In a decision filed Thursday, the U.S. Fifth Circuit upheld the federal permitting for the Sea Port Oil Terminal project, a massive crude pipeline network and storage facility to be located off the Texas coast. The appeals court refused a demand by environmental groups that the U.S. Maritime Administration revisit the environmental impact of the project for its potential harm to the ecological balance in the Gulf of Mexico and the possible extinction of the endangered Rice’s whale.
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Kirkland’s Sarah Mallett on the SEC’s Whistleblower Efforts, Disclosures Involving AI and Challenges Facing the FWRO
In this Q&A with The Lawbook, Mallett discusses her time at the SEC, the challenges facing the SEC’s Fort Worth Regional Office, the SEC’s expansion of its whistleblower program and the impact on Texas businesses, and other SEC enforcement trends that impact companies and those in the financial investment world.
P.S. — A Legal Line, A New DRC Board Member, A CLE-Accredited Criminal Justice Talk
This edition of P.S. features a Barnes & Thornburg lawyer who joined an esteemed board of key business leaders in Dallas; an upcoming CLE that includes a conversation with a corporate lawyer turned criminal justice reformer who founded three nonprofits, achieved clemency for seven pro bono clients, did a TED Talk and wrote a memoir about her experience growing up with her mother behind bars; and upcoming dates in April when those in need of free legal services can receive pro bono legal advice by phone.
Other firms and corporate legal departments featured this week include Carrington Coleman, Southwest Airlines, Locke Lord, Haynes Boone, Jones Day, Match Group and Winstead.
Texas Lawbook Foundation Annual Report
The legal community in Texas is facing some huge issues in 2024 that require significant thought, in-depth research, strong leadership and an open discussion. There is the immigrant crisis on the border and how state, local and federal governments and the courts are handling it — or not handling it. Diversity and inclusion efforts have never been more important, more complicated or more controversial. Legal aid for the poor is at a critical stage, as veterans, single mothers, tenants and the elderly face significant perils without the assistance of lawyers. The need for a full-time reporter and writer covering pro bono, public service and diversity in the Texas legal profession has never been greater.
Fifth Circuit Hears Mining Companies’ Bid to Undo Pecan Farm’s Jury Win
Just east of Austin, Martin Marietta Materials and TXI Operations operate a sand and gravel mine on the banks of the Colorado River. Their neighbor across the river, on the northern bank, is Good River Farms, a 377-acre pecan farm containing about 8,000 trees that has been owned and operated by the Wimberly family since 1959. This lawsuit was spawned from a major rain event — described as a 120-year flood — that hit the area on Oct. 30, 2015.
Former U.S. Trustee Trial Attorney Goes to Ross, Smith & Binford
J. Casey Roy’s experience in regulatory and healthcare matters presents a “truly unique breadth of expertise,” firm partner Jason Binford said in announcing the lateral move. Roy also previously served as an assistant attorney general for Texas.
A New Shift in Candidate Assessments
Recent trends show that firms are facing a new wave of lawyers doing more due diligence of firms prior to accepting (and even rejecting) offers. While law firms scrutinize resumes of potential candidates, they may themselves be subject to deeper review.
Bloomberg Law: Alfredo Perez to be Next SDTX Bankruptcy Judge
If approved, Perez would join his former Weil Gotshal law partner, Judge Christopher Lopez, as one of the bankruptcy judges handling big cases in Houston.
Susman Godfrey’s 2023: The Best Financial Year Ever for a Texas Law Firm
Susman Godfrey co-managing partner Vineet Bhatia told The Texas Lawbook that the Houston-based firm “had a pretty good year in 2023.” In fact, it was the single best financial year for any law firm’s Texas operations in history. Texas Lawbook 50 data research shows that the 110 lawyers for Susman Godfrey in Texas doubled their revenue and nearly doubled their profits per partner over 2022. Keep in mind, 2022 was also a record financial year for the firm.
The firm’s Texas lawyers scored some monumental courtroom victories — most of them coming with hefty contingency fee paydays. Bhatia called it “an alignment of the stars” and added, “We had a lot of happy partners.”
FW SEC Office Penalizes NY Investment Firm $6.5M for Failure to Preserve Electronic Records
According to an SEC order, employees of Senvest Management, which oversees $3 billion in assets, repeatedly discussed company business in personal texts and other “off-channel” platforms in violation of federal securities laws.