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‘Head First Into the Fire’

At 35, Ricky Torlincasi is one of the youngest GCs in the oil patch. He’s been on the job at Blackbeard Operating less than two years, but he’s already helped integrate three mergers, led the acquisitions of Anadarko Basin assets from BP and ConocoPhillips’ legacy Waddell Ranch, and the divestitures of assets in Oklahoma and South Texas. Then there’s the litigation he’s handled.

Torlincasi’s successes have him as a finalist for the 2020 DFW Outstanding Corporate Counsel’s Rookie of the Year Award.

Q&A: Ricky Torlincasi, GC Blackbeard Operating

Ricky Torlincasi has seen a lot in less than 20 months as general counsel of Blackbeard Operating. Mark Curriden, founder of The Texas Lawbook had a chance to talk with Torlincasi at length about what he’s learned about himself, what he likes about in-house legal work and what he looks for in outside counsel.

SCOTX Preserves 30-Year-Old Trade Secrets Rule

In a case closely observed by First Amendment advocates, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that a trial court erred when it agreed to seal from public scrutiny exhibits that had been subject to trade secret protections but were revealed in open court.

State Bar of Texas Disciplinary Actions: 15 Lawyers Named

There were 15 lawyers named in this month’s roundup of disciplinary actions by the State Bar of Texas: one disbarment, two resignations, 10 suspensions and two public reprimands. Six of the lawyers suspended were from Greater Houston and two from Dallas

Virtual Mediations and Patent Litigation: Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Mediation has always been an important part of patent litigation – especially in the Eastern District of Texas. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual mediations have become an important and successful way to resolve patent disputes. We have conducted or participated in more than 50 virtual patent mediations since the pandemic began, and these recommended best practices are based on our experiences over the past year.

Jury Clears Dril-Quip, Engineer of Liability in Trade Secrets Trial — Updated

A Houston jury ruled Thursday afternoon that Houston-based TechnipFMC did not own trade secrets related to subsea drilling designs that the company had accused hometown rival Dril-Quip and ex-FMC engineer Rick Murphy of misappropriating, handing FMC a take-nothing verdict.

Lawyers for Dril-Quip and Murphy said they were thrilled with the result. An attorney for FMC said the company respects the verdict, but promised an appeal.

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