U.S. Bankruptcy Chief Judge Barbara Houser told lawyers for Sam and Dee Wyly Wednesday that she has “a lot of heartburn” about some of the tax-free offshore trusts the Wylys established during the 1990s, which the judge said were created based on “flat out lies.”
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Weisbart Springer Hayes Promotes Sara Janes to Partner
Janes represents Fortune 100, mid-size and start-up companies and individuals in employment, commercial and technology disputes.
Thompson Coe Promotes Four Lawyers in Texas to Partner
Travis Brown and Christina de la Garza are based in Dallas; Sean Crowley is based in Austin; and Andrew McCluggage is based in Houston.
Vorys Names Two New Partners in Houston
Jonathan Ishee and Paul Kerlin focus their practices on health care and commercial litigation, respectively.
Underwood Law Promotes Monica Narvaez to Shareholder
Narvaez, based in the firm’s Fort Worth office, focuses her practice on labor and employment matters.
Harrington Honored for Access to Justice Efforts
Recently, Jim Harrington, the founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, received the prestigious Harold F. Kleinman Award from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation for his commitment to public service. The timing of the award is appropriate as Harrington prepares to turn over the reins of the TCRP so he can return to his roots of community organizing.
Houston Lawyer Helps Sutherland Develop App that Opens Gateway to TX Courts
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan enlisted David Baay, a partner and co-head of the energy litigation section of the firm’s Houston office, to develop a mobile app specific to Texas.
The app, called Texas openCourts, launched in late 2015 and allows users to locate state and federal courts, learn about the background of judges and access local federal court rules.
“I wanted something that would be the most useful,” Baay said. “Quickly, court information came to mind.”
Texas Judge Sanctions Bill Brewer for “Misconduct”
Lubbock District Judge Ruben Reyes sanctioned Dallas trial lawyer Bill Brewer $133,000 for alleged improper conduct committed misconduct for using a so-called push poll to improperly influence potential jurors in a West Texas wrongful death case that was weeks away from trial in 2014. Brewer denies it was a push poll and argues he has done nothing unethical.
“Mr. Brewer’s explanation that he bears clean hands because the poll was a blind study conducted by a third party vendor is insulting to this court,” the judge wrote.
Genband Hits Rival with $8.16 Million Verdict
While those damages in the patent infringement litigation may sound great, the Plano firm’s real goal could be to land a permanent injunction to get competing technology off the market.
Mark Evans: Giuliani’s Departure from Bracewell was no Surprise
Bracewell Managing Partner Mark Evans says that the firm made “a wonderful decision” a decade ago to hire former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as a partner and add his name to the front door. Firm leadership decided to drop Giuliani’s name from its letterhead last year as part of a re-branding effort, Evans said Wednesday in an interview with The Texas Lawbook. He also said Giuliani’s departure was completely the former presidential candidate’s decision.