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Big Law’s Transfer Portal: Elite Firms Raid Texas Talent with Record Pay Packages - The Texas corporate legal market has started 2026 with a frenzy of activity that includes several high-profile lateral partner moves, new office openings, new hourly rates nearing $3,000 and record-shattering compensation agreements with some lawyers being offered guaranteed multi-year compensation packages exceeding $20 million. February 6, 2026
Hot-Button Issues Shaped Kyle Hawkins’ Advocacy - Before he was appointed as a justice on the state’s highest court in October, Kyle Hawkins argued five cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and nine at the Texas Supreme Court. His advocacy included cases targeting abortion, the Affordable Care Act and New York’s school vaccination law. Hawkins’ appointment came shortly after he argued a tobacco tax case before the court he now sits on. February 5, 2026Expert Voices
Business Court: January 2026 Decisions - If January is any indication, it’s going to be another blockbuster year for the Court. The Court penned three opinions and gave us an early contender for quote of the year. February 10, 2026
My Five Favorite (True Crime) Books: Natalie LeVeck (Senior Counsel at Google/YouTube) - When I was asked to write about my five favorite books, I initially shuddered at the idea of admitting to my law colleagues that I have a long-standing (and deeply ingrained) obsession with true crime. But after a quick dive into statistics about the popularity of true crime shows, films, and podcasts — particularly among women in my age range — I felt a little less exposed. Maybe what started for me in middle school, watching Dateline with my family, isn’t quite as niche as I once thought. February 4, 2026
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The Legacy of Pennzoil v. Texaco 40 Years Later — The Civil Jury Trial of the Century - Pennzoil v. Texaco's legacy remains significant, as it changed how companies handle mergers and acquisitions, caused the Chamber of Commerce to designate Texas as a judicial hellhole in 1986 and directly led to two decades of massive tort reform efforts that dramatically limited the rights of Texans to sue businesses, doctors and insurance companies for wrongdoing. It also launched Texas trial lawyer Joe Jamail to national stardom and made him the richest trial lawyer in American history.
In this in-depth article, The Texas Lawbook provides a detailed timeline of the events involved in the historic litigation, as well as comments from more than a dozen lawyers about the legal strategies employed. November 18, 2025
