A Dallas homeowner who is prohibited from selling her Habitat for Humanity home for more than $160,000 was twice taxed based on appraisals valuing the house at nearly double that amount. Haynes Boone lawyers handling the matter pro bono recently secured an agreed judgment requiring the Dallas Central Appraisal District to recognize the home’s deed restriction when determining its taxable value, ending a dispute the attorneys say threatened to undermine the purpose of affordable home ownership programs.
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Kirkland Texas Amps Up the Deal Machine (All the Way to 11)
The Kirkland & Ellis Texas team did not need long to make its case this week with a Texas Triangle deal blitz stretching from Canada to West Texas. In less than 24 hours, the firm’s public relations team, almost as busy as its deal team, rolled out a rapid-fire run of transactions involving its Austin, Dallas and Houston dealmakers.
Here’s What the 5th Court of Appeals Financial Disclosure Forms Show
Stocks in technology companies and reimbursements are among the financial interests detailed in the 5th Court of Appeals justices’ financial disclosure forms for the past year. The Texas Lawbook made an open records request for the forms of the 13 sitting justices.
A Front-Row View of Texas Corporate Law’s Evolution: From the First TBOC Drafts to ‘DExit’ and ‘Y’all Street’
The recent phenomena of “DExit” reincorporations of Delaware corporations to Texas and the development of “Y’all Street” have highlighted the benefits of the Texas Business Organizations Code. The TBOC is the work product over the course of three decades by a dedicated group of volunteer Texas lawyers. Where did the TBOC come from?
Houston Litigator Daniel Mayerfeld Joins Blank Rome
Daniel Mayerfeld, a business litigation partner, has joined Blank Rome in Houston from Skadden. He will focus his practice on complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on high-stakes energy and commercial disputes.
Asked & Answered with Bell Nunnally’s Heath Cheek: State Fair & Texas Business Court Working Group
In this edition of Asked & Answered, Bell Nunnally partner Heath Cheek discusses his first trial and trial prep. He also shares how he got involved with the State Fair of Texas and how it became a piece of home for him in Dallas.
Sober as a Judge: One Year Without a Drink, and What Came Back
For most of my career, drinking wasn’t a problem I had. It was a skill I was known for. I did my law school homework in the back booth of a pub. I’ve recruited lawyers over long dinners, courted reporters over scotch and raised the seed money for a nonprofit around my backyard fire pit while a bottle of whiskey made the rounds. A friend once described me, fondly: “Mark may be the drunkest guy in the room by blood alcohol content, but he’ll appear as sober as a judge.” In our profession, that’s practically a letter of recommendation. Nobody worries about the lawyer who never slurs, never misses a deadline and outworks the room.
That is the trap, and it is our profession’s trap, specifically.
Judge’s Post-trial Recusal Throws Edgemere Dispute Into Limbo
After the attorneys argued their case at trial and submitted post-trial briefs to U.S. District Court Judge Ada Brown, she recused herself without explanation. Now, the attorneys may have to retry the case before a new judge. The bench trial between the trustee of a Dallas luxury senior living community and its landlord began in May.
Mark Cuban Withdraws Rule 202 Petition
Mark Cuban’s request to withdraw his Rule 202 petition was granted by Texas Business Court Judge Bill Whitehill without prejudice Monday. The case originated in the Dallas County District Court and was removed to the Texas Business Court last week.
Dallas Marina Operator Snaps Up MarineMax for $1.5B
Dallas-based Safe Harbor Marinas said on Aug. 10 that it has acquired MarineMax for $53 a share, or about $1.5 billion, in cash. MarineMax, based in Oldsmar, Florida, is a boat and yacht retailer that also provides superyacht services. Sidley Austin provided outside legal counsel to MarineMax, while Simpson Thacher advised Safe Harbor.