Energy transition attorneys are gearing up for an uptick innovation investment and M&A activity expected to be spurred by the passage of the Inflation
Reduction Act. The IRA, signed yesterday by President Biden, contains $369 billion of climate and clean energy provisions, as well as $60 billion for environmental justice initiatives and provides incentives for substantial investments in rural communities. Significant to the Texas economy, the new law significantly rewrites the tax incentives for renewable energy and climate change mitigation under the federal tax code.
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TSA Softens Cyber Rules: Trend or Outlier in Next Wave of Federal Cyber Regulation?
The TSA Security Directive issued in the wake of the May 2021 ransomware attack against Colonial Pipeline imposed mandatory obligations to report incidents within 24 hours, update systems and appoint cyber security officials was criticized by industry as being too rigid and misunderstanding the unique cybersecurity needs of pipeline operators. With its July 21, 2022 revision, the TSA seems to acknowledge these criticisms by adopting a more flexible and less prescriptive approach.
This article highlights some of the recent cyber regulatory efforts by federal agencies, discusses the components of the revised TSA Security Directive and offers a perspective on whether the coming cyber regulations will adopt the TSA approach or something more draconian.
How the Government’s Case Against Blue Bell’s Ex-CEO Melted
A veteran food safety litigation expert and Paul Kruse’s own defense attorney agreed the government overcharged the CEO in this case. Jurors who heard about a week of testimony deliberated for four days before U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman declared a mistrial.
Porter Hedges Adds Co-Managing Partner
Rob Reedy, who has served as Porter Hedges’ managing partner for 13 years, told The Texas Lawbook that the decision is part of the firm’s leadership succession planning process.
SMU Dedman Law’s Innovative Corporate Counsel Externship Program Shines, Thanks to Loyal GC Alums
During the past decade, 700 SMU Dedman law students have done externships at 100 corporate legal departments including Microsoft, Keurig Dr Pepper, Interstate Batteries, Liberty Mutual and Vistra Corp. “The program puts students in real-life situations where they have educational opportunities unobtainable in the classroom,” SMU Dedman assistant dean Stephen Yeager, creator of the externship initiative. An extern with Keurig Dr Pepper witnessed how different flavored drinks were developed. Fluor Corporation let law students visit construction sites. Mary Kay allowed its Russian-born extern to work on a project involving Russian data privacy laws. The Texas Lawbook interviewed a half-dozen SMU alumni who did externships and are now in-house counsel.
Corporate Deal Tracker: 2022 M&A Transactions (Premium Searchable Master List)
Below is a list of qualified M&A transactions reported to The Texas Lawbook for 2022. This list, available to PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, is organic and searchable. It is designed to grow as
CDT: 2022 Capital Markets Transactions (Premium Searchable Master List)
Below is a list of qualified capital markets transactions reported to The Texas Lawbook for 2022. The list, for PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, is organic and searchable. It is designed to grow as
CDT Roundup: 18 Deals, 11 Firms, 242 Lawyers, $8B
In the first half of 2022, capital markets transactions reported by Texas lawyers were noticeable in their absence; but apparently, no more. What began as a summer in languish has heated up over the past few weeks. The Texas numbers mirror the broader market, according to a report by Enverus last week. The CDT Roundup has its own observations, as well as the usual listing of the recent deals Texas lawyers have been working on.
Sources: Counterterrorism and Corruption Expert Front-Runner To Be Next SDTX U.S. Attorney
Alamdar Hamdani has been in the limelight in Houston for prosecuting crooked cops and ISIS collaborators. The former deputy chief of the Justice Department’s counterterrorism section appears poised to take over one of the nation’s busiest U.S. attorney’s offices.
Trial Groups Tell Texas Supreme Court Compelled Remote Jury Trial Is Unconstitutional
The Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel are all on the same side of the issue: Harris County District Judge Dedra Davis’ remote jury trial order is unconstitutional. Among the issues with the proceedings, the amici argued there’s been no effort to ensure the pool of potential jurors have access to technology necessary to participate, artificially limiting the diversity of the panel.