Longtime Bell Nunnally corporate and M&A partner Ray Balestri died earlier this month at the age of 64. A Dallas entrepreneur, investor, adjunct professor and lawyer with four decades of experience, Mr. Balestri was known nationwide as a dynamic dealmaker, whether representing companies that needed seed money or advising on multibillion-dollar mergers.
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Ousted Oil Executive’s Suit Goes to Trial in Dallas
Bernard Tubeileh, a German national, claims he was wrongly terminated by the Plano-based U.S. subsidiaries of a German oil and gas company he helped start. The companies say he resigned when his years of self-dealing, unlawful transactions and misappropriation of company funds came to light.
How Private Equity Will Shape M&A in 2025
With questions looming over the fate of the IRA, the likelihood of tariffs and more than a few geopolitical tensions muddying the view forward, many lawyers in the deal space are wary of describing what awaits them in the M&A market of 2025. However, one market area that almost all law firms and lawyers agree on, despite those serious variables, is that private equity will continue to help shape the world of Texas M&A.
Exit Interview: Leigha Simonton
The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas officially leaves office on Sunday, the day before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. In a wide-ranging discussion with The Texas Lawbook, Leigha Simonton reflects on her two years as chief federal prosecutor in a district that sprawls across 100 counties, and her long years of public service that led her to the job.
Texas Capital Bank GC Anna Alvarado ‘Knows What Hard Work Really Is’
Anna Alvarado has an extraordinary life story. And she has experienced extraordinary success. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Alvarado grew up in government-subsidized housing at a work camp in Central California, picking grapes and selling cassette tapes. Neither of her parents spoke English. Her dad was an addict and felon who served prison time.
“Had it not been for all of those things and having to deal with all of those things, I would not be sitting here today,” Alvarado said in a 2022 interview. Today, she is a finalist for the 2024 DFW Corporate Counsel of the Year Award for General Counsel of the Year for a Midsized Legal Department.
Premium Subscriber Q&A: Anna Alvarado
In this Q&A, Texas Capital Bank GC Anna Alavardo discusses the traits she seeks in outside counsel, what outside counsel need to know when working for her and her thoughts on DEI.
Judge Awards $1.8M in Fees to Disabled Ex-NFL Player’s Lawyers
In a 34-page order, Judge Scholer found that the NFL and its retirement fund must pay Michael Cloud’s lawyers at Barlow Garsek & Simon in Fort Worth $1,232,058.75 for their pretrial and trial work, $550,000 for their appellate work and $30,074.72 in costs.
Quinn Emanuel Elevates Christopher D. Porter to Co-Chair of National Trial Practice
Christopher D. Porter, already co-managing partner of Quinn Emanuel’s Houston office, was recently named co-chair of the national trial practice group. Porter boasts more than 16 years as a trial lawyer with a practice focused on business litigation.
Blacklock Followed Public Sector Path to Lead Texas Judiciary
Some were surprised by Gov. Greg Abbott’s selection of Jimmy Blacklock as Texas Supreme Court Chief justice, but his eyes were always on big questions about the role of the constitution and development of the law. His leadership is likely to continue the court’s conservative rulings.
Veteran Trial Lawyer Mary-Olga “Mo” Lovett Exits King & Spalding to Launch Self-Titled Firm
Mary-Olga “Mo” Lovett, formerly a partner at King & Spalding and a past senior vice president at Greenberg Traurig boasts more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer. Owning her own firm has been a lifelong dream, she said.