Bankruptcies in the oil and gas industry increased last year, especially in the fourth quarter, according to one report, and commodity prices may remain challenged despite recent geopolitical events. Claire Poole reports on that plus last week’s dealmaking slide.
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Noah Webster Had ‘a Very Busy First 18 Months’ as Zix GC
A West Point alum, Noah Webster led Zix through a transformational acquisition and capital raise last year. But his most interesting success for the security tech business involved a URL, an Oakland artist and past due garbage collection bills. Not bad for the son of a “toilet paper salesman.”
A Texas-Sized Breakup Over a Handshake Deal
It’s styled as a simple contract dispute. But the upcoming courtroom fray between Charif Souki and Cheniere Energy, the company he founded, is a multi-layered conflict between a well-known entrepreneur and a well-known corporate raider.
Neiman’s Tracy Preston ‘Handles Everything that Is Thrown at Her’
Seven years ago, Tracy Preston traded in her Levi jeans for Jimmy Choo shoes to become the GC at Neiman Marcus. Last year, she defeated a $1 billion lawsuit brought by a hedge fund, executed a complex transaction that extend the company’s funded debt and played a strategic role in the opening of Neiman Marcus Hudson Yards, the company’s first store in New York City. She has more to come in 2020.
Appeals Court Upholds, Broadens Noncompete Injunction on Physician Recruiter
Not only does the ruling ban a former sales executive for Merritt Hawkins and Associates from conducting business in five states; it also increases the likelihood for MHA to recover damages in the trial court. Natalie Posgate explains.
McKool & Team Score $85M against Apple
Mike McKool and a group of McKool Smith lawyers asked a San Diego federal court jury to order Apple to pay their client $85 million for patent infringement. On Friday, the jury did just that. The Texas Lawbook has details.
Prosperity’s Rasche with Bracewell: Shepherding the Second Largest Bank Merger in Texas History
Prosperity was used to doing acquisitions, having completed 42 since its founding in 1983. But the LegacyTexas transaction was the largest in terms of sheer size and relative size to Prosperity – and came with challenges.
DBJ: Dallas Company’s Founder Taking New Owners to Court in a Move That’s Held Up a Key Deal
A founder of an Irving software company has gone to court to stop his company from making an acquisition – and it’s worked so far. Brian Womack of the Dallas Business Journal has the story.
Locke Lord Loses Two Top Energy Dealmakers to Winston
The former capital markets co-chairs said in an interview they needed the Chicago firm’s platform to better serve their clients and “truly be on top.”
Pier 1, Bracewell Weather Massive Shareholder Class Action Storm
Pier 1 endured changes in style, changes in market, changes in judges and changes in its legal leadership to beat back stockholder charges of securities fraud in epic fashion. And as a result they are finalists for Litigation of the Year in the 2019 DFW Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards.
But in addition to those challenges, the company is now also coping with the untimely death of its general counsel.