After winning a significant pro bono prisoner’s rights case last year, Shook, Hardy & Bacon decided to use the award to foster more pro bono work by forming a new practice group that will handle prisoner’s civil rights and abuse-of-force litigation. The Kansas City-based firm chose Michael Harrison, a Houston lawyer and former prosecutor, to lead it. In a Q&A with The Lawbook, Harrison reflects on his time in the Harris County district attorney’s office, shares details about Shook’s new practice group and conveys his passion for civil rights and racial justice work.
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CDT Roundup: 13 Deals, 16 Firms, 201 Lawyers, $11B
The news last week that publicly traded Civitas Resources was entering the Permian Basin with the purchase of upstream assets for $4.7 billion was interesting beyond its whopping price tag. Both targets were backed by NGP Energy Capital Management, marking another upstream private-to-public consolidation. There are those who think this is a good thing for the industry at the moment, and this week’s CDT Roundup explores the reasons. And, as always, The Lawbook’s Claire Poole has all the deals reported by Texas lawyers last week.
Q&A with the State Bar of Texas President
Cindy V. Tisdale, a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Granbury, was sworn in June 22 as the new president of the State Bar of Texas. Tisdale, who practices family law, answered questions from The Lawbook about why she sought to lead the organization and what her goals are.
Clifford Chance Continues Houston Expansion with Akin Hire
Akin corporate oil and gas deal lawyer David Sweeney is the seventh lateral partner addition in Houston by the London-based firm this month.
Dallas Litigator Stephanie Clouston Laterals to Winston & Strawn
Clouston, who led the Texas litigation practice at Alston & Bird, said she has seen an increase in large disputes being filed in the state.
Courts’ Use of Zoom Hearings Plummets Post-Pandemic
Memories of muted microphones, strange filters and unprecedented courtroom access are recalled during a recent Open Government Seminar at the state bar’s annual convention. A panel discussion on post-pandemic court proceedings found some glitches but also much to like about remote and hybrid hearings.
Litigation Roundup: SCOTX Rules on Plant Explosion MDL, SCOTUS Clarifies Scope of RICO
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the Texas Supreme Court sides with an attorney who got zero compensation for his shares when he and his old firm parted ways, McKool Smith secures a unanimous $4 million jury verdict for a software company client and Baker McKenzie notches a SCOTUS win.
Vista Sells Apptio to IBM for $4.6B
Kirkland & Ellis advised Vista, which also used the firm when Apptio bought Cloudwiry and when Vista acquired Apptio itself.
Texas Legacy Firms Finding Footing at Home
With a 16 percent jump in 2022 revenues, Jackson Walker is leading a resurgence of Texas-based firms that are growing revenues and increasing profits in their Texas operations. Fifteen of the 50 corporate law firms in the Texas Lawbook 50 are headquartered in Texas — down from 39 a decade ago. Those 15 Texas legacy firms generated $5.83 billion in 2022 — $3.37 billion from their Texas operations.
Twelve of the 15 Texas-headquartered firms grew revenues in 2022. Four firms increased year-over-year Texas revenues by more than 10 percent. Five additional Texas legacy firms reported annual revenue increases in their Texas offices by five percent or more. More than 42 percent of the revenue generated by Texas legacy firms came from their out-of-state operations. The Texas Lawbook has a full analysis.
Q&A With the State Bar of Texas President-Elect
Bracewell partner W. Stephen Benesh was sworn in as president-elect of the State Bar of Texas June 22 during the annual meeting in Austin. He answered questions from The Lawbook about why he wanted to take a leadership role and what his goals are.