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CDT Roundup: Lone Star Deal Machine Keeps 200+ Lawyers Busy for the Week

For the week ended May 9, the CDT Roundup is reporting 21 deals valued at nearly $11.3 billion. And that doesn’t include a $3.25 billion notes offering that closed three weeks ago nor the $56 billion unsolicitied offer for eBay by $11 billion-market-cap GameStop scooped by The Wall Street Journal last week.

White & Case is advising Grapevine-based GameStop, with a team led from New York. GameStop’s general counsel is Mark Robinson, who received the 2023 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for General Counsel of the Year for a Small Legal Department.

That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.

Continued Scrutiny of Private Equity and Private Ownership of Healthcare Entities

Private investment in healthcare entities continued at a high pace in 2025, reaching global highs in deal value. A consequence of the high deal volume has been increased attention and scrutiny by many state governments of transactions between private equity and certain healthcare entities. While Texas failed to pass a healthcare transaction reporting law in the most recent legislative session, two proposed bills may be harbingers of similar future regulation to come.

Troutman Houston Partners Led National Team in Western Midstream $1.6B Brazos Delaware Deal

Western Midstream Partners has acquired Brazos Delaware II, a Fort Worth-based private gathering and processing platform in the Delaware Basin in West Texas, for about $1.6 billion in cash and stock. Western Midstream, which is based in The Woodlands, said it will pay about $800 million in cash and issue about $800 million in common units at the close of the deal that is expected by June 30.

Christopher B. Dial is Western Midstream’s general counsel, and Troutman Pepper Locke advised the company with a national team led by Houston Partners Jon Daly and Jennie Simmons. Vinson & Elkins served as outside legal advisor to Brazos.

‘I Only Want You’: How Steven Scheinthal Became Tilman Fertitta’s Go-To Lawyer

Steven Scheinthal has one of the most unique and challenging jobs in corporate law — the general counsel for Tilman Fertitta, whose business holdings include the NBA’s Houston Rockets, the Golden Nugget casinos and hotels, Landry’s Seafood and Morton’s and Del Frisco’s steakhouses. The Houston billionaire is also reportedly interested in acquiring Caesars casinos and hotels.

“It is tough having one boss because his frustrations become yours,” Scheinthal said. “However, we have had a tremendous number of business successes from our IPO to follow on offerings, over 50-plus acquisitions, bond offerings, the Rockets purchase.” Those successes continued through 2025. The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are honoring Scheinthal with the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Award for General Counsel of the Year for a Midsized Legal Department.

P.S. — Hilgers’ Cynthia Schmidt Trades Partner Role for Nonprofit Calling

In this edition of P.S., the Pro Bono & Grants Committee of the State Bar of Texas Corporate Counsel Section announced its annual grant recipients. The success of the Champions of Pro Bono sponsorship program pushed this year’s giving to $79,000 — above the initial goal, according to committee chair Michael Marin. 

The University of Houston Law Center more than doubled last year’s fundraising haul at its 49th annual Law Gala and Auction, generating more than $1.6 million, while honoring distinguished alumni.

In Dallas, 33 Dykema lawyers and staff packed welcome baskets filled with household necessities for individuals and families who are exiting homelessness with the help of The Stewpot, a nonprofit that provides housing programs that pair subsidized housing assistance with case management and support services. 

And former Hilgers partner Cynthia Schmidt discusses her recent decision to leave the firm to lead the nonprofit Catholic Pro-Life Community.

After Finding a ‘Port in a Storm’ in Lawyers, Lyondell Basell’s Dave Louie Now Serves as One for Others Through Pro Bono Work

When Dave Louie was 17, he caused a car wreck. His father feared the family could lose everything in a resulting lawsuit, a possibility that weighed heavily on Louie. But his nerves eased after he met with the legal team hired by the family’s insurance company.

“They were like a port in a storm,” Louie said. 

Now a lead counsel at LyondellBasell, Louie strives to provide that same sense of reassurance to the families he serves through his pro bono work. The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are honoring Louie, along with Shell USA Senior Litigation Counsel Sara Keith, with the Harry Reasoner Pro Bono Advocacy Award at the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards on May 28.

3M Cleared in Houston Explosion Trial

In the third trial in multidistrict litigation stemming from the fatal 2020 explosion in West Houston, the jury unanimously cleared 3M of negligence. The first two trials ended in verdicts against 3M, totaling about $156 million for 12 plaintiffs.

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