AUSTIN – State securities regulation has always been something of a whack-a-mole endeavor, but today’s moles have gotten quite clever. As older Texans become more comfortable with smartphones and online interactions, scammers use websites like Craigslist and Facebook to troll for victims, Joseph Rotunda, director of enforcement for the Texas State Securities Board, told The Texas Lawbook in an exclusive interview.
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DBJ: Former Solera CEO Suing Over Stock Options Worth More than $100M
Tony Aquila said in a statement that Solera has breached a separation deal and refuses to honor its obligations to pay the company’s founder for his vested stock options worth in excess of $100 million.
Chron: Texas AG to Lead Multi-State Antitrust Investigation into Google
The investigation will look into whether the company, which “dominates all aspects of advertising on the internet and searching on the internet,” has acted in ways that restricted competition or consumer access, Texas AG Ken Paxton said at a press conference outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday.
CDT Roundup: 17 Deals, 15 Firms, 98 Lawyers, $3.5B
The public markets are shrinking while private equity is expanding, with investors putting 14% of their assets in private markets, a number that’s expected to balloon to 20% over the next 10 years. Private equity deals are increasingly showing up on the Corporate Deal Tracker, making up half of last week’s activity after the Labor Day holiday. Claire Poole reports on the trend.
Ruff Family Seeks Criminal Inquiry against Lawyer, Bank over Millions in Trust Fund
A Texas judge has initiated a “court of inquiry” to handle allegations of criminal misconduct made by the children of deceased Dallas banker Arthur Ruff against Texas lawyers and bankers involved in their family’s multimillion-dollar trust. The judicial led probe comes as Ruff’s widow seeks to enforce a $66 million judgment against her own son. The web of lawsuits shows just how nasty family disputes over cash and control can get.
International Transactional Lawyer Returns Home, Lands at NRF
John Chrisman, who received degrees from UT and SMU, was most recently practicing in Dubai.
Clerk to Chief Federal Bankruptcy Judge Joins Jones Day
Michaela C. Crocker has joined Jones Day’s Dallas office. Crocker was a career clerk for Chief Judge Barbara Houser of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the NDTX.
Veteran Dallas IP Litigator Launches Own Shop
Anthony Magee, who has practiced at three Dallas litigation firms over the past 25 years, was looking for more freedom in deciding to set out on his own.
McGuireWoods Names New Dallas Office Managing Partner
Jason Cook, a patent litigator, succeeded corporate partner Akash Sethi at the beginning of the month.
Haynes and Boone Brings San Antonio Real Estate Partner Back
George Hinchey has returned to Haynes and Boone after making partner at Jackson Walker last year.