Chevron’s $53 billion acquisition of Hess remains in limbo despite FTC approval, which barred the son of Hess’ founder from a Chevron board seat due to antitrust concerns and alleged OPEC collusion. The merger’s fate hinges on an arbitration decision that could be announced soon with ExxonMobil over Hess’ stake in Guyana’s lucrative Stabroek Block. Meanwhile, CITGO, formerly Venezuelan-owned, saw a new winning bid in a Delaware court auction to settle expropriation claims.
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P.S. — Pro Bono Work Honored at State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting
Advancing access to justice in rural Texas, advocating for domestic violence survivors and ensuring Spanish speakers aren’t left out are among the pro bono initiatives for which lawyers and a judge were honored during the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting in San Antonio.
Dr Pepper Gets Win Ending $1B Distribution Rights Fight
When the relationship between Dr Pepper and Reyes — which dated back to the inking of an October 2017 exclusive licensing agreement — hit a snag, Dr Pepper filed a declaratory judgment action in Texas in April 2024, seeking a ruling it had a right to cancel the distribution deal, and two days later Reyes filed suit in California arguing Dr Pepper had breached the agreement.
Complications for ‘Die Hard’ Star’s Flight That Netted $1M Award Mostly Upheld by Fourth Court of Appeals
An action movie star’s chartered flight landed aviation companies in a nearly decadelong dispute. The Fourth Court of Appeals almost fully agreed with a San Antonio company, BMH Air, affirming most of a $1 million award.
DOJ, Boeing Respond to 737 Max Settlement Objections
The responses were filed July 2, after some families last month urged U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor to deny the motion to dismiss the government’s criminal fraud case against Boeing and appoint a special prosecutor to take over. The government sued Boeing in January 2021 in the wake of two plane crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.
Merit Street Media Hires Sidley to Lead Bankruptcy
Only two years after launching its operations, Dr. Phil McGraw-backed Merit Street Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Northern District of Texas. The Chapter 11 filing includes an adversarial complaint against Trinity Broadcasting. (File photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
Legislation Lowers Threshold Amount, Expands Jurisdiction of Business Court
In a few months, cases filed prior to Sept. 1, or before the business courts opened, can be transferred to the courts. Additionally, cases with $5 million in controversy can be filed in the business courts. Filings are expected to increase due to these changes.
Fifth Circuit’s SCOTUS Report Card: 3-8 This Term
Texas Lawbook research shows that, for the second year in a row, the judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit were among the most reversed jurists in the United States.
Willkie Adds Blake Winburne to its Houston Office
Winburne was global head of the energy and infrastructure group at Orrick where he worked for more than nine years. He has been named co-chair of Willkie’s energy and infrastructure practice.
Latham, Hunton AK Advise Chipmaker Wolfspeed in Chapter 11
In one of the largest corporate bankruptcies filed in 2025, North Carolina-based chipmaker Wolfspeed Inc. filed for Chapter 11 protection in the Southern District of Texas.