A Delaware bankruptcy judge gave approval Monday for Dallas-based Energy Future Holdings to sell its 80 percent ownership stake in Oncor to Sempra. It was a key hurdle to clear before the Texas Public Utility Commission decides as early as March 8 whether to approve the deal. This article by DBJ reporter Jon Prior has details.
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Updated – Corp. Deal Tracker Weekly Round-Up: 13 Firms and 69 Texas Lawyers Advise on 20 Transactions Worth $6.6B
Transaction count and value was up from the prior week, when there were 15 transactions worth $5.5 billion. However, there was one less firm and two-thirds fewer attorneys working the deals, which ranged from M&A and capital markets transactions to a private equity fundraising to venture financings, including one in artificial intelligence.
White & Case Adds Houston Oil and Gas Partner from Akin Gump
Steven Otillar is the president of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.
Gibson Dunn Moves into New Houston Office Space
After opening its Houston office nearly one year ago, Gibson Dunn has moved into new office space at 811 Main Street in downtown Houston.
Baker McKenzie Becomes First Tenant at 1900 Pearl in Dallas Arts District
The 65-lawyer office occupies a 50,000-square-foot space in the building.
Texas Business Bankruptcies Skyrocketed in 2017, Debt Hits ‘Height of Debt Lunacy’
Texas companies restructuring in federal bankruptcy court jumped more than 42 percent in 2017, nearly reaching the highs of the Great Recession eight years ago. Filings for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2017 skyrocketed to record levels in the Southern District of Texas and near record levels in the Northern District. Some corporate restructuring experts predict there could be another wave of bankruptcies filed by Texas businesses burdened with historic levels of debt.
SCOTX: Lawyer-Client Privilege Applies to Patent Agents
Patent agents who provide authorized legal services may invoke attorney-client privilege to withhold client communications, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling supports Andrew Silver, the inventor of tablet technology for ordering and paying the tab at a restaurant. Silver claims Tabletop Media failed to pay him for his patent and is fighting a Dallas trial court’s order compelling the production of emails between Silver and his non-attorney patent agent. The Texas Lawbook has complete details.
SCOTX: Mental Anguish Damages Possible for Negligent Mishandling of Corpse
Mental anguish damages might be available in a case alleging negligent mishandling of a corpse, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday, sending a recently argued case back to a Brown County court for trial. The justices upheld a ruling by the 11th Court of Appeals in Eastland that Nelson, Lobban’s only adult child, had common law and statutory rights as next of kin to determine the disposition of his mother’s remains.
Flying Pig Spotted: Fifth Circuit Grants Mandamus Relief in Privilege Dispute
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is famously reluctant to grant a mandamus petition. The court recently invoked authority from 1881 as the reason for denial. But last week, a Fifth Circuit panel in a case that received little attention granted mandamus relief as to a finding of an extensive waiver of attorney-client privilege. This Texas Lawbook article explains the case and why it matters.
Toyota Lawyer-Turned-Whistleblower Central to Discovery Battle in Texas Case
A fierce and dramatic discovery battle with national litigation implications heads back to a Dallas civil courtroom this week. The case pits Frank Branson, one of the toughest trial lawyers to practice in Texas, against Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest automaker in a wrongful lawsuit.
The facts of the underlying dispute have taken a backseat to claims that Toyota is purposely concealing documents that are relevant to the case and refusing to allow its executives to testify about its safety databases. Branson’s team is asking a Dallas judge to unseal documents, leaked by Toyota in-house lawyer-turned-whistleblower, demonstrating the automaker’s previous patterns of concealing crucial evidence in other cases.