Many litigants feel that Sept. 1 can’t come fast enough, and with it the promise to usher in a new era for high-stakes Texas commercial litigation. But others are quick to caution that, for all the anticipation, plenty of open questions remain. One way or another, every lawyer advising on a new contract that potentially qualifies for dispute resolution in the business court may confront the same question: Should we push for a forum selection clause that preemptively agrees to have new disputes heard in the new court?
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Akin Lands CapM Partner from Kirkland
Bryan Flannery is the fourth corporate partner lateral recruit to Akin’s Houston office over the last two months. He has advised on multiple billion-dollar deals this quarter.
Landfill Dispute Returned to District Court Minus Fair Market Value Claim
The Texas Supreme Court kept alive the lawsuit filed by Travis Central Appraisal District over a landfill’s slashed property valuation but returned the case to the district court on substantially narrowed grounds. The court sided with Texas Disposal System in removing the appraiser’s fair market value claim but will allow market value evidence to be heard. The tax dispute centers on an unusual property that also houses exotic animals and hosts private parties.
Divided Court Wipes Out Dentist’s $16M Medicaid Fraud Penalty
During oral arguments, much of the court’s questioning centered around whether Texas had proven scienter, or that Dr. Richard Malouf knew he was violating the statute when he submitted 1,842 claims for reimbursement, which is required for the judgment against Malouf to stand. But that was not the issue that carried the day for Malouf.
McKool Smith Announces Summer Bonuses
Litigation boutique McKool Smith kicked off the 2024 summer battle for talent this week by announcing four- and five-digit bonuses to its lawyers who have worked the most time on client matters.
Houston Restructuring Pro James Grogan Joins GT
Grogan, who moves to Greenberg Traurig from Paul Hastings, has guided several cryptocurrency firms through Chapter 11 in recent years.
Holland & Knight Recruits Tax Partner from Kirkland
Holland & Knight announced Thursday that Ryan Phelps, a 2016 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, has joined its Tax, Executive Compensation and Benefits Practice Group.
Bell Nunnally Adds Real Estate Partner Spencer Diebel
Diebel was most recently a senior attorney at Munsch Hardt. He said he has long been impressed with attorneys at Bell Nunnally and wanted to be part of “creating something special.”
Houston Finance Partner Returns to Norton Rose Fulbright
Energy finance lawyer Daniel Tristan has rejoined the firm where he has spent the majority of his career.
P.S. — A Pledge to Help Students, An Immigrant-Oriented Public Defender System Gaining Notice
This week’s P.S. features the winners of two ABA awards that recognize outstanding public defenders and other public sector lawyers and details on a Dallas law firm’s hefty batch of higher education scholarships being distributed to students in DFW, Chicago and Atlanta to the collective tune of nearly $900,000.