Lawyers at Jackson Walker never told lawyers at Kirkland & Ellis that one of its bankruptcy partners was having a secret romantic relationship with former Houston Bankruptcy Judge David Jones and that Kirkland would have taken action to make the couple’s cohabitation public if he had known about it, one of Kirkland’s top bankruptcy lawyers told the U.S. Trustee’s office in a recent deposition.
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P.S. — SPCA and Jones Day: 2024 DFW Creative Partnership of the Year
Jones Day construction litigation partner Joseph Van Asten, the dad to two rescue dogs, was looking for a pro bono project earlier this year. Chris Luna, former T-Mobile chief counsel-turned-CEO of SPCA needed a large corporate law firm with experience in several different practice areas. The result: The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are honoring SPCA’s Luna and Jones Day with the 2024 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for Creative Partnership. During the past year, Jones Day has had 10 different lawyers work more than 200 pro bono hours on seven different matters for the SPCA, including drafting and negotiating construction agreements for the SPCA expansion project, providing advice on SPCA’s corporate bylaws and corporate governance issues and advising the nonprofit on its trademark portfolio. This is how the partnership came together.
Panel’s Dismissal of Texas’ Suit Against Google Sets Stage for SCOTX Review
In an 18-page ruling issued Thursday, Chief Justice Jaime Tijerina and Justices Clarissa Silva and Lionel Aron Peña Jr. held that the lawsuit — alleging Google violated state law when it made certain representations about how user location information and browsing history data is collected — cannot proceed in Texas courts.
Constellation Energy Acquires Houston’s Calpine Corporation for $26.6B
In one of the largest ever green energy generation transactions, Constellation Energy has agreed to acquire Calpine Corporation, a Houston-based natural gas and geothermal energy provider taken private by Energy Capital Partners in 2018. Lawyers from Kirkland, Gibson Dunn, Latham and White & Case are advising on the deal.
Dallas Judge Finds Khoury, Shamoun’s ‘Improper and Incurable Jury Argument’ Mandates New Trial
Earlier this week, Dallas County District Judge Gena Slaughter issued a four-page order finding that the arguments made by defense lawyers Stephen A. Khoury and C. Gregory Shamoun in front of a Dallas County jury deciding a fraudulent transfer case were “improper and incurable.” But Khoury and Shamoun told The Texas Lawbook this week they are “shocked” by the finding and argue Judge Slaughter’s order is “inaccurate and incorrect.”
Johnson & Johnson Cleared of Causation in Mesothelioma Trial, But Jury Still Attempts to Award $22M in Punitive Damages
A Pittsburgh jury returned a confusing verdict Monday in a mesothelioma trial involving Texas lawyers on both sides. Jurors handed a defense verdict to the pharmaceutical giant but went on to answer questions about punitive damages that they shouldn’t have. J&J is nevertheless claiming the verdict as vindication.
Thompson Coburn Taps Ex-Federal Prosecutor for Partner
Errin Martin, an assistant U.S. attorney of 17 years, has joined Thompson Coburn’s Dallas office, the firm announced Monday. A former chief of the national security cyber section in the Northern District of Texas, Martin boosts the firm’s business litigation and white collar defense and investigations practice groups.
Labor, Employment, M&A, Tax and Energy — What to Expect in the Second Trump Administration
In a recent CLE event hosted by The Texas Lawbook and the Houston chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, lawyers from Bracewell, Talen Energy and Vopak gathered to discuss various topics related to the different areas they are keeping a keen eye on as the change of presidential administrations inches closer to the Jan. 20 inauguration date.
Landry’s Trademark Trial Kicks Off in Houston
Opening statements were made Wednesday afternoon in the case that pits billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s Landry’s against Landry Distilling, a company that launched in Austin in 2021 and sells bourbon and rye whiskey featuring quarter horses on the bottle.
Greystar Accused of Fraud, Breach in Suit Over Management of Dog-Centric Apartment Concept in Grapevine
The 119-page lawsuit brings claims for breach of contract, professional negligence, fraud, fraudulent inducement, fraud by nondisclosure, fraud by concealment, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, business disparagement, and seeks indemnification.