Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of the last name of the man accused of insider trading. The Lawbook regrets the error.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed federal insider trading charges Thursday accusing a Houston man with using information he obtained from his wife, who worked in the M&A division at BP, to illegally profit from the British-based oil conglomerate’s $1.3 billion acquisition of TravelCenters of America one year ago.
Vinson & Elkins advised Chord and Latham & Watkins assisted Enerplus, a combination that analysts say will create a more formidable, acquisitive Williston-focused explorer and producer.
The jury that was selected last Monday and began deliberating that Friday took about two and a half hours to side with construction staffing company Harris Ventures, which does business as Staff Zone, in its dispute with landlord JM-RB Properties. The panel’s 10-2 decision awarded Staff Zone about $1.3 million in lost profits incurred when it was “constructively evicted” from the building it leased in Plano, plus $450,000 in attorney fees and about $150,000 to cover expert witness costs.
Former software engineer Austin Teng was previously a partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Austin.
In January the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two matters that could significantly change how federal courts are to review decisions made by federal agencies. Chevron deference has often allowed federal agencies to “fill gaps” and implement policy decisions where the statute may not be express. However, the issues before the Supreme Court in Loper Bright Enterprises and Relentless, Inc. call the doctrine’s viability into question.
Trulock shares her predictions on the impact of the upcoming presidential election, how Texas employment law has changed and her advice for younger lawyers.
Laura Alaniz was most recently at Porter Hedges. She is the fourth lawyer addition in Texas for Spencer Fane so far this year.
Todd Patterson of Patterson + Sheridan said the home of his firm’s eighth office is “one of America’s primary ‘cities of the future.’”
Dallas real estate partners Kevin Maguire and Nicole Karam have departed Spencer Fane to join Frost Brown Todd, the firm announced Tuesday.
A policy “pause” in the expansion of LNG exports announced late last month by the Biden Administration came as a shock to many. U.S. LNG exports are not only regarded as strategic help for Western allies following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but a viable climate-friendly alternative to coal. But life in the energy biz is never so simple, especially when it comes to fossil fuels. And this week’s CDT Roundup takes a quick look at the factors that seems to have led to the pause, and the potential it could have on Texas M&A. That, and the usual review of last week’s Texas-related corporate transactions.
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