Another jury trial stemming from the Watson Grinding explosion that killed three people and destroyed hundreds of homes in 2020 recently ended in Harris County. The plaintiffs were seven victims of the explosion. The two-week trial ended with a verdict against 3M Company.
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San Antonio Celebrates General Counsel Successes
There were standing ovations and dancing celebrations, boisterous cheers and even many tears at the inaugural 2025 San Antonio Corporate Counsel Awards on Thursday. The stories of extraordinary business and legal successes achieved by in-house corporate lawyers at San Antonio’s most prominent businesses — Whataburger, Valero, USAA, BioBridge Global, UT San Antonio, Zachry Group, VisionWorks, Howard Energy and OCI — were toasted and memorialized. The Texas Lawbook has photos from the awards event.
KKR Exits Novaria Group for $2.2B
The aerospace manufacturer, founded in 2011, is being sold to Nashville-based Arcline Investment Management. Kirkland & Ellis, Ropes & Gray and Paul Hastings are legal advisors on the deal.
Competent Testifying Expert Supervision Is Required in the Age of AI
In a recent False Claims Act matter, an expert used AI tools to fabricate (among other things) sworn testimony of a federal agency, prompting a motion that may lead to attorney disqualification and even dismissal of the entire case. The pending motion highlights an important issue for litigators to consider in engaging experts. This article summarizes the pending motion and suggests potential solutions and best practices to avoid this issue biting counsel and clients and to protect clients and counsel in the event an expert goes rogue with AI.
Dealmaker and Team Shaper: Scarlet McNellie’s Formula for Success
Scarlet McNellie’s career at Norton Rose Fulbright offers a rare glimpse into what persistence and vision can yield at a large law firm when paired with loyalty.
Annual Dykema M&A Survey Cites “Cautious Optimism”; Q3 CDT Stats Validate Both
In Dykema’s 21st Annual Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook Survey the operative words are “cautious optimism” with an emphasis on optimism: 74 percent of respondents saying the M&A market will strengthen over the next 12 months. Let’s dig into the survey and see what data from the Corporate Deal Tracker says, as well.
Texas Deal Frenzy Hits $76B as Consumer, Energy and Health Sectors Roar
The week ended Nov. 8 began with one of the largest deals in years, as Irving consumer products giant Kimberly-Clark acquired the manufacturer of Tylenol. Overall, CDT saw 21 deals with a total value of nearly $76 billion for the week ending Nov. 8. That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.
P.S. — Pro Bono Work Helps “Level the Playing Field” for Veterans, Award Recipient Shares Ahead of Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week
Also in this edition of P.S., the Good Apple Dinner celebrated Shell USA’s Travis Torrence, who delivered an inspirational speech to “stand tall.” The event raised a record $745,788 for the nonprofit public interest law center. And Jackson Walker launched its first firmwide “6-1-1 Day of Service,” uniting all six offices to prepare thousands of meals for Texas families — an effort that took on added meaning amid the federal government shutdown.
Texas Business Court Sets Mavericks, Stars Dispute for January Jury Trial
The lawsuit over the franchises’ shared venue space at American Airlines Center in Dallas that was filed Oct. 28 has been set for a jury trial to begin before Business Court Judge Bill Whitehill Jan. 26. Lawyers said that type of speed is what they hoped to see from the new, specialty court.
Renewable Energy Company Files Ch. 11 to Restructure in Houston
Pine Gate Renewables and 78 of its affiliated businesses filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday in the Southern District of Texas as the North Carolina-headquartered business “continues to engage in a competitive sales process with multiple interested parties to transition ownership of its solar and energy storage project fleet while preserving jobs and maximizing value.”