Arun Agarwal and his company AAVN own 10 patents for a process that turns cotton and cotton-polyester blend materials into luxury, high-thread-count bedsheets. In the latest battle to protect his intellectual property, Winstead attorney Cory Johnson won dismissal of a federal suit in North Carolina where a competitor was trying to invalidate all 10 patents.
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P.S. — A Gala to Support Texas Veterans, A Program to Stop Asian Hate
An upcoming gala will raise funds for low-income Texas veterans while an upcoming program will arm participants with knowledge to combat Asian hate. Natalie Posgate details both in this week’s P.S.
Secured Lenders Beware: Amarillo Court of Appeals Draws Line Between “Disposition” and “Transformation” of Collateral
In a case of first impression in Texas, a divided panel of the Amarillo Court of Appeals recently recognized a key distinction that should be carefully considered by any creditor relying on the PMSI exception — namely, there is a difference between the “disposition” and the “transformation” of collateral.
Susman Godfrey Turns 40, ‘Far and Away Our Best Year Ever’
When trial lawyer Steve Susman died unexpectedly in 2020, legal industry insiders wondered what would become of the firm he founded four decades ago. The verdict is in.
“We had a record year in revenues and profits in 2022,” Susman Godfrey co-managing partner Vineet Bhatia told The Texas Lawbook in an exclusive interview. “2022 was far and away our best year ever.”
Susman Godfrey does not release annual law firm financials. An analysis by The Texas Lawbook shows, however, that the firm has nearly 200 lawyers – 105 of them in Texas – and ranks in the top five in RPL and PEP. The Lawbook has the exclusive details.
SCOTX Chief Justice Gives State of Judiciary Address
Chief Justice Nathan Hecht spoke for almost 40 minutes Wednesday, supporting a variety of proposals that he said would increase court efficiencies, the caliber of judges and access to justice. “If the justice system were a business, and its customers had any choice, it would be in bankruptcy,” Hecht said.
Government Reaches $144.5M Proposed Settlement in Sutherland Springs Case
If approved by the court, the settlement would bring an end to litigation brought by more than 75 plaintiffs in the wake of the shooting that left 26 dead.
Middle-Market M&A Opportunities Abound in Texas Despite Broader Market Uncertainty
A Katten report shows that private equity dealmakers are split on the 2023 M&A outlook but see promise in technology and other sectors.
CDT Roundup: 21 Deals, 12 Firms, 178 Lawyers, $18.7B
That Texas has created an increasingly diverse economy is no secret. But the CDT Roundup this week notes something surprising: that Texas added more tech workers to its workforce in 2022 than any other state. What has that to do with dealmaking? Apparently, lots. Claire Poole takes a look at the rise in Texas-led tech deals that paralleled the rise in tech workers. Or was it vice versa? That, along with a look at the week in deals and the names of the 178 lawyers who worked on them.
Sidley Lands Winstead Bankruptcy Partner Rakhee Patel
As corporate mergers, acquisitions and capital market practices have slowed in Texas the past few months, the focus on business bankruptcies and restructurings has returned. And the Texas offices of Sidley Austin have made one of the first big lateral moves. Rakhee Patel confirmed Tuesday that she has left Winstead after seven years as a shareholder and joined Sidley this week as a partner in the firm’s Dallas office. The timing could not be better for Sidley.
Litigation Roundup: SCOTX Sides with Ex-Dallas Cowboy, Llano County Dealt a Book Ban Blow
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, an intermediate appellate court split widens regarding gross negligence claims, sanctions requested by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in a fight over unpaid attorney fees are upheld on appeal, and a federal judge undoes one Texas county’s book bans.