A convicted stock swindler from Texas, a defrocked stockbroker from Miami, a Dallas real estate lawyer and a former burglar were among those cited in a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in the Eastern District of New York. The fraud and stock manipulation charges involved a “pump and dump” scheme that revolved around Dallas-based Zona Energy and leaseholds on a West Texas ranch. Texas Lawbook has the details.
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Cadence and BancorpSouth to Merge with Aid from Counsel in Dallas, Houston
Texas lawyers are playing a role in the all-stock merger of Houston’s Cadence Bancorp. and Tupelo, Mississippi’s BancorpSouth Bank valued at more than $6 billion.
Stanford Fraud Receiver Recovery Approaches $1 Billion
A dozen years of work for Baker Botts partner Kevin Sadler, a lawyer for the receiver in the Stanford financial fraud case is paying off. This month, the 18,000 victims of the Ponzi scheme are splitting $216 million, bringing the total paid so far to $935 million. Two more cases are nearly close, which will add another $190 million. And then there’s the biggie against the banks.
CDT Roundup: 14 Deals, 13 Firms, 122 Lawyers, $8.94B
In what comes as no surprise, global M&A activity continued to surge in the first quarter of 2021 – and SPACs and private equity buyouts are some of the key talking points. A little closer to home, Texas dealmakers had a slower week this time around in the latest installment of the Corporate Deal Tracker roundup.
‘You should start a woman-owned law firm’
More than a dozen years ago, Kimberly Phillips, now GC of litigation at Shell Oil, told Dawn Estes she needed to create her own legal practice. Today, Estes Thorne & Carr is one of the largest women-owned corporate law firms in Texas. How did Estes build such a successful firm in a male-dominated legal world? The Texas Lawbook has the story.
“I don’t know when Dawn sleeps,” Golds Gym GC Shelby Angel said. “She’s extremely responsive and attentive to client needs.”
White & Case Brings On Third Capital Markets Partner from Baker Botts
The new addition includes a promotion and comes two weeks after the firm announced that A.J. Ericksen and Jason Rocha moved their practices to the New York-based firm.
Roku Scores Defense Patent Verdict in WDTX… Again
For those following the patent jury verdicts unfolding in Judge Albright’s court, the game count is now tipping toward defense wins, 2-1. Roku was the latest to score a defense win on Friday, which came after a separate defense win Roku scored in October during Judge Albright’s first patent jury trial. But those aren’t even the most notable facts of the case. Natalie Posgate has the details.
SCOTX Hands Win to Insurers in 19-Year Homeowner Mold Dispute
Friday’s opinion marks the near-end of a 19-year legal battle for Farmers Insurance and its lawyers at Norton Rose Fulbright — featuring two appeals on class certification issues, a mandamus proceeding, a jury trial and now an appeal before the Texas Supreme Court.
Thompson & Knight, Holland & Knight Seeking to Merge
Dallas-headquartered Thompson & Knight and Holland & Knight of Miami are in final negotiations to merge. If the combination is approved, the firm will boast more than 1,600 lawyers and annual revenues in excess of $1.25 billion.
“This proposed combination would expand significantly each firm’s presence in important geographic markets,” Thompson & Knight managing partner Mark Sloan said in a written statement to The Texas Lawbook.
The Texas Lawbook has learned the merger should be finalized this summer.
Baker Botts Joins Special Associate Bonus Bandwagon
Houston-based Baker Botts announced Friday morning that it is the latest in a string of corporate law firms to give associates a special bonus ranging from $12,000 to $64,000.