Dallas oil and gas company Exco Resources filed for bankruptcy this week as executives are in discussions with its creditors to restructure its troubled balance sheet. Exco has hired Kirkland & Ellis, which has offices in Houston and is also representing Energy Future Holdings in its bankruptcy, as its lead outside counsel to advise the company on its corporate restructuring.
More Stories
Chasity Henry is a ‘Recognized Problem-Solver’
Chasity Wilson Henry had barely graduated from law school in 2006 when she found herself handling nine-figure M&A deals with some of the savviest corporate lawyers in North Texas. Now Assistant General Counsel at Kimberly-Clark—and a finalist in the 2017 Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards—Henry is leading the legal department in strategic acquisitions and joint ventures. The Texas Lawbook lays out the reasons Henry is a fast-rising legal star.
Blake Rice’s Job is ‘Problem-solving with Really High Stakes’
For Blake Rice, the work day starts early. Though he is based in Dallas, the lifelines of Neuberger Berman, the fast-rising investment services company he represents, stretch across time zones from London to Hong Kong and beyond. His grasp of complicated global transactions has earned him both respect and a nomination for a 2017 Outstanding Corporate Counsel Award. Learn about him in The Texas Lawbook.
Trinity Industries: Their Hard-Fought Fifth Circuit Win Yields Three Outstanding Corporate Counsel Finalists
A 2014 East Texas jury verdict that Trinity Industries violated the False Claims Act resulted in a $663 million judgment against the Irving-based manufacturer of highway guardrails. Instead of cratering, Trinity launched a counter-offensive led by the company’s top legal officers, Theis Rice and Sarah Teachout. In 2017, the duo and their outside counsel scored an historic reversal—earning them nominations as finalists in three categories of the 2017 Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards. The Texas Lawbook explains.
Jones Day Pittsburgh Partner & Construction Practice Co-Leader Relocates to Dallas
Roy Powell’s move is in response to the growing needs of the firm’s Texas clients, Jones Day officials say.
Dykema Cox Smith Names Dan Harkins Director of IP Department
Harkins focuses his San Antonio-based practice on litigation involving patent, trademark, domain name, copyright, and trade secret disputes.
McGuireWoods Promotes One to Partner in Texas
Becky Diffen is based in Austin.
Hogan Lovells Recruits Global Projects Leader to Houston Office
Kevin Keenan was previously the deputy department head of the Baker Botts global projects practice in Houston.
Armbrust & Brown Adds Two Former Graves Dougherty Shareholders
Michael Whellan, a former president of Graves Dougherty, and Travis Phillips officially joined Armbrust & Brown on Monday.
SCOTX Argument: Ashes to Ashes to Court
The Texas Supreme Court is once again considering the issue of damages for mental anguish in a case involving the cremation of a woman who died unexpectedly in 2007. The case, brought by a son who had been living out-of-state, hinges on whether the funeral parlor involved had a special obligation to find him for his approval. Janet Elliott has details of the argument in The Texas Lawbook.