Some law firms have intensified their outreach efforts by trumpeting the myriad of legal issues on which they can help clients during this crisis. Are they seizing opportunities or distastefully capitalizing on a global pandemic? Prominent corporate law firm marketing expert Susan Peters says the best law firm business development efforts in bad times resemble those in good times: anticipate clients’ concerns and show how the firm can help.
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Economic Loss in a Time of Coronavirus: Fifth Circuit Case May Drive Future COVID-19 Business Tort Litigation
The Fifth Circuit recently confronted a classic “economic loss rule” problem under Texas law. While the case involved a dispute about the operation of a power turbine, the legal framework described by Golden Spread could easily set the ground rules for future business tort litigation arising from the COVID-19 crisis.
DBJ: U.K. Agency Blocks Sabre Acquisition
The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said it’s blocking Sabre’s planned acquisition of Farelogix, arguing travel agents and passengers there would be “worse off.” The decision comes the same week the travel technology company won its antitrust case against the U.S. Department of Justice, which has since appealed that decision.
SCOTX Resumes Oral Arguments — by VTC
When the Texas Supreme Court convened for oral argument Wednesday, it wasn’t in the familiar halls of the court, but in virtual space. Honoring COVID-19 stay-at-home directives, the court conducted oral arguments in three cases via teleconferencing, becoming only the second state supreme court in the nation to do so (Ohio apparently beat them by a day). Bottom line: The technology performed smoothly for the most part, appellants got their virtual day in court and some of the justices got to wear their robes at home. Janet Elliott describes the court’s first argument in W&T Offshore v. Fredieu
DBJ: Texas Instruments Sued by NTT Over Patents Covering Wi-Fi
One of the largest telecommunications companies in the world has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Waco against the Dallas company for infringing on patents.
Businesses Facing Emergency Downsizing Have No Room for Error
If businesses don’t handle a workforce reduction the right way, it could not only cost them more money, it could also land them in court or even destroy the business. In this article, Hicks Thomas attorneys Stewart Hoffer and Kasi Chadwick share advice for businesses needing to downsize in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
Dallas Real Estate Title Worker Sentenced Via VTC to 46 Months for Fraud
In the first video teleconference sentencing in federal court in Dallas since the COVID-19 crisis began, U.S. District Chief Judge Barbara Lynn this week sentenced a medical mask-wearing white-collar criminal defendant to nearly four years in prison for her role in a $1.4 million real estate title insurance scheme.
DBJ: Sabre Wins Antitrust Case Against DOJ
The case centered around the roughly $360 million acquisition of Farelogix, a deal that was first announced in late 2018. Sabre is still looking for another win from the U.K Competition and Markets Authority.
CDT Roundup: 14 Deals, 11 Firms, 68 Lawyers, $8.2B
First quarter global M&A activity fell back to levels not seen since 2013 with U.S. results eerily similar to 2008. Meanwhile, dealmaking involving Texas lawyers keeps chugging along thanks to transactions already in the works and some companies’ moves to shore up liquidity.
Report: Bankrupt Oil and Gas Producers Number 215 Since 2015
Oilfield services providers followed with 204 bankruptcies over the last five years and midstream providers amounted to 30, according to Haynes and Boone. But few in the oil and gas industry will be immune given low oil prices and uncertainty around the demand-sapping coronavirus.