O’Melveny & Myers lawyers have joined Plano-based First Liberty Institute on a federal lawsuit accusing the city of Santa Ana, California, of violating a Chinese- and Taiwanese-American Christian church’s religious liberty rights. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the Central District of California, accuses the city of violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, as well as the First Amendment. O’Melveny is working on the case pro bono.
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Former U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton Joining Dykema in Dallas
As a partner in the firm, she said, she will work to expand its white-collar and government compliance practice as well as doing appellate work.
Baker Botts Adds Veteran Austin-Based Energy Partner
Baker Botts announced that Ann Coffin, an Austin-based energy lawyer, has joined as a partner in its global projects practice. Coffin joins Baker Botts after most recently spending over 15 years as a founding partner and shareholder at Austin’s Coffin Renner.
Litigation Roundup: Defamation Case Against Houston Boutique Firm Gets Tossed
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, we have details on the outcome of a discrimination lawsuit brought by a Black attorney in Houston who alleges he was kicked out of a bar at the Post Oak Hotel for wearing a “[Mark] Lanier 6.0 Trial Academy Master Class” hat, Whirlpool gets a $25 million trademark infringement win in the Eastern District of Texas, and the Texas Supreme Court passes on hearing a case involving the Judicial Branch Certification Commission’s regulation of licensed court reporters.
Privacy Developments to Watch in 2025
2024 continued the inexorable march toward state-level comprehensive privacy laws and the conspicuous lack at the federal level. Yet, an assumption that this treatment of comprehensive privacy legislation meant business as usual belies a change that saw privacy as a new battleground.
Sidley Austin Adds Houston Energy Partner From Paul Hastings
Sidley Austin has announced that Paris Theofanidis in Houston has joined its firm as a partner in its energy, transportation and infrastructure practice.
Holland & Knight Adds Veteran Austin M&A, PE Partner From Greenberg Traurig
Holland & Knight announced that it has added Ronald Skloss to its team as an Austin-based partner working within its corporate M&A and private equity practice.
Transocean Injury Plaintiffs Ask Justices to Remove AZA as Defense Counsel
Plaintiffs firm Arnold & Itkin has appealed a Harris County trial judge’s decision that allowed the law firm Ahmad Zavitsanos & Mensing to stay on as defense counsel to Transocean in multidistrict litigation stemming from offshore workers’ injuries, arguing the ruling was “in error” and “an abuse of discretion.”
Judge Recommends Ending Disciplinary Action Against Jackson Walker
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal is recommending closing a proceeding that was initiated to determine whether Jackson Walker should face any disciplinary action for its failure to disclose a romantic relationship between its former bankruptcy partner and a sitting bankruptcy judge. The order came about four months after the case was randomly assigned to her court.
North Texas Jail Alters Mail Procedures After Lawsuit Alleging Censorship of Inmate Reading Materials
The Human Rights Defense Center is suing Grayson County and its sheriff, claiming the facility’s rejection of books, magazines and other materials sent to inmates violates the organization’s First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The county and the sheriff told the court it has adjusted its mail intake procedures after a hearing on a preliminary injunction.