For Part II of a set of stories examining how the first year went for Texas’ newest court, The Texas Lawbook spoke to lawyers who have practiced in the Texas Business Court about their experiences litigating complex disputes in the venue. Some of those lawyers have also practiced in the Delaware Chancery Court and drew distinctions about what differentiates the specialty courts.
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Former Energy GC Brock Degeyter Joins Troutman Pepper Locke in Dallas
Degeyter was most recently the general counsel, chief compliance officer, and secretary of Medallion Midstream until its $2.6 billion acquisition by ONEOK, which closed last October. His in-house resume also includes helping lead Summit Midstream’s IPO and working on the historic leveraged buyout of TXU Corp.
‘If You Build It, They Will Come’: A Look at the Texas Business Court After 1 Year in Operation
Two years ago, lawmakers created a new court, in part as a signal to the business community that Texas is a good place to incorporate and that jurists here could deliver quick, consistent results in complex business disputes.
In its first year of operation, the 10 judges appointed to the five divisions of the court have seen more than 180 cases filed. That figure is higher than some of the judges who spoke to The Texas Lawbook expected to see. We asked them to look back on the first year of operations.
Chief Judge O’Connor Hears From 737 Max Victims’ Families, Mulls DOJ’s Dismissal Bid
Emotional testimony was heard Wednesday morning from the families of victims of two fatal plane crashes in 2018 and 2019. The families, some of whom traveled all the way from Kenya, Ireland and Toronto, stood in front of Chief Judge Reed O’Connor Wednesday to voice their opposition to the Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss the criminal case it brought against Boeing for the two 737 Max plane crashes.
Houston Law Firm Adds Former Texas Supreme Court Justice to Name
Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman joined the Houston law firm of Wright Close & Barger in 2022 as a partner. Now, the firm is adding her name to the shingle.
My Five Favorite Books: Alvin Benton (Vice President, Compliance Officer at Capital One)
Themes of self-determination, grit, speaking truth, and building self-esteem are prominent in my favorite reads, which starts with a landmark autobiography and ends with a children’s book.
Publisher’s note: The Texas Lawbook is pleased to offer this new column in partnership with Texas-based Half Price Books sharing our readers’ favorite reads.
An Overview of Tariffs and Trade Enforcement
Tariffs and trade obligations are quickly becoming a key area for government investigations and enforcement actions. In recent weeks, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced settlements totaling over $24 million for alleged customs fraud, including one in the Northern District of Texas. The DOJ’s heightened focus on tariff evasion and trade cases suggests that enforcement actions will reach broadly into the supply chain. Companies and executives should take heed of the various penalties.
Litigation Roundup: Proxy Advisory Firms Get Texas’ ESG Disclosure Rule Paused
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a Dallas-based lender can’t escape a $6.7 million judgment, and a man injured on the job asks the Texas Supreme Court to reinstate his $15.4 million win against CenterPoint Energy.
Hunton AK Adds New Leader of Appellate Practice
Longtime appellate practitioner joins Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Austin office to lead the firm’s state appellate practice. Ryan Clinton brings experience from the Texas Attorney General’s Office and private practice.
Plains All American to Acquire 55% of EPIC Pipeline for $1.57B
Latham, V&E and Akin advised on the deal which will see Diamondback and Kinetik Energy exit their ownership stake in the strategic 800-mile crude oil pipeline.