Four years after devastating power outages resulted in death and destruction, justices will hear arguments in February on the utility companies’ mandamus effort to end claims by more than 15,000 plaintiffs. The utilities say they had no duty under the exigent circumstances to supply power to any particular customers for any particular duration.
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P.S. — Law Firms Share Holiday Spirit with Those in Need
With fewer than five days until Christmas Day and the start of Hanukkah, corporate law firms in Texas continue to demonstrate their giving spirit for those in need. During the past month, The Texas Lawbook’s P.S. column has highlighted nearly 20 law firms for their contributions to helping feed, clothe and house thousands of Texans who are struggling. Today, we turn the spotlight on three law firms — Sidley Austin, Katten and White & Case — for the support they are providing to those less fortunate.
2024 DFW Senior Counsel, Rookie of the Year Finalists Unveiled
Corporate in-house lawyers at American Airlines, Texas Capital Bank and Workrise are on the short list for the 2024 DFW Corporate Counsel of the Year Awards for Senior Counsel of the Year. And attorneys from ECI Software Solutions and Matador Resources are the finalists for DFW Rookie of the Year.
Law Firm, Transocean Slapped with $500K Sanction in Hurricane Zeta MDL
In three orders issued Wednesday and Thursday, Harris County District Judge Rabeea Collier sanctioned Transocean and its former legal team for “egregious” conduct in the multidistrict litigation. The judge declined to disqualify the company’s new legal team, AZA, from continuing its representation of the drilling company.
Baker McKenzie, Eversheds and Reed Smith Promote New Partners
The parade of firms announcing their 2024-25 partnership class continued Thursday. Two global corporate law firms — Baker McKenzie and Reed Smith — each announced that three of their younger Texas lawyers had been elected to their partnerships, while Eversheds Sutherland promoted one.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the number of new Texas partners announced by Baker McKenzie, as well as a promotion that wasn’t to its partnership class. The Lawbook regrets the error.
Dispute Over Settlement Terms Leads to New Trial in 2019 Crane Collapse Case Against Greystar, Bigge
One week into an August trial, the real estate developer and crane rental company reached a settlement agreement with plaintiffs over the crane collapse onto a Dallas apartment complex. Or so they thought. A conflict over the settlement terms has prompted the case to return to court, and another trial date has been set.
In W&T’s Fight with Insurers over $250M Collateral Demands, Jurisdiction, V&E’s Representation Questioned
Recent developments in the dispute stemming from new Federal Bureau of Ocean Management bond rules targeting offshore energy companies include a question of whether the case belongs in federal court and if Vinson & Elkins should be allowed to represent two insurers after previously representing W&T for nearly a decade.
Gibson Dunn Names Newly Promoted Texas Partners
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has admitted five new Texas lawyers to its partnership. The Los Angeles-founded firm, which has about 180 lawyers in Dallas and Houston, made the announcement Wednesday.
Litigation Roundup: Omni Gets New Trial in $25M Sex Discrimination Suit
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, Whataburger hires Holland & Knight to defend a patent infringement lawsuit in East Texas, and DLA Piper turns to a team from Vinson & Elkins to defend it in a legal malpractice lawsuit in Harris County over its alleged employment of a “fake lawyer.”
Beck Redden, Bracewell, Winston, Yetter Coleman Announce Partner Promotions
Twenty-two corporate law firms operating in Texas have announced their partner promotions — 112 in all — for the 2024-25 season. Four more firms announced their new partnership ranks.