In this edition of Litigation Roundup, we have the details on a $60.6 million Tarrant County jury award, Oncor beats back a $10 million jury award on appeal in Dallas and the Department of Justice accuses an Austin man who founded a beverage company of swindling investors.
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BakerHostetler Will Ring in New Year with a Texas Expansion
BakerHostetler announced Tuesday that it will kick off 2025 in style by opening its 18th office nationwide and its third in Texas, which will include adding ten transactional lawyers from Locke Lord, including longtime partner Cynthia Bast, who will lead the new office.
Macquarie to Pay $2.4B for 40% Stake in Dow Gulf Coast Assets; Sidley, Linklaters Advise
Assets to be included in a newly-created partnership, Diamond Infrastructure Solutions, involve power and steam production, pipelines and general industrial site infrastructure in Freeport and Seadrift, in Texas and Plaquemine and St. Charles in Louisiana, along with pipeline and storage assets adjacent to NGL and olefin hubs.
Hilda Galvan Seeks to ‘Leverage Experience and Passion to Drive Meaningful Change’
For three decades, Hilda Galvan has established herself as one of the most successful IP litigators in the U.S. and a highly respected leader in the legal profession. She has won huge cases for IBM, Charles Schwab, OnStar, Motorola and Compass Bank. After nearly three decades at global legal giant Jones Day — including a decade as the managing partner of its Dallas office — Galvan has decided to step away to “seek new opportunities to make an impact.”
“I plan to dedicate my efforts to consulting with technology startups, joining corporate boards and deepening my involvement in nonprofit boards and community engagement,” Galvan told The Texas Lawbook. “This allows me to leverage my experience and passion in ways that will drive meaningful change.”
CDT Roundup: 16 Deals, 10 Firms, 231 Lawyers, $4.8B
In the year that will soon be past, the sheer volume of energy-related, or energy-adjacent transactions are worth noting. Whether in O&G per se, data center energy demands or the more mundane multitude of PE acquisitions in HVAC manufacturing and service companies, the sides seem okay with the value. So, we weren’t that surprised by the November findings of the semi-annual Haynes Boone Borrowing Base Redeterminations Survey. The CDT Roundup takes a look at the details, along with the usual run-down of the week’s M&A deals and the lawyers behind them.
Law Professors Talk Possible Jackson Walker Defenses in Bankruptcy Fee Litigation
Two law professors recently shared their thoughts in interviews with The Texas Lawbook on what defenses Jackson Walker is likely to raise in litigation where the U.S. Trustee is attempting to claw back millions in fees awarded to the firm in cases where David Jones served as a mediator or judge. Jones resigned his bench last year after a secret romantic relationship with a former Jackson Walker bankruptcy professor came to light.
P.S.: Join the Joy: Texas Lawyers Help Those Less Fortunate
Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa had the “Three Bs,” and now The Texas Lawbook has the “Three Ps” — public service, pro bono and positive press. Bracewell, O’Melveny & Myers, Haynes Boone and Yetter Coleman are the first four law firms in Texas to provide information on their efforts to help those in need during the holidays. The details of their initiatives are included in this week’s P.S. column. Please send us the good work you are doing and thank you for the other firms that have sent us their efforts. They will be included in next week’s P.S. column.
Former Colleagues Surprise Hecht at Final Argument
Retiring Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht was greeted by 17 former judicial colleagues and many other well-wishers as he heard his final case. Some of those gathered now sit on federal benches, while others have thriving private practices. All expressed gratitude for his service. (Photo courtesy Supreme Court of Texas)
California Trucking Firm Files Bankruptcy in Houston
In its bankruptcy petition, Kal Freight cites between $100 million and $500 million in liabilities and provides the same range for its assets. Houston lawyer Benjamin Lawrence Wallen of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones along with lawyers from the firm’s New York and California offices are listed as Kal Freight’s lead legal advisors.
Haynes Boone Announces New Texas Partners
The Dallas-based firm announced Thursday that it is promoting 15 lawyers to partner — nine of them in Texas — in eight different offices, including Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio. It is the second largest class of partner promotions in the firm’s history.