companies and insurance firms. More than 80 plaintiffs’ attorneys — most of them from Houston — have filed lawsuits on behalf of tens of thousands of individuals and businesses claiming they were harmed by the actions — or lack of actions — of the energy companies during Winter Storm Uri. If successful, those lawyers could earn upwards of a billion dollars.