Texas dealmakers don’t do pessimism. There’s no point. Downtimes provoke creativity. Uptimes demand energy. And even during times of lean money markets, Texas seems to maintain an ample supply of both. As we move past a mediocre first half in 2023, the CDT Roundup looks at sources of optimism for what’s coming — with the assistance of a new report from Intralinks. And, course, there are the names of the Texas lawyers behind 18 deals reported last week.
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Q&A: Carolyn Benton Aiman at Sempra Infrastructure
During her three decade career, Carolyn Aiman practiced litigation at a national corporate law firm, handled employment law at former oil giant Texaco, served as managing counsel over corporate governance
Sempra Infrastructure CLO Carolyn Aiman: A Leader in ‘Extraordinary Times’
During her three decade career, Carolyn Aiman practiced litigation at a national corporate law firm, handled employment law at former oil giant Texaco, served as managing counsel over corporate governance and capital markets at global energy titan Shell and is now chief legal officer at Sempra Infrastructure. Along the way, Aiman has shepherded some groundbreaking energy initiatives, including Sempra Infrastructure’s $13 billion joint venture to develop, build and operate a project that would supply liquified natural gas to Europe. In addition, Aiman has pioneered innovative and highly successful diversity and inclusion efforts at Shell and Sempra.
In May, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook recognized Aiman’s successes by honoring her with the 2023 Houston Corporate Counsel Award for Lifetime Achievement. This is her story.
Litigation Roundup: Waco Jury Slams Google in Patent Case, American Airlines Taps O’Melveny for Class Action Defense
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, closing arguments are coming soon in a $55 million pharmacy fraud trial, Porter Hedges gets $15.35 million for a developer client in an eminent domain fight and a jury in Waco on Friday unanimously determined Google owes $339 million for patent infringement.
Blank Rome Expands to Dallas with Corporate Group
The Philadelphia-founded law firm announced the opening of its second Texas office on Monday with seven attorneys from four firms.
Judgment & Mercy: The Turbulent Life and Times of the Judge Who Condemned the Rosenbergs
In 1951, Judge Irving R. Kaufman wrangled to get the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, charged with stealing the “secret” of the atomic bomb and handing it to the monstrous Joseph Stalin. Judge Kaufman was 40, one of the youngest federal judges in America and only sixteen months in office. During the trial, he often intervened in ways that helped the government. Upstairs in his chambers, he conducted secret, ex parte meetings with prosecutors, including the infamous Roy Cohn. No one knows what they discussed. Once jurors convicted, he deftly advertised his anguish over the sentence and alluded to solitary soul-searching in his empty, dimly lit synagogue. Now the hour for judgment had come.
The Texas Lawbook is pleased to publish an excerpt of Houston lawyer Martin Siegel’s new book about the judge he clerked for decades ago.
Jurors Hear from Plaintiff in $100M Sexual Harassment Suit Against Schlumberger
A former Schlumberger field engineer who is suing the company over alleged sexual harassment and discrimination she experienced during her two-and-a-half-year employment with the oilfield services company was on the stand for much of Thursday and Friday, sharing her claims with jurors in her own words.
P.S. — Criminal Justice Reform, Pro Bono Estate Planning & Substance Abuse Recovery
In this week’s edition of P.S., we have details on a recent pro bono wills clinic in San Antonio; the newest bank to join the Texas Access to Justice Foundation’s Prime Partner Program; a federal magistrate judge who Baylor Law School recently named as its 2023 Young Lawyer of the Year; an upcoming free tour of a nonprofit substance abuse recovery center for women that has deep ties to the Dallas legal community; and a new partnership between SMU Dedman School of Law and a local nonprofit.
Q&A with Katten ESG Expert Johnjerica Hodge
The Texas Lawbook visited with Hodge to learn more about her vision for leading the firm’s ESG Risk and Investigations practice, what it’s like to be reunited with her former classmate and how she sees ESG evolving over the next several years.
Tarrant County Pharmacist Testifies He Doctored Prescription Drugs to Boost Insurance Payouts
George Lock Paret, chief pharmacist at one of two Fort Worth compounding pharmacies co-owned by criminal fraud defendant Richard Hall, says he routinely modified the mixtures of ingredients in prescribed medicines to “make us more money.” Paret is one of several former associates of Hall’s testifying against his former boss in what prosecutors say was a $55 million bribery and kickback scheme to defraud federal insurance programs.