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My Five Favorite Books: Jennifer Rodriguez (Head of Legal at Half Price Books)

Pulling this list together was harder than expected. My book choices vary greatly — from chick lit rom-coms to biographies to thrillers. I love a book that doesn’t make me think. I’m a lawyer — I have to think a lot. So it’s sometimes nice to just read something light and mindless. That said, what this exercise taught me is that I am really drawn to books that weave storylines together and pull me in enough that I get to the “just one more chapter” stage. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. And, if you happen to come by Half Price Books’ flagship store in Dallas to grab one of these books, let me know! My office is right upstairs.

Editor’s note: The Texas Lawbook is pleased to launch this new column in partnership with Texas-based Half Price Books sharing our readers’ favorite reads.

Forging Trial-Ready Lawyers — Inside Haynes Boone’s Inaugural Trial Academy

In a legal era dominated by discovery, summary judgments and settlements, trial experience has become increasingly rare yet increasingly valuable. Haynes Boone is betting on deep, deliberate, in-house trial training to bridge the readiness gap of a generation of lawyers more familiar with Zoom hearings than the well of a courtroom. The inaugural HB Trial Academy brought together 16 lawyers from eight of the firm’s 19 offices for three high-impact days of instruction, hands-on workshops and live mock trials judged by seasoned Haynes Boone litigators.

Litigation Roundup: Challenge to ‘Death Star Bill’ Implodes 

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a professional gambler is accused of running a $9 million Ponzi scheme, a few cities challenging the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act are dealt a loss on appeal, and the Kentucky attorney general taps a Dallas law firm to help bring a consumer protection lawsuit against shopping website Temu. 

GlobalFoundries to Pay Katana Silicon Technologies $9.2M

Katana Silicon Technologies in 2022 filed suit against GlobalFoundries, alleging infringement of patents covering microscopic devices related to semiconductor manufacturing and chip packaging technologies. An Austin jury found for Katana on one of three claims.

‘Going to Do What’s Right:’ ACC San Antonio Ethics Award Winner Christine Reinhard on a Career Defined by Integrity 

Christine E. Reinhard, co-founder of San Antonio-based labor and employment law firm Schmoyer Reinhard, was honored with the ACC San Antonio Lee Cusenbary Ethical Life and Leadership Award in the private lawyer category. Launching her firm during the Great Recession, Reinhard prioritized integrity, transparency and client service – values rooted in her upbringing and reinforced by her law partner, Shannon Schmoyer. Today, their firm is believed to be the largest women-owned law firm in San Antonio and a leader in ethical legal practice.

Dorsey & Whitney’s New Managing Partner Has Texas Ties and Big Plans

Earlier this month, Peter Nelson began his three-year term as Managing Partner of Minneapolis-based Dorsey & Whitney. With 17 years at the firm, Nelson played a key role in expanding Dorsey’s presence, helping to integrate new market locations such as Dallas, which launched in early 2017 with attorneys — including Larry Makel, Gina Betts and Jamie Whatley — from what was then the Dallas office of Schiff Hardin. The Texas Lawbook recently talked to Nelson about Texas being a critical market for the firm’s current and future growth.

CDT Roundup: Tech Titans, Crypto Surges and Old School Deals Meet Bold Moves

The week ending July 18 saw 14 deals for $6 billion dollars. The week prior saw 15 deals for $13 billion and there were 15 deals for $16 billion reported during the same week last year. But consider the actual deals and you begin to sense a difference: a $25 billion data center deal that probably will be but really isn’t yet; a flurry of placements aimed at flipping the switch on crypto assets; an IPO for a Japanese AI-driven HR platform whose goal is to be a lawyer.

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