The nomination marks last needed in the pursuit to fill the five vacancies that are currently in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Statewide, there are 12 judicial vacancies in the federal district courts.
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Threats of Grievance Action Against Opposing Counsel During Trial Can Violate Disciplinary Rules
An appeals court in Houston has ruled a lawyer who threatens to file a grievance against opposing counsel during a trial in order to get an advantage in the litigation is committing an ethics violation.
Houston Law Firm Wins Nation’s First Prisoner Release under First Step Act
Richard Evans walked out of federal prison Thursday as the first person freed under the new First Step Act’s “compassionate release” measure. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt of Houston signed the order and Houston lawyers David Gerger, Samy Khalil and Ashlee McFarland filed the emergency petition. The Texas Lawbook has the inside details.
Fifth Circuit Considers Constitutionality of Native American Adoption Law
A three-judge Fifth Circuit panel on Wednesday considered whether to reverse the ruling by a Fort Worth judge that struck down a decades-old law designed to protect the interests of Native American children in custody proceedings. The arguments had deep roots in the nation’s uneven relationship with its native forebears. Natalie Posgate reviews the issues.
Autonomy of the Regulator in the Mexico Energy Sector
Morena, the new majority party in Mexico’s government, is seeking to centralize the nation’s main energy regulatory agencies, which now exercise a measure of autonomy, under the Ministry of Energy. But are these changes necessary? Thompson & Knight attorneys provide an analysis.
Texas IPO Activity in 2018 and 2019 Preview
Although the first half of 2018 saw a flurry of energy IPOs, the decrease in oil and gas prices created a difficult IPO environment for the remainder of the year, and no energy IPOs by Texas-headquartered companies were completed during that time. As it turned out, all 13 of the Texas IPOs registered during 2018 were emerging growth companies. But there were some high points and a few emerging trends, and E. Ramey Layne and his colleagues at V&E discuss them at length.
CERAWeek: M&A=Meh&A
With major M&A activity reduced to a few blockbuster simplification transactions and IPOs all but dead, the consensus of those on the floor at CERAWeek is that management is leery of deals when major investors have no interest. “We’re going through a major period of adjustment,” says Credit Suisse banker Osmar Abib. The Lawbook’s Claire Poole reports.
Meet Frank McElroy: Weaver’s New GC
McElroy is the first in-house lawyer and general counsel for the Texas accounting firm. At Weaver, McElroy will work on both the litigation and transactional side. In addition to managing the firm’s corporate needs, he’ll be active in the firm’s contract and acquisition negotiations, quality review teams and risk management.
Updated – Former Koch Companies Public Sector Chief Counsel of Litigation Jumps to Hogan Lovells in Houston
Jennifer Adams, the former chief counsel of litigation for Koch Companies Public Sector, has made the move back to private practice.
Quinn Emanuel Expands Bankruptcy Group with New Houston Partner
Patricia Tomasco, who was previously at Jackson Walker, has joined Quinn Emanuel in Houston.