There is undeniable momentum for women attorneys, which is good news, indeed. Instead of one token female at counsel’s table, there are women in numbers on both sides of the aisle. But there is still a ways to go, particularly in intellectual property law, where my engineering background and gender still make me something of a rarity.
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Dallas Jury Hits Oncor With $44M Verdict in Power Line Injury Case
Oncor has maintained that James Stacey Taylor’s claims are barred because of his “contributory negligence” and that it enjoys statutory indemnity for any liability under state law. Taylor’s attorney, Sean Breen of Howry Breen & Herman, told The Lawbook he presented the case to the jury as a tragic accident that wouldn’t have happened but for Oncor’s practice of “putting profits over safety.”
Backlash to Business Court Bill Unites Litigators from Both Sides of the Docket
A rare alliance between groups representing trial lawyers and defense counsel is raising constitutional questions and other concerns about legislation that would create a new system of trial and appellate courts for high-dollar business disputes. House Bill 19 appears on track for House floor debate as soon as next week.
In Texas, Firms Add Corporate Lawyers at Near-Record Pace
The 50 largest corporate law firms operating in Texas continued to add new lawyers at a near-record pace in 2022, according to the new Texas Lawbook 50 headcount rankings. The top 50 firms now employ nearly 8,000 lawyers in their Texas offices. The only year when the 50 law firms added more attorneys was 2021. More than two-thirds of law firms grew their lawyer headcount in 2022. The out-of-state firms expanded the most, especially firms founded in California. Three perennial top Lawbook 50 firms dropped off the list, replaced by firms growing faster. There are now only 20 Texas-based firms in the top 50.
Both Sides Claim $1.75M Settlement of Collin County DA Suit a Win
The settlement brings an end to a federal lawsuit lodged by six former employees of the office in November. Additional terms of the settlement requires three plaintiffs who still were employed by the DA’s office to resign and bars all plaintiffs from seeking future employment with the county. Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis and First Assistant District Attorney Bill Wirskye remain in their positions.
Time for Action: Add These Items to Your Commercial Lease in 2023
All too often commercial tenants accept their lease agreements freely and without any objections. However, a one-time review of the lease can lead to years of savings.
CDT Roundup: 12 Deals, 9 Firms, 59 Lawyers, $24B
Like “energy transition” before it, the word “infrastructure” has worked its way into dealmaking vocabulary as a significant buzzword. But buzzwords can buzz with real money behind them as a new McKinsey report suggests. Funds earmarked for infrastructure and natural resources investment hit $158 billion last year and such assets under management last year were up more than 14 percent over 2021, according to the report. Claire Poole takes a look at the short- and long-term for infrastructure dealmaking, and it’s more complicated than it seems. But at least one infrastructure deal among the dozen transactions reported to the CDT Roundup last week shows that the numbers can be really, really big.
Litigation Roundup: Texas Hammer-based Prejudice Claim Tossed, Chevron Beats a Uri Gas Delivery Suit
In this edition of Litigation Roundup: Uvalde police officers lawyer up in the suit over the Robb Elementary shooting; Fifth Circuit determines discussion of “The Texas Hammer,” during jury selection didn’t taint the outcome of a trial and Pappas Restaurants’ fight over losing a $470 million contract heats up.
Texas Orders Cayman Islands Crypto Firm to Pay $424,000 and Cease Doing Business
The consent order is part of a nationwide investigation in which Nexo Capital Inc. agreed to pay $22.5 million in fines related to the sale of unregistered securities.
Omar Samji Departs Shearman for Weil
Omar Samji’s departure follows the recent high-profile exits of Hugh Tucker and Jeremy Kennedy who left Shearman for Haynes and Boone. Samji plans to tool his energy practice towards the rapidly-evolving transitional sectors, like decarbonization, that are gaining significant ground within the traditional oil & gas industry.