Jackson Walker, which represented JCPenney during its 2020 bankruptcy proceedings, has agreed to pay the estate of the department store $1.4 million as a result of a romantic relationship between a former partner and a former Houston bankruptcy judge. This latest settlement proposal requires the court’s approval, but the U.S. Trustee’s Office remains opposed to individual settlements.
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Litigation-Financing Firms to Battle in Arbitration Over Alleged Trade Secrets and Breach of Contract Violations
Signal Peak, a new Houston-based litigation financing firm, is being sued by its founders’ former place of employment, Siltstone Capital, which has attempted to get a temporary restraining order. Texas Business Court Presiding Judge Grant Dorfman denied the request.
Ross & Smith Announces Partnership with Full-Service Maryland Firm
Dallas-based bankruptcy and litigation boutique Ross & Smith announced Thursday that it has inked a business partnership with Offit Kurman, a 280-attorney full-service firm founded in Maryland that now has 20 offices across the U.S.
Barbara Lynn’s Fourth Act: The Role of Sage and Admired Advisor
Dallas federal Judge Barbara Lynn has shattered many legal industry glass ceilings, impacted the careers of hundreds of Texas lawyers and handled some of the biggest and most important trials in North Texas over the past quarter century — the civil rights trial against former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, the corruption trial of then-Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill and terrorist Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, who attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction in an effort to blow up the 60-story Fountain Place skyscraper.
Last week, Judge Lynn — the first woman in history to be the chief judge of the Northern District of Texas and widely praised as one of the best trial judges in the U.S. — stepped away from public service to join the litigation boutique founded by her husband, where she will focus on mediating complex and large-dollar disputes and advising lawyers involved in bet-the-company litigation.
As Judge Lynn enters her encore, legal experts agree that her career has had an historic impact on North Texas, the legal profession and the role of women in the law. (Illustration by William Pelic)
Win, Lose or Draw? SCOTX Punt in Poker House Appeal Leaves Legal Gray Area Intact
The city of Dallas failed to convince the Texas Supreme Court that its intervention was warranted in a dispute that started after the city granted, then revoked, then reinstated, a certificate of occupancy to a local poker room.
Former Student Seeks $100M for TCU’s Alleged Mishandling of Rape Investigation
A former Texas Christian University student filed a lawsuit Wednesday with the Eastern District of Virginia claiming discrimination and gross malfeasance for how university officials handled her rape complaint. The anonymous student, going by Emily Doe, claims the university violated Title IX policies in how it handled her complaint.
Texas Law Graduates Win Precedent-Setting Civil Rights Case Before Receiving Bar Exam Results
Just a few days before joining Kirkland & Ellis as litigation associates, and while awaiting the results of their bar exams, Gabrielle Olubanke Howells and Lizeth Badillo Garcia notched their first court win — a precedent-setting decision from a panel of judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The rare opportunity to argue a pro bono case before a federal appeals court before bar admission was the result of a collaboration spearheaded by Kirkland & Ellis Partner Zack Ewing, who was inspired by the graduates to emulate a program afforded to him while a student at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Asked & Answered with Jackson Walker’s Juan Alcala: Crawling out of Poverty and Finding Passion
Asked & Answered is a standing feature The Texas Lawbook will bring readers every other week, highlighting the work of leading Texas lawyers and offering insight into their lives outside the courtroom. In this edition, Jackson Walker partner Juan Alcala discusses representing Chevron and arguing before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Alcala recently joined Jackson Walker from Holland & Knight.
A Tribute to Alistair Byrne Dawson
Alistair Dawson loved the courtroom. He relished the crucible of trial, the chance to stand before a judge and jury and advocate with clarity and conviction. His skill was evident early. At an age when most lawyers are still finding their footing, he was entrusted with cases involving some of the nation’s most prominent executives and businesses. He represented real estate magnate Sheldon Solow in a high-stakes dispute in New York. He led a case for Marvin Davis, the legendary oil wildcatter. He took on complex antitrust litigation for AT&T. These were not assignments given lightly nor to just anyone. Clients who could have hired any lawyer in the country chose Alistair. And they chose wisely. His loss is immeasurable.
Martin Sosland, Candice Carson Join Vartabedian Hester
Vartabedian, Hester & Haynes announced Tuesday that the 30-lawyer DFW-based firm is expanding its business bankruptcy and restructuring practice with the addition of two lawyers from Butler Snow — Martin Sosland and Candice Carson.