“In almost five decades as a lawyer,” former Houston appellate justice Murry Cohen concluded in an amicus brief this week to the Texas Supreme Court, “I’ve read plenty of bad opinions. In almost two decades as an appellate judge, I surely wrote some. None was near this offensive.” Rather than press a position in the case before the Supreme Court, Cohen argued the Fort Worth Court of Appeals justices who decided the case should be admonished for unethical commentary that had nothing to do with the decision.
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DFW Corporate Counsel Awards Ceremony – A Sneak Preview
This Thursday, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook host the 2021 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards. Nearly 70 in-house corporate counsel were nominated. Fifteen independent judges selected 17 finalists who did extraordinary legal work in 2021. They include lawyers from Toyota, Southwest Airlines, Tuesday Morning, Flowserve, Match Group, Crestline Investors and Pizza Hut.
Photo: The family of the late Clarence Brown, who will be honored at Thursday’s ceremony.
CDT Roundup: 13 Deals, 10 Firms, 99 Lawyers, $5.1B
Upstream M&A values for oil and gas were up last year by 25% over 2020, a hopeful sign that energy production transactions are getting back to pre-Covid levels. However, gains in deal volume were slight. At the moment, 2022 seems set for continued deal flow, particularly in the mid-size markets. But beyond? The CDT Roundup has more on those numbers and a look at the lawyers who provided last week’s deals.
Latham Signs Ex-V&E Lawyer to Co-Chair Global ESG Practice
Sarah Fortt, the fifth lateral partner Latham has added in Austin, will lead the global ESG practice alongside London partner Paul Davies.
Chesapeake Picks Up Chief for $2.65B
Three firms in Texas — Gibson Dunn, Shearman & Sterling and Akin Gump — advised on the deal, which was reported as in its final stages last week. Some analysts are curious how Chesapeake will hedge, given concerns about the outlook for natural prices in 2023.
DBJ: UDF Execs to Remain Free Pending Sentencing on Securities Fraud Convictions
The CEO and three other executives of Grapevine-based United Development Funding convicted of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy will be free while they await sentencing in May, a federal magistrate ruled Monday. The Dallas Business Journal is providing continuous coverage.
DBJ Reporter’s Notebook: UDF Execs to Return to Court After Convictions
Four top executives of a Grapevine-based residential development lender United Development Funding return to federal court today in Fort Worth after conviction for securities fraud. The Dallas Business Journal is providing continuous coverage.
In Memoriam: Sharon Nelson Freytag (1943-2022)
Sharon Freytag, a founding member of Haynes and Boone’s appellate group, died last week at the age of 78. She was a powerful writer, gifted oral advocate, generous mentor and respected leader in the bar. One client said she was “like Jackie O. as a sniper – classy but deadly!”
DBJ: Jury Convicts All Four UDF Execs of Securities Fraud
The CEO of North Texas-based residential real estate development lender United Development Funding and three of his colleagues were found guilty late this afternoon on securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy charges. After nearly two days of deliberation, the jury convicted UDF CEO Hollis Greenlaw, CFO Cara Delin Obert, director of asset management Jeffrey Brandon Jester and partnership president and committee member Benjamin Lee Wissink on all counts. Dallas Business Journal reporter Bill Hethcock was in the courtroom every day and has the details on the verdict.
Q&A with Jackson Walker Deal Partner Kyle Hooper
The Texas Lawbook caught up with Hooper about his decision with Brian Lidji to join forces with one of the largest firms in the state, memorable deals he and Lidji have handled and their clients’ concerns.