In this edition of Litigation Roundup, three former federal judges in Texas join more than two dozen of their colleagues in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, the parties involved in an East Texas water fight reach an agreement and a math lesson from the Dallas Court of Appeals wipes out a $26.9 million prejudgment interest award.
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Huntington Expands in Texas and Across the South with Purchase of Cadence Bank for $7.4B
Another week means another bank consolidation in Texas. Huntington Bancshares said Monday that it is acquiring Cadence Bank in a stock swap valued at about $7.4 billion. Cadence — with dual headquarters in Houston and Tupelo, Miss. — has more than 390 locations across Texas and the South.
Wachtell and Sullivan & Cromwell advised on the deal. Cadence’s Houston-based chief legal officer is Shanna Kuzdzal, who replaced the bank’s longtime in-house leader Chuck Pignuolo in 2023 when he retired.
Updated — BioBridge GC Richey Wyatt Used Problem-Solving Skills to Bring Students Back to Class
BioBridge Global GC Richey Wyatt was walking into his gym in June 2020 when he received a text message from San Antonio entrepreneur Graham Weston, who was seeking solutions to help get the city’s children back to in-person learning. Minutes later, the two men were on the phone. The result was the creation of Community Labs and Bridge converting its blood testing laboratories to accommodate rapid Covid-19 testing of thousands of San Antonio school children, teachers and staff.
“We went from zero to 180 miles per hour really frickin’ fast,” Wyatt told The Texas Lawbook. “It was a wild ride that we knew would have a big impact on our community.”
Citing his extraordinary legal and community achievements, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s San Antonio Chapter and The Lawbook are honoring Wyatt with the 2025 San Antonio Corporate Counsel Award for Lifetime Achievement. Wyatt and 11 other San Antonio corporate general counsel will be recognized on Nov. 6 at the inaugural San Antonio Corporate Counsel Awards ceremony.
Premium Subscriber Q&A: Richey Wyatt
Texas Lawbook: What are the biggest challenges facing GCs in Texas today? Richey Wyatt: In highly regulated industries like ours, being able to navigate what we call “regulatory fluidity.” In
CDT Roundup: Blackstone, TPG, Meta, Blue Owl Dominate a $61B Week
Some weeks are heavy on volume. Some weeks are heavy on value. This week was a whopper in both counts: 19 transactions valued at more than $61 billion, including 18 in the M&A/Fundings column. That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.
Texas’ U.S. Senators Make Judicial Nominee Recommendations, Trump Nominates Kirkland Partner for NDTX U.S. Attorney
Two names have been submitted to the White House for consideration for judicial vacancies in the Southern and Western Districts of Texas. There are 10 total judicial vacancies in Texas federal district courts. Additionally, Kirkland & Ellis partner Ryan Raybould has been nominated for U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas. All four U.S. attorney’s offices have had vacancies since the start of the year. There have not been nominations for the other three districts.
JERA Acquires Haynesville Shale Assets for $1.5B
The Japanese power company was advised by Baker Botts on the deal with Williams Companies and GEP Haynesville II, its JV with GeoSouthern Energy. The acquisition builds on JERA’s existing longterm contracts with Gulf Coast LNG exporters.
Kyle Hawkins is Newest Texas Supreme Court Justice
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday he has appointed the former solicitor general of Texas to serve as the newest member of the Texas Supreme Court. Kyle Hawkins, who most recently was a partner at Lehotsky Keller Cohn, will be filling the seat left vacant by former Justice Jeff Boyd, who left the court in September.
Premium Subscriber Q&A: Daniel Andrews
Andrews shares how he thinks lawyers can help meet the biggest challenges facing legal aid organizations and pro bono legal services groups.
USAA AGC Daniel Andrews Has an ‘Infectious Commitment to Pro Bono Service’
Daniel Andrews jokes that becoming a lawyer was always somewhere behind astronaut and movie star on his list of dream jobs. But when the Oklahoma City native started college at Trinity University, family influence nudged him toward the legal path. Eight years into his in-house career at USAA, Andrews has built a reputation that extends far beyond his litigation expertise. This year, he’s being honored with the 2025 San Antonio Corporate Counsel Award for Achievement in Pro Bono and Public Service. “Dan’s demonstrated commitment to legal services for the poor, especially indigent veterans, makes him a terrific candidate for the Pro Bono Award,” said Michael Danforth, vice president of the San Antonio Legal Services Association and USAA associate general counsel, who nominated Andrews.