In this edition of Litigation Roundup, individuals accused of bilking the government out of millions via Covid-19 testing and dental scams are sentenced to prison, Austin-based CrowdStrike gears up to fight litigation related to a global software outage and the Fifth Circuit seeks the Texas Supreme Court’s input in a lawsuit brought by a former Southern Methodist University law professor who was denied tenure.
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OCI Sells Texas Ammonia Project to Woodside for $2.35B
Latham advised Woodside while Vinson & Elkins counseled OCI, having advised it on the Beaumont project since inception. It’s being billed as the world’s first large-scale, low-carbon intensity hydrogen-based greenfield ammonia facility.
P.S. — A Fundraiser for Sick Children, A Changing of the Guard, Another Award for Rusty Hardin
This week’s edition of P.S. features two law firms’ school supply giveaways; August dates for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program’s legal clinics (plus sponsor info); a new award for Rusty Hardin presented by a foundation; a Weil associate’s remarkable track record for pro bono work, which recently resulted in an award; fundraising results for a recent Dallas Association of Young Lawyers event; new leadership at Hispanic bar associations in Houston and Austin; and awards recently presented to law firms and individuals by a Houston nonprofit dedicated to combatting gender-based violence.
Firms and organizations mentioned in this week’s P.S. include Winston & Strawn, Witherite Law Group, Jackson Walker, Goldman Sachs, AT&T, Nexstar Media Group, Bradley, Cisco, DLA Piper, Haynes Boone, Fish & Richardson, Beck Redden, Weil, Children’s Health, Innocence Project of Texas, Latham, Skadden, Texas Council on Family Violence, King & Spalding, Baker Botts, Targa Resources and Tahirih Justice Center.
Appellate Panel Says Houston Rodeo Can Keep Payments to Concert Performers Secret
Dolcefino Communications, a for-hire investigative firm run by former longtime Houston television news reporter Wayne Dolcefino, had argued the specific dollar amounts the nonprofit paid to each performer during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo had to be disclosed in response to his open records request. The First Court of Appeals panel determined otherwise in this case of first impression.
Arcosa Expands into NY-NJ with $1.2B Acquisition
Kirkland advised Arcosa on their purchase of the aggregates and building materials businesses of Stavola Holding Corp. The transaction, largest in the company’s history, was paired with the divestiture of a steel components business.
Greenberg Traurig Adds IP Pro in Dallas
Ashley Moore, who most recently served as the Dallas office managing partner at Michelman & Robinson, joined Greenberg Traurig’s intellectual property and litigation practices this week as a shareholder. She spoke to The Lawbook about trends she’s seeing in the Eastern and Western District of Texas.
Austin Lawyer Launches Legal AI Company to Draft Pleadings
At the request of his father, Austin attorney Dov Preminger took on a case a few years ago for a contractor who didn’t get paid about $50,000 for work he performed.
Preminger’s work on the case came to about $13,000 in fees and expenses. While he and his client won a default judgment for the full requested amount, they were only able to garnish a bank account for about $3,000, which was split between the client, the bank’s lawyer and Preminger.
Preminger tells that story to illustrate the potential usefulness artificial intelligence can provide to lawyers and clients as he gradually launches LitLaw, a “legal AI company” that instantly generates first drafts of lawsuits, answers, demand letters, discovery requests and more. LitLaw will eventually be able to draft more complex motions, Preminger said.
Heidelberg Materials North America Names Shonn Brown as GC
Global building materials manufacturer Heidelberg Materials has announced that Kimberly-Clark deputy general counsel Shonn Brown is joining Heidelberg as general counsel and chief compliance officer for its Irving-based North America operations.
Holland & Knight Expands Financial Services Team
Taylor Speers, who joins from Winston & Strawn, focuses his practice on structured finance transactions and residential mortgage loan services.
The Corner Office: Q&A with Shane Egan
In this Q&A, Egan elaborates on what makes his firm unique, offers an antidote to burnout, and identifies three management priorities that are front and center for him.