In this edition of Asked & Answered, Gibbs & Bruns partner Caitlin Halpern recalls a first trial that came together in 48 hours and a parole win that ended in a hurricane. She also talks about the rise of the Texas Business Court and the pop playlist that gets her ready for the trial.
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Akerman Adds Former Texas Securities Regulator to Austin Litigation Team
Ronak Patel spent 14 years at the Texas State Securities Board, where he helped lead auction-rate securities investigations and took part in global settlement talks that Akerman says delivered about $50 billion in relief for investors. Now a litigation partner in Austin, he says he brings a regulator’s view of enforcement to his work with financial services clients.
Energy Boom to Space Race: The Stellar Career of Hillary Holmes
In a wide-ranging interview, Gibson Dunn capital-markets leader Hillary Holmes takes Texas Lawbook subscribers inside a career that placed her at the center of SpaceX’s historic public offering this year. But that is only the latest chapter in a much deeper Texas story that charts her rise from the Houston “deal room” of her childhood to one of the country’s top corporate lawyers, known for her instinct to see beyond the transactions themselves.
Kelley Drye Enhances State Attorneys General and Corporate Practices in Texas
Looking to address increased client demand in state attorney general enforcement and energy infrastructure development, Kelley Drye bolstered its Texas ranks this week with the addition of Steven Robinson, a veteran of the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and corporate partner Christina Hightower.
Norton Rose Fulbright Adds Austin Healthcare Litigation Partner
The firm says Tim Ribelin adds “meaningful depth” to its managed care litigation practice as providers are under increased pressure.
Senate Confirms Judges for SDTX, NDTX
The U.S. Senate confirmed Angela Colmenero as federal judge for the Southern District of Texas Wednesday with a 50-47 vote, succeeding Judge Lee H. Rosenthal. The Senate also confirmed Kasdin Mitchell as federal judge for the Northern District of Texas Friday with a 49-45 vote. She is succeeding Judge Barbara Lynn.
Tarrant County Jury Awards $24M to State of Washington
A Tarrant County jury unanimously awarded the state of Washington $24 million in damages in a fraudulent transfer and veil piercing case against two affiliated Frisco-based wealth advisory businesses.
Vericast Deputy GC, Jackson Walker Partner Honored for Ethical Life, Leadership
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s San Antonio Chapter and The Texas Lawbook announced Wednesday that Vericast Deputy General Counsel Shelayne Clemmer and Jackson Walker partner Robert Soza, Jr. are the recipients of the prestigious 2026 C. Lee Cusenbary Ethical Life and Leadership Award, one of the most coveted honors in the San Antonio legal community.
Pro Bono Team Notches Win in Texas Prisons Air Conditioning Suit
A pro bono team of lawyers who went to trial seeking air conditioning in Texas prisons notched a major win Tuesday when U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled that the state’s un-air-conditioned prisons violate the Eighth Amendment and ordered Texas to install air conditioning throughout its prison system by the end of 2029.
Baker Botts Brings Schlackman On Board in Houston
Baker Botts said Mark Schlackman has counseled clients in conventional and renewable power deals, as well as midstream and downstream oil and gas transactions, and “has built a reputation for moving complex projects forward while keeping a client’s broader commercial objectives in view.”