The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook announce two winners and two finalists for the 2023 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for Senior Counsel of the Year. Corporate legal departments and law firms submitted more than 60 nominations in 13 different categories for this year’s DFW Corporate Counsel Awards, which recognize the successes and leadership demonstrated by in-house counsel in North Texas. During the past week, The Lawbook has announced finalists for M&A Deal of the Year, Corporate Secretary/Legal Counselor of the Year, Pro Bono and Public Service and Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion. The full details on the finalists are in The Lawbook.
More Stories
Prominent PE Dealmaker Sarah McLean Leaves Shearman for Willkie
The attorney has more than 20 years of experience advising private equity funds and management teams on high profile deals across the energy sector. EnCap Flatrock Midstream is one of her regular clients.
Matador Resources, MoneyGram, Pioneer Natural Resources Finalists for DFW Corporate Counsel Awards
In a year of huge M&A deals, in-house lawyers at Pioneer Natural Resources, MoneyGram and Matador Resources stood out. The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook announce that the two finalists for the 2023 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for M&A Deal of the Year are Matador Resources and MoneyGram. ACC-DFW and The Lawbook also announce that Pioneer Natural Resources’s Akshar Patel is the sole finalist and recipient of the 2023 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for Corporate Secretary/Legal Counselor of the Year.
CDT Roundup: 17 Deals, 12 Firms, 99 Lawyers, $14.6B
Energy transition is proving itself more complicated than expected, and legacy energy more durable. Whether upstream or midstream, energy M&A in 2023 managed to endure the diverse pressures of war, politics, inflation and price volatility to emerge, as TPH&Co., the energy business of boutique bankers Perella Weinberg, describes it: “more important and dynamic than ever.” This week’s CDT Roundup looks at their interesting year-end reflections, along with 17 deals reported during the final week of the year, as well as the firms and lawyers who worked on them.
Expert Voices: Fifth Circuit’s Proposed Generative AI Rule — A Rule Without a Cause?
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is considering a new certification requirement about the use of generative artificial intelligence. While the proposed rule is thoughtful and well-intentioned, it is largely redundant of existing rules and may invite satellite litigation that interferes with legitimate use of AI to provide quality client service.
Kaplan, Others Depart SKV, Launch Murphy Ball Stratton
A team of former partners at Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, including cofounder Lee Kaplan, have departed the boutique to launch a new firm, Murphy Ball Stratton. Members of the new firm, according to its website, are Land Murphy, Dane Ball, Michelle Stratton and Lee Kaplan.
Biggest Texas Verdicts of 2023
The types of cases that topped the list of damages awards in Texas this year were varied, but some of the usual suspects, like patent cases in the state’s Eastern and Western districts, occupy four of the Top 10 spots. Jurors in Harris County awarded damages totaling nearly $2 billion in three cases on the Top 10 list, and Jurors in the Western District doled out awards taking three of the Top 10 spots, totaling $857.7 million.
Top 10 Texas Legal News for 2023
Nearly every headline-gripping news item we read last year had a legal tie, from the mysterious missing animals at the Dallas Zoo to the historical impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Many of the stories that made this list will be drawn out in 2024. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, for example, could still be compelled to submit DNA testing to determine if he is the biological father of a woman who works as an aide to U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson of Amarillo. And the criminal case for the Houston man accused of killing Migos rapper Takeoff is scheduled to go to trial this year.
Publisher’s note: This content is premium subscriber thought leadership and is published outside of our paywall.
Pro Bono and DEI Awards Go to Counsel at Nexstar Media, Toyota
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook received dozens of nominations for the 2023 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards, which recognize the successes and leadership demonstrated by in-house counsel in North Texas. ACC-DFW and The Lawbook put together an independent group of judges to review the nominations and select the best of the best in 13 categories. During the next 10 days, The Lawbook and ACC-DFW will announce the finalists for GC of the Year, Senior Counsel of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Business Litigation of the Year, M&A Deal of the Year, Corporate Secretary/Legal Advisor of the Year and Lifetime Achievement.
P.S. — New DHBA Leadership, New VA Program Benefiting Homeless Vets
In the last edition of P.S. for 2023, the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program announces January dates for pro bono legal clinics, Witherite Law Group donates tens of thousands to support families and seniors in need during the holidays, the VA rolls out a new program supporting homeless veterans (or those facing homelessness) and the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association announces its 2024 president and other new leadership.