In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the dispute between ExxonMobil and two activist shareholders could be over, the battle between Yelp and Texas over pregnancy crisis center disclaimers continues and the Fifth Circuit agrees that a discrimination lawsuit against Lockheed Martin was rightfully tossed.
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Clifford Chance Gains Environmental Expert Ty’Meka Reeves-Sobers
The Magic Circle firm announced the addition of two partners from Kirkland & Ellis on Monday, including Houston-based Reeves-Sobers.
Dylan Drummond Makes Cross-state Move, Joins Langley & Banack as Equity Shareholder
The veteran appellate lawyer shared with The Lawbook how he handles aggressive lawyer tactics and discussed the highly controversial legal battle he was proud to have a role in. The move to Langley & Banack positions Drummond to work with other appellate lawyers he says he’s long admired.
CDT: 2024 Capital Markets Transactions
Below is a list of qualified capital markets transactions reported to The Texas Lawbook during 2024. The list is organic, designed to grow as deals are reported. So if you have deals
Corporate Deal Tracker: 2024 M&A Transactions
Below is a list of qualified M&A transactions reported to The Texas Lawbook for 2024. The list is organic, designed to grow as needed. So if you have deals that qualify or
Vartabedian & Hester Announces New Name Partner, New Offices, 2 More Additions
The energy-focused team from Alston & Bird that launched a new firm in Fort Worth late last month has added Craig Haynes from Holland & Knight to become Vartabedian, Hester & Haynes. The firm has also officially opened an office in Dallas and is in the process of opening an office in West Texas.
Steptoe, Blank Rome Add Litigators to Houston Offices
The firms announced new hires Monday to their Houston offices. Claudia Wilson Frost comes to Steptoe from Orrick, while Audrey F. Momanaee leaves Balch & Bingham for Blank Rome.
SCOTX Answers Fifth Circuit’s Prompt Payment Question in Favor of Insurer
The court heard oral arguments in October in Rodriguez v. Safeco Insurance Company, a case that that asked the court to interpret a state insurance law as it related to recovery of attorney fees. “Rather than speculate about whether the Legislature intended recovery of attorney’s fees to be likely, unlikely, or impossible, we should instead stick with the bedrock principle that the Legislature intends the courts to follow its instructions as written,” Justice Jimmy Blacklock wrote for the unanimous court. “In this instance, the Legislature has required the use of a mathematical formula that yields zero attorney’s fees in cases like Rodriguez’s.”
Fifth Circuit Knocks $366M Judgment Against FedEx Down to $248K
Jennifer Harris’ attorney, Brian Sanford of Sanford Firm, told The Lawbook he plans to appeal the ruling either by seeking rehearing en banc at the Fifth Circuit or by petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. Harris was awarded $366 million, including $365 in punitive damages, by a jury that rejected her claim of racial discrimination but did find that Harris’ firing was retaliatory.
P.S. — A CMO Honored, An Allied Mixer, A 50th Birthday for LSC
This week’s edition of P.S. features new board leadership at the Dallas LGBT+ Bar Association, an Austin-based chief marketing officer who recently won an award from the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association, an upcoming mixer involving Dallas-area allied bar associations and the judiciary, and a group of Texas lawyers — including top-ranking lawyers at American Airlines and Energy Transfer — who were recently recognized by Legal Services Corporation for their contributions to pro bono work at the state legal aid organizations that LSC funds.
Plus: info on the North Texas charity Carrington Coleman donated thousands of diapers to last year.