• Subscribe
  • Log In
  • Sign up for email updates
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

  • Appellate
  • Bankruptcy
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corp. Deal Tracker/M&A
  • GCs/Corp. Legal Depts.
  • Firm Management
  • White-Collar/Regulatory
  • Pro Bono/Public Service/D&I

More Stories

Exclusive: Texas M&A Strong in Q1, Except Oil & Gas Upstream

Texas-based companies continued their aggressive pace of M&A activity during the first three months of 2015. New Mergermarket data shows that nearly every business sector, including healthcare, technology, business services and retail, continued at near record highs in Q1. The huge exception was oil and gas upstream, which is nearly dead except for the few distressed companies selling assets because they have no other option.

By contrast, oil and gas pipeline companies continued their frantic pace of acquiring and divesting assets. Energy Transfer Partners purchased Regency Energy Partners for $18 billion, which is the largest deal so far this year.

The Texas Lawbook provides in-depth coverage.

April 3, 2015 Mark Curriden

Exclusive: Texas M&A Strong in Q1, Except Oil & Gas Upstream

Texas-based companies continued their aggressive pace of M&A activity during the first three months of 2015. New Mergermarket data shows that nearly every business sector, including healthcare, technology, business services and retail, continued at near record highs in Q1. The huge exception was oil and gas upstream, which is nearly dead except for the few distressed companies selling assets because they have no other option.
By contrast, oil and gas pipeline companies continued their frantic pace of acquiring and divesting assets. Energy Transfer Partners purchased Regency Energy Partners for $18 billion, which is the largest deal so far this year.
The Texas Lawbook provides in-depth coverage.

April 3, 2015 Mark Curriden

Gruber Hurst & Elrod Law Firms Combine

Two prominent Dallas business litigation boutiques – Gruber Hurst Johansen Hail Shank and Elrod – are expected to announce Wednesday that they are merging their law practices.

The combined law firm will boast 30 lawyers, making it one of the largest commercial litigation-only law firms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

March 31, 2015 Mark Curriden

Gruber Hurst & Elrod Law Firms Combine

Two prominent Dallas business litigation boutiques – Gruber Hurst Johansen Hail Shank and Elrod – are expected to announce Wednesday that they are merging their law practices.
The combined law firm will boast 30 lawyers, making it one of the largest commercial litigation-only law firms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

March 31, 2015 Mark Curriden

V&E and Kirkland Advise in $1 Billion Private Equity Investment

EIG Global Energy Partners announced Tuesday that it has agreed to commit a $1 billion strategic investment to Breitburn Energy Partners that will likely help the independent oil and gas company repay borrowings under its credit facility.

March 31, 2015 Mark Curriden

V&E and Kirkland Advise in $1 Billion Private Equity Investment

EIG Global Energy Partners announced Tuesday that it has agreed to commit a $1 billion strategic investment to Breitburn Energy Partners that will likely help the independent oil and gas company repay borrowings under its credit facility.

March 31, 2015 Mark Curriden

Texas Regulatory Expert Joins V&E

Barry Smitherman has been an investment banker who specializes in the capital markets. He prosecuted domestic violence cases as a lawyer in the Harris County District Attorney’s office. He chaired the Texas Public Utility Commission and the state’s Railroad Commission. Now, he has a new title: partner at Vinson & Elkins.

March 31, 2015 Mark Curriden

Texas Regulatory Expert Joins V&E

Barry Smitherman has been an investment banker who specializes in the capital markets. He prosecuted domestic violence cases as a lawyer in the Harris County District Attorney’s office. He chaired the Texas Public Utility Commission and the state’s Railroad Commission. Now, he has a new title: partner at Vinson & Elkins.

March 31, 2015 Mark Curriden

Exclusive: Tyler Federal Judge Davis to Join Fish & Richardson

U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis handled more than 1,700 patent infringement cases during his 13 years on the Eastern District bench, handing some of the biggest IP disputes in the U.S. In an interview with The Texas Lawbook, Judge Davis said he is leaving the bench and taking his patent expertise to Fish & Richardson, where he said he plans to advise business clients that have cases in East Texas.

“Some people think it takes a Ph.D to decide a patent disputes, but these cases are really about who is telling the truth,” he said.

March 30, 2015 Mark Curriden

Exclusive: Tyler Federal Judge Davis to Join Fish & Richardson

U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis handled more than 1,700 patent infringement cases during his 13 years on the Eastern District bench, handing some of the biggest IP disputes in the U.S. In an interview with The Texas Lawbook, Judge Davis said he is leaving the bench and taking his patent expertise to Fish & Richardson, where he said he plans to advise business clients that have cases in East Texas.
“Some people think it takes a Ph.D to decide a patent disputes, but these cases are really about who is telling the truth,” he said.

