Stephanie D. Clouston and Matthew Durfee have joined Paul Hastings’ Dallas office as the firm continues its Texas expansion.
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Harvard to Houston: V&E’s Dealmaker Powerhouse
Lande Spottswood is one of the country’s top dealmakers, hired by public companies and private capital alike for her expertise with complex transactions.
Her path to the transactional world wasn’t linear. A onetime biochemical sciences major planning for an MD/PhD, Spottswood realized lab life was not for her and pivoted to Harvard Law School, where a course on Delaware takeover doctrine (and the drama of corporate raiders and contested deals) hooked her on M&A.
The Texas Lawbook caught up with the Vinson & Elkins partner to talk about these topics, Texas transaction trends, including the ongoing consolidation in energy and more, as well as how important it is to enjoy a Friday afternoon margarita on the porch. At least when the Houston weather will actually allow you to do so.
Holiday Hangover Hits the Deal Table
The abbreviated Thanksgiving week that ended Nov. 29 saw six deals reported to the CDT Roundup with a total reported value of $4.1 billion.
We’d compare it to last week’s 20 deals for $5 billion, but there’s really no comparison. It’s easy to hide value in 14 M&A/Funding transactions. With only two M&A deals reported on the week, it’s hard to hide anything.
It was the lowest number of M&A transactions since mid-June 2020. And there’s no pandemic to blame it on.
That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.
Delaware Judge Clears Citgo Parent Sale, Wrapping Up Venezuela Debt Fight
A federal court in Delaware last week approved an end to the Venezuelan Citgo Petroleum saga, authorizing the sale of the company’s parent PDVSA to an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management for $5.9 billion.
Texas GC Forum Awards 20th Annual Magna Stella Honors
The Texas General Counsel Forum recently honored 10 chief legal officers and senior in-house counsel with the 20th annual Magna Stella Awards, which recognizes success and leadership.
The awards ceremony, held Nov. 20 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, unveiled the lifetime achievement award in honor of GC Forum CEO Lynn Bozalis, a beloved leader in the Texas corporate law community.
P.S. — At 35, Texas Center for Legal Ethics Faces New Era of Lawyer Engagement — and its New Leader Says the Mission is as Urgent as Ever
In this edition of P.S., we bring you an exclusive interview with the Texas Center for Legal Ethics’ new executive director, Brad Johnson. Johnson spoke one-on-one with The Texas Lawbook in October, when he was about four months into the job. He said he entered the helm at a significant moment for the center, which recently marked its 35th anniversary.
Dallas PE Firm Largely Cleared in $180M Alliance of American Football Bankruptcy Case
Western District of Texas Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig A. Gargotta issued a 199-page opinion and order Tuesday in a case he’s been presiding over for six years. He wrote that the trustee failed to prove all but one of its claims for relief and awarded just $1 in damages. “Further, there was insufficient evidence to support an award of damages or attorney’s fees in this case,” he wrote. “The result may be viewed as harsh, but it is appropriate.”
My Five Favorite Books: Dr. Bill Chriss
I have more than five favorite books. This list represents a smattering of what I have enjoyed most across different genres: ancient history, historical fiction, anti-western, philosophy and theology, and non-fiction.
Brink’s Adds Maria Fernandez as Associate General Counsel
Brink’s Chief Legal Officer Kristen Cook announced the news on LinkedIn on Monday. “Maria brings a wealth of expertise in corporate governance, M&A, finance, and securities that will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our legal and compliance functions globally,” she said.
Sheppard Mullin Grows Corporate Capabilities in Dallas
Graham McCall, who was most recently at Jackson Walker and is a former Goldman Sachs lawyer, brings private fund and alternative investment experience to Sheppard Mullin’s corporate bench.