Winter Storm Fern left a historic trail of damage across more than 30 states, affecting an estimated 230 million Americans. With a predicted six more weeks of winter ahead, property owners face a critical window to protect both their physical assets and their legal rights to insurance recovery. This guide outlines essential actions for business owners navigating the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern.
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Coterra Energy to Merge with Devon Energy to Create $58B Shale Giant
Skadden and Gibson Dunn advised the two companies on the merger, which would create one of the largest shale oil producers in the Delaware Basin. The Texas Lawbook‘s Jason Philyaw has the details.
Nine Energy Hires Kirkland and KRCL for Chapter 11 Restructuring
Houston-based Nine Energy Services and eight of its affiliated businesses filed Sunday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Southern District of Texas.
2025 DFW Corp. Counsel Award Winners: ‘It Was a Challenging Year’
Brinker, Children’s Health, Comerica, Energy Transfer, Match, PGA, Schwab, Solo Brands and Trintech were the big winners Thursday night at the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards. Eight of the 14 award categories, including Business Litigation of the Year, M&A Transaction of the Year and Corporate Legal Department of the Year, featured multiple finalists, with judges describing them as photo finishes. More than 360 of the most prominent general counsel, senior in-house counsel and law firm partners celebrated the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards at the George W. Bush Institute. This was the ninth year that the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook partnered on the awards event.
Weil Opens New Austin Office as Firm Now Has Three in Texas
When Weil brought intellectual property trial veteran Jeff Homrig back to the firm in August, there was speculation that the notable summer lateral would be its opportunity to open an Austin office. Six months later to the day, it’s official: Weil has a new office in Central Texas, its third in the state, the firm announced early Monday morning in a news release.
The new office will offer commercial litigation and corporate practices, with IP litigation serving as its initial focus, according to the firm.
Comerica Closes $10.9B Merger, Wins DFW Corp. Counsel Award for M&A Transaction of the Year
Fifth Third Bank’s merger with Dallas-based Comerica was a complex mega-transaction put extraordinary pressure on the Comerica legal department, which was already being pushed to the limit on other matters. But the $10.9 billion transaction announced on Oct. 6 officially closed this morning at 12:02 a.m., a mere four months after the deal was announced. Citing their extraordinary accomplishments, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook this past Thursday night honored the Comerica legal department and its outside counsel at Wachtell Lipton with the 2025 DFW M&A Transaction of the Year.
Premium Subscriber Q&A: Comerica Deputy General Counsel Hope Schall
Hope Schall was part of the Comerica legal team that won the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for M&A Transaction of the Year related to the bank’s $10.9 billion merger with Fifth Third Bank. In this Q&A with The Texas Lawbook, she discusses the traits she seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working with her and more.
Premium Subscriber Q&A: Comerica Deputy General Counsel Nicole Gersch
Nicki Gersch was part of the Comerica legal team that won the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for M&A Transaction of the Year related to the bank’s $10.9 billion merger with Fifth Third Bank. In this Q&A with The Texas Lawbook, she discusses the traits she seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working with her and more.
Premium Subscriber Q&A: Comerica Division General Counsel Steve Franklin
Steve Franklin was part of the Comerica legal team that won the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for M&A Transaction of the Year related to the bank’s $10.9 billion merger with Fifth Third Bank. In this Q&A with The Texas Lawbook, he discusses the traits he seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working with him and more.
Premium Subscriber Q&A: Comerica Deputy GC General Counsel Ashley Fincher
Ashley Fincher was part of the Comerica legal team that won the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for M&A Transaction of the Year related to the bank’s $10.9 billion merger with Fifth Third Bank. In this Q&A with The Texas Lawbook, she discusses the traits she seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working with her and more.