March 30, 2015 Mark Curriden

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 817
  • Go to page 818
  • Go to page 819
  • Go to page 820
  • Go to page 821
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 991
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Features

  • P.S. — Hispanic Law Foundation’s ‘Thank You’ is ‘Deeper Than It’s Ever Been,’ President Says at Scholarship Luncheon  - The Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation celebrated its annual Amanecer luncheon, awarding scholarships, internships, and bar study grants to 14 Hispanic law students amid new fundraising challenges resulting from President Trump’s scrutiny of diversity initiatives. Foundation President Andrés Correa expressed deep gratitude to sponsors for their continued support despite donor hesitations. In related legal community news, the San Antonio Legal Services Association recently honored Haynes Boone lawyers for pro bono work supporting a child in a bankruptcy case; former U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton joined the Texas Council on Family Violence board; and the Houston Bar Association named award winners ahead of its annual dinner, marking leadership transitions and community service achievements. May 9, 2025Krista Torralva
  • Maverick Natural Resources’ Sarah Payne is ‘Like Having a Cheat Code Against the Other Side’ - Sarah Payne went to college and graduate school to be a journalist covering the music industry with the dream of writing for Rolling Stone. Her father, then a Houston trial lawyer, had other ideas. “I was worn down by my tenacious father over the course of two decades,” Payne told The Texas Lawbook. “My entering the profession was likely inescapable. It’s in my veins for better or worse." Payne recently led her employer, Maverick Natural Resources, to a huge courtroom victory after a four-year contract dispute with XTO Energy regarding revenue sharing as part of a joint venture. Citing the jury trial success, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Lawbook named Payne the 2025 Houston Corporate Counsel Award recipient for Senior Counsel of the Year for a Small Legal Department. May 5, 2025Mark Curriden & Jason Philyaw

GCs, Lawyers & Firms

  • Jackson Walker Hires Former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht - Retired Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht has joined the Dallas-based law firm Jackson Walker as a partner in its Austin office, the firm announced Friday. 
  • Trade and Tariffs Specialist Joins V&E
  • Sheppard Mullin Adds Tax/Executive Comp Partner in Houston from Kirkland
  • Troutman Pepper Locke Bolsters Energy Regulatory Practice in Austin
  • GT Taps Bill Katz to Co-Chair Antitrust Practice
  • Sorrels Law Recruits Head of Commercial Litigation Practice
  • Real Estate Veteran Nick Buehner Returns to V&E as a Partner
  • Dorsey Hires Former Federal Prosecutor Edward Loya
  • Munck Wilson Adds Depth to Corporate Practice
  • GT Bolsters Franchise & Distribution Practice with Cross-Border Adviser Mo Alturk
More GCs, Lawyers & Firms

Lawyers in the News

Hover right to see full list

Reem Abdelrazik
Doug Bacon
Harry Beaudry
Jonathan Benloulou
Gene Besen
Doug Bland
Jacqui Bogucki
Vera De Brito de Gyarfas
David Buck
Nora Burke
T.J. Campbell
Wayne Chan
Michael Considine
Mogan Copher
James Cowen
Kevin Crews
Samantha Crispin
Dawud Crooms
Shamus Crosby
Clint Culpepper
Brock Degeyter
Nick Dhesi
William Eiland
Austin Elam
Miles Emery
Bill Finnegan
David Gail
Adam Garmezy
Sami Ghubril
Breen Haire
Kim Hicks
J. Dean Hinderliter
Nicole Islinger
James Johnston
Atma Kabad
John Kaercher
Erin Kaufman
Paul Kukish
Thomas Laughlin
Oscar Fernando Leija
Emily Lichtenheld
Rob Little
Ryan Logan
Bryan Loocke
Katy Lukaszewski
Ryan Lynch
Ryan Maierson
Benjamin J. Martin
Madeline McCune
Sean McFarlane
Richard McGee
Sarah McLean
Sameer Mohan
Andrew Monk
Charlie Ofner
Stephen Olson
Joe Orien
Zach Parker
John Pitts
Benjamin Potter
Brendan Quigley
Kevin Richardson
Alex Robertson
Jason Rocha
Julian Seiguer
Mark Sloan
Chad Smith
Lande Spottswood
John Stribling
Vanessa Sutherland
Tanner Sykes
Martha Todd
Michael Vardanian
Thomas Verity
Douglas Warner
Kyle Watson
Luke Weedon
John Wetwiska
Sean Wheeler
Debbie Yee

Firms in the News

Hover right to show full list

Akin
Baker Botts
Bracewell
Haynes Boone
Holland & Knight
Kirkland & Ellis
Latham & Watkins
Morgan Lewis
Pillsbury
Porter Hedges
Sheppard Mullin
Sidley
Simpson Thacher
V&E
Weil
White & Case
Willkie

Footer

Who We Are

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Submit a News Tip

Stay Connected

  • Sign up for email updates
  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • Premium Subscriber Editorial Calendar

Our Partners

  • The Dallas Morning News
The Texas Lawbook logo

1409 Botham Jean Blvd.
Unit 811
Dallas, TX 75215

214.232.6783

© Copyright 2025 The Texas Lawbook
The content on this website is protected under federal Copyright laws. Any use without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.