In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a bankruptcy judge in Houston approves a $52 million insurance settlement for victims of factory explosion, the Texas Supreme Court adds several cases to its oral argument calendar and a Jackson Walker nets a win against the Federal Aviation Administration.
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ChatGPT as a Pocket B.S. Detector
ChatGPT can be a valuable tool to avoid the constant occupational hazard for litigators of “groupthink.” All of you have to do is ask it some simple questions and you’ve got the opposing point of view, well-explained. Here’s why I think of it as my “Pocket B.S. Detector.”
Legislative Debate Coming Over Need for Business Specialty Courts
Business groups plan a renewed push to create a separate system of trial and appeals courts to handle complex commercial litigation. A Texas House committee that studied the issue says the Texas Supreme Court first should follow through on a pandemic-delayed pilot program. The Texas Lawbook previews the coming battle and other judiciary and civil justice issues expected to be discussed during the 2023 legislative session.
Keurig Dr Pepper, MB2 Dental, Black Mountain Sand, OpTic Gaming Winners at 2022 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook announced the winners in four competitive categories – Business Litigation of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Senior Counsel of the Year for a Small Legal Department and General Counsel of the Year for a Solo Legal Department – and presented awards to in-house counsel in a dozen different categories.
P.S. — Dallas Legal Clinics Announced for Feb; A Bankruptcy Becomes Charitable — UPDATED
In this week’s P.S., Natalie Posgate highlights a sizable donation one firm and one company gave to the Houston Food Bank, upcoming free legal clinics in Dallas and a group of new sponsors of the Lawbook Foundation.
The Gifts of Mentorship
For Mentorship Month, Greenberg Traurig attorneys Lindsey Groos, who is a mid-level associate, and Lou Ann Brunenn, a shareholder, share perspectives from both sides of the mentee-mentor relationship.
Lawmakers to Consider Ending Mandatory Judicial Retirement Age
Currently, judges and justices in Texas are required by the state’s constitution to retire at age 75 in most instances. A legislator from Angleton has authored a resolution that would give voters an opportunity to amend the constitution and do away with that requirement.
Tuesday Morning’s GC Jennyfer Gray’s Life in the Fast Lane
Jennyfer Gray knows what it means to take it to the limit one more time. As interim general counsel of Tuesday Morning, Gray is helping lead the Dallas-based retailer through turbulent times. Facing severe economic challenges like most retailers, Tuesday Morning and Gray went through multiple financings and credit facilities, including a $110 million asset-based loan, and the transition to a new executive leadership team and corporate board. In recognition of Gray’s achievements, she is the recipient of the 2022 DFW Corporate Counsel Award recipient for General Counsel of the Year for a Small Legal Department.
Q&A: Jenny Gray of Tuesday Morning
For Premium Subscribers Tuesday Morning GC Jennyfer Gray shares about what she seeks in hiring outside counsel, diversity and pro bono. Texas Lawbook: What do you look for in hiring
Mark Berg & Barry Thomas: Improving Lives Across Texas
Barry Thomas and Mark Berg have many things in common. They’re both M&A lawyers by training. They’ve both handled multibillion-dollar deals in the oil patch together as high-ranking colleagues at Pioneer Natural Resources. Beyond their professional accolades, they’re both committed to public service. Berg has helped Dallas CASA significantly grow in order to achieve its goal of serving every abused and neglected child in need on the Dallas County child welfare docket. And Thomas volunteers his free time serving as general counsel of the Permian Strategic Partnership, a coalition of 20 oil and gas companies committed to improving the roads, workforce, healthcare, schools and housing of the rural West Texas and New Mexico communities that the Permian Basin encompasses.
What else do they have in common? Tonight, they’ll both will walk a stage in the George W. Bush Presidential Center to accept the 2022 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for Pro Bono and Public Service Award.