DFW Business Bankruptcy Cases Most Since Great Recession

Fueled by financial distress in the healthcare and hospitality industries, a record number of businesses filed for bankruptcy in the Northern District of Texas federal courts during the first six months of 2025. New Texas Lawbook data shows that 622 companies and their affiliated businesses sought protection to restructure under Chapter 11 in the Texas bankruptcy courts between Jan. 1 and June 30 — more than any other state by a large margin. A half-dozen leading business bankruptcy experts provide their insights.

July 24, 2025 Mark Curriden

What Happened to the Commercial Real Estate Bankruptcy Boom? Texas Corporate Bankruptcy Law Experts Discuss the Restructuring Landscape

The Texas Lawbook interviewed seven of the top business bankruptcy lawyers in Texas about trends and developments in their practices during 2025. The experts include Sidley Austin partner Duston McFaul, Godwin Bowman partner Sid Scheinberg, O’Melveny & Myers partner Lou Strubeck, Haynes Boone partner Charles Beckham, Ross & Smith partner Frances Smith, Bradley Arant partner Jarrod Martin and Bracewell partner Trey Wood.

July 24, 2025 Mark Curriden

12 Years After Filing Suit, Jury to Decide Fight Over Sale of Houston Astros

A Harris County jury on Thursday will begin the job of determining whether Jim Crane was duped into paying too much to buy the Houston Astros from the prior owner in 2011. Jury selection began this week, and opening statements are expected to come Thursday morning in the trial, which is scheduled to last three weeks.

July 23, 2025 Michelle Casady

IBM’s Legal Team Gets $41.5M in Fees, Costs in BMC Case

Lawyers for IBM were seeking an award of about $59.2 million in fees and costs for work done on the case. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen did knock down the hourly rate of some Quinn Emanuel lawyers from $1,925 an hour to a maximum of $935 an hour, and also pinged the legal team for a few expensive dinners in New Orleans and stays at the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton. “While, of course, the attorneys do not need to stay at a motel along the interstate, BMC should not be required to pay for these establishments for a large number of attorneys who were peripherally involved,” Judge Hanen wrote.

July 23, 2025 Michelle Casady

Dallas Franchise Investor Sues Silicon Valley PE CEO, Chair of Stanford University Trustees for Fraud

Dallas real estate executive Jared Caplan claims in a new lawsuit that he is the victim of a switch-and-bait fraud perpetrated by Lily Sarafan, a top executive at private equity owned home healthcare company TheKey. A lawyer for Sarafin, who is now the chair of the Stanford University board of trustees, calls the lawsuit vexatious.

July 23, 2025 Mark Curriden

My Five Favorite Books: Jennifer Rodriguez (Head of Legal at Half Price Books)

Pulling this list together was harder than expected. My book choices vary greatly — from chick lit rom-coms to biographies to thrillers. I love a book that doesn’t make me think. I’m a lawyer — I have to think a lot. So it’s sometimes nice to just read something light and mindless. That said, what this exercise taught me is that I am really drawn to books that weave storylines together and pull me in enough that I get to the “just one more chapter” stage. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. And, if you happen to come by Half Price Books’ flagship store in Dallas to grab one of these books, let me know! My office is right upstairs.

Editor’s note: The Texas Lawbook is pleased to launch this new column in partnership with Texas-based Half Price Books sharing our readers’ favorite reads.

July 23, 2025 Jennifer Rodriguez

Litigation Roundup: Challenge to ‘Death Star Bill’ Implodes 

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a professional gambler is accused of running a $9 million Ponzi scheme, a few cities challenging the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act are dealt a loss on appeal, and the Kentucky attorney general taps a Dallas law firm to help bring a consumer protection lawsuit against shopping website Temu. 

July 22, 2025 Michelle Casady

GlobalFoundries to Pay Katana Silicon Technologies $9.2M

Katana Silicon Technologies in 2022 filed suit against GlobalFoundries, alleging infringement of patents covering microscopic devices related to semiconductor manufacturing and chip packaging technologies. An Austin jury found for Katana on one of three claims.

July 22, 2025 Alexa Shrake

CDT Roundup: Tech Titans, Crypto Surges and Old School Deals Meet Bold Moves

The week ending July 18 saw 14 deals for $6 billion dollars. The week prior saw 15 deals for $13 billion and there were 15 deals for $16 billion reported during the same week last year. But consider the actual deals and you begin to sense a difference: a $25 billion data center deal that probably will be but really isn't yet; a flurry of placements aimed at flipping the switch on crypto assets; an IPO for a Japanese AI-driven HR platform whose goal is to be a lawyer.

July 21, 2025 Allen Pusey

‘Unique Challenge’: Judicial Studies Program Expands Judges Understanding, Interest in Law

This year, three Texas federal judges completed their master of laws at Duke University alongside other judicial officers from across the country and internationally. Two of the judges talked with The Texas Lawbook about their experiences.

July 18, 2025 Alexa Shrake