Rahul Vashi led or co-led 14 transactions for Kirkland & Ellis with a combined value of $3.2 billion, including Devon Energy’s $1.8 billion acquisition of Denver-based Validus Energy, according to The Texas Lawbook’s Corporate Deal Tracker. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher believes Vashi will have the same success for it.
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Unprecedented Situation — Creating Case Law for the New Court of Appeals
The Senate has now approved the House’s revisions to the bill that would form the new Fifteenth Court of Appeals for commercial cases. Once the two chambers of the Legislature sign the final version of the bill, the creation of that new court awaits only the governor’s signature.
Before long, that court’s justices will take office and its docket will begin to fill with cases. As a brand new institution, the Fifteenth Court will have no precedent of its own to apply in those cases. With apologies for the pun, that court will face an “unprecedented” situation.
Will Shearman’s Merger with A&O Impact the Texas Legal Market?
London-based Allen & Overy has coveted a presence in Texas to boost its global energy practice. On Sunday, the Magic Circle firm got it. A&O and Shearman & Sterling, a New York-headquartered corporate law firm with 60 lawyers in Austin, Dallas and Houston, announced Sunday that they are merging. The Texas Lawbook looks at Shearman’s operations in Texas and what the merger might mean.
Former Texas GOP Chief Justice: SB 896 ‘Causes Needless Increases in Litigation Costs for Texas Citizens’
Former Texas Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson has written the Texas Legislature asking them to defeat a bill that would erode free speech rights in Texas and cause Texas citizens to unnecessarily spend large amounts of money to protect their First Amendment rights.
Citing Years of Foot-Dragging by BMW and Local Counsel, Dallas Judge Orders Trial ASAP in ‘Lemon’ Lawsuit
After hitting BMW North America and Hedrick Kring Bailey with $773K in sanctions for ‘frivolous and groundless’ efforts to delay discovery in a woman’s suit over the sale of a defective used BMW, Judge Eric V. Moyé informed the automaker the case will go to trial June 6.
P.S. — World Refugee Day, Hispanic Law Student Scholarships, Fundraising Successes (Updated)
In this edition of P.S., Natalie Posgate highlights the details of the DHLF’s Amanecer luncheon, the Genesis Women’s Shelter annual luncheon featuring Nicole Kidman, an upcoming nonprofit event featuring books and booze, and a grant recently provided to the Texas Legal Services Center.
Texas Justices Decline to End Winstead Malpractice Suit
The court unanimously determined that at this stage in proceedings USA Lending Group had presented enough evidence to avoid Winstead’s bid to have the lawsuit tossed under the Texas Citizens Participation Act. Assuming without deciding that the state’s anti-SLAPP law applies to this case, the justices found that USA Lending should be allowed to proceed in the trial court with the suit accusing the firm of failing to request $1.2 million in damages in a motion for default judgment.
15th COA Bill Nears Enactment
Legislation to create a new intermediate appellate court to hear cases involving state government and appeals from new business specialty courts advances as the legislative session starts to wind down.
Analysis: Texans for Lawsuit Reform and Politicians Push Bill to Weaken Free Speech Rights of Texas Citizens
The National Right to Life Committee and the ACLU do not see eye-to-eye on much, but they agree that legislation being pushed by certain Texas Republicans will significantly weaken free speech rights in this state. SB 896, which has passed the Texas Senate, severely erodes strong free speech and free press rights under the 2011 Texas Citizens Participation Act, which is a law that allows judges to quickly dismiss frivolous libel and defamation lawsuits against individuals, families and news organizations.
Updated — ‘Very Emotional’ McKool Smith Co-Founder Leaves Firm After Three Decades
Legendary Dallas trial lawyer Mike McKool announced Thursday that he has left the 130-lawyer firm that he co-founded 32 years ago in order to take on an assignment that he sees as the final big case of his career.
McKool, who has tried more than 100 cases to juries resulting in verdicts exceeding $1 billion, told The Texas Lawbook that he has shed many tears today because he is leaving McKool Smith to take on a case for a client that presents a conflict with other clients at the law firm that bears his name.