Dr Pepper Snapple General Counsel Jim Baldwin and the soft drink maker’s in-house legal team – including assistant GCs Art Swanson and Wayne Lewis – led the Plano company’s $18.7 billion merger negotiations with Keurig Green Mountain. Morgan Lewis, Skadden Arps and McDermott are advising in the transaction, but none of the key lawyers are based in Texas.
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Environmental Regulatory Expert Joins Sidley Austin in Houston
Heather Palmer, who previously practiced at Bracewell, is an environmental regulatory expert in handling energy-related environmental transactions.
King & Spalding Adds Houston Litigation Partner
Craig Stanfield was previously at Morgan Lewis, where he was hiring partner of the firm’s Houston office and a member of its pro bono committee.
Alston & Bird Picks Up Dallas M&A Partner
Soren Lindstrom leaves McDermott Will & Emery for the Atlanta-based Alston & Bird.
DLA Piper Announces Corporate Partner Hire in Dallas
Steven Bartz, formerly of Thompson & Knight, concentrates his practice on structuring, forming and capitalizing private equity funds and portfolio companies on behalf of sponsors, investors and management teams.
Houston Bankruptcy Partner Laterals to Jones Walker
Joe Bain was previously at Edison, McDowell & Hetherington.
Meet Frost Bank’s New GC: James Waters
James Waters, administrative partner of Haynes and Boone’s Dallas office, will start as the new general counsel and executive vice president at San Antonio-based Frost Bank at the end of February. He replaces long-time Frost GC Stanley McCormick. The Texas Lawbook has an exclusive interview with Waters.
DBJ: Bell Nunnally to relocate Dallas office to Penthouse of Arts District Tower
Bell Nunnally & Martin decided to relocate its Dallas office to the top two floors of KPMG Plaza at Hall Arts by the end of the summer.
Corporate GCs Pushing Law Firms on Diversity
Leaders at corporate legal departments in Texas appear ready to use their considerable influence to push – or possibly even force – law firms to recruit, retain and promote minority and women lawyers. Corporate general counsel – also known as the clients paying the bills of the lawyers – are growing impatient with the lack of law firm diversity and many are considering taking hard-line approaches against firms that are not aggressive enough. Corporate legal departments at AT&T, Kimberly-Clark, Liberty Mutual, MetroPCS and other major businesses are speaking out.
Dems: GOP Suit Like ‘Ice on a Sidewalk in Dallas in August’
The Dallas County Democratic party has retained Randy Johnston and Chad Baruch of Johnston Tobey Baruch to defend it in the lawsuit the GOP filed against it seeking the removal of 128 Democratic candidates off the March 6 primary ballot. Johnston has a few things to say about it. Details here.