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ACC San Antonio Honors USAA’s Michael Danforth and H-E-B’s Abel Martinez - In an era when corporate lawyers frequently change jobs, Abel Martinez and Michael Danforth have been rocks for their employers. The two San Antonio in-house counsel have been with their respective legal departments for a combined 45 years.
Danforth, a principal lawyer at USAA for more than 18 years, and Martinez, group vice president at H-E-B, are also widely respected for giving back to the legal profession and their local community. October 8, 2026
Danforth, a principal lawyer at USAA for more than 18 years, and Martinez, group vice president at H-E-B, are also widely respected for giving back to the legal profession and their local community. October 8, 2026
Business Court Jurors Hear Opening Statements in Multimillion-Dollar Contract Dispute - Opening statements began Thursday morning in a breach-of-contract jury trial between an oil and gas company and a clean-energy technology developer. Jury selection took all day Tuesday, and there were not enough jurors present to proceed Wednesday, delaying the two-week jury trial. October 8, 2026
Texas Lawbook Issues Correction, Apologizes to Justice Lehrmann - The Texas Lawbook published an article Wednesday about a Texas Supreme Court case involving Exxon Mobil that wrongly included a sentence that Justice Debra Lehrmann “owns shares” of Exxon Mobil stock and that she “was present” for the oral arguments. The Lawbook pointed to 2025 financial disclosure forms.
But The Lawbook has learned that the sentence was incorrect and that Justice Lehrmann sold her Exxon Mobil stock. The Lawbook failed to do the additional reporting and editing required and The Lawbook team apologizes to Justice Lehrmann for our error. October 8, 2026
But The Lawbook has learned that the sentence was incorrect and that Justice Lehrmann sold her Exxon Mobil stock. The Lawbook failed to do the additional reporting and editing required and The Lawbook team apologizes to Justice Lehrmann for our error. October 8, 2026
Devon Energy Exits Eagle Ford in $4.2B Asset Sale to Crescent - The deal signals Devon’s effective exit from the Eagle Ford to focus on the Permian Basin. Latham & Watkins and Vinson & Elkins served as outside legal advisors for Crescent, while Kirkland & Ellis represented Devon. October 8, 2026
SCOTX Hears Arguments in $25M Dispute Between Exxon and Lexington Insurance - The Texas Supreme Court justices heard arguments from counsel Wednesday morning over whether an insurance policy covers personal-injury claims made by parties injured in a fatal 2013 ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Beaumont. October 7, 2026
Texas Lawyers Foresee AI Litigation Boom, Debate if the Legal System is Ready - An avalanche of high-stakes litigation related to rogue artificial intelligence activity is just around the corner, but there is a significant split in the Texas legal community about whether the courts and existing tort law can handle such sophisticated and large-dollar disputes. Trial lawyers who both sue and defend large technology companies predict state courts from Texas to California are about to see their dockets swell with lawsuits that accuse AI developers of knowingly making and marketing dangerous and defective products when their AI agents — software that can take action autonomously — cause harm, whether by mistake or intentionally. October 6, 2026Energy Transfer Buys Vaquero Midstream for $2.6B - Energy Transfer said Vaquero has enough acreage to support another two trains that could boost capacity to about 1.2 billion cubic feet a day. Sidley repped ET and Willkie guided Vaquero on the deal. October 6, 2026
Centerpiece
The Heavyweight Litigator Quietly Behind Halperin Park and Other Major Civic Projects in Dallas - Mike Gruber is the litigator people and businesses call when the stakes are high. But for much of his life and career, he has also worked quietly behind the scenes of some of Dallas’ biggest civic projects.
He almost missed his chance. A teenage car mechanic who seemed destined for vocational work, Gruber saw a different future only after a high school civics teacher took an interest in him and mapped out an alternative path.
In the decades since, Gruber has quietly paid that opportunity forward, leveraging his bar card, relationships and resources to help shape Dallas beyond the courtroom. October 8, 2026
Asked & Answered with Texas Business Court Judge Andrea Bouressa: On Joining a New Court - In this edition of Asked & Answered, Texas Business Court Judge Andrea Bouressa discusses her favorite day on the bench and what has surprised her about serving. She also shares what she hopes will come next for the court as it continues to grow. October 7, 2026Expert Voices
Abbott Orders Statewide Pause on Texas Data Center Permits - Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the TCEQ to stop issuing permits for data center projects statewide — including those not connected to the ERCOT grid — until ERCOT finishes a broader audit expected to wrap up in mid-December. The order may reach beyond data center developers themselves to affiliated power-generation projects, and attorneys say its scope leaves open questions about how it applies to lower-tier permitting processes. October 7, 2026
