CDT Roundup: Last Week’s Deal Flow was More Mirage Than Momentum

The week ending August 16 saw 13 deals for $26 billion. At first blush that meshes nicely with the week prior, which saw 19 deals valued at $16 billion. But don't be deceived. Of those 19 deals in the prior week, 15 of the volume (and $11 million of their value) were for M&A or fundings. Last week saw only seven M&A/Fundings valued in total at just over $3 billion. And the big deal of the week was a capital markets filing: a $20 billion upgrade in a previously announced At-The-Market issue for a crypto miner. That's a questionable week masking as a blockbuster. That and more in this edition of CDT Roundup.

August 17, 2025 Allen Pusey

Family Seeks More Than $1M for Daughter’s Death in Kerr County Floods

The first lawsuit in the aftermath of the Fourth of July Kerr County floods was filed in Kerr County District Court. The family of a woman who died in the flooding alleges an RV park committed negligence and is seeking a jury trial and damages.

August 17, 2025 Alexa Shrake

U.S. Trustee Opposes Jackson Walker Bankruptcy Settlements, Seeks Trial and Stronger Penalties

The federal government’s bankruptcy court watchdog asked a federal judge Friday to reject efforts by Jackson Walker to individually settle claims against it involving the law firm’s critical role in the secret romance scandal between one of its partners and former Houston Bankruptcy Judge David Jones.

August 16, 2025 Mark Curriden

Fifth Circuit Splits in Property Rights Case, Reverses Southern District’s Judgment 

An apartment complex damaged by Hurricane Harvey sees a reversal in a constitutional takings case that the city of Houston shouldn’t have denied its request for a repair permit. The case returns to the Southern District for further proceedings to compensate the apartment complex.

August 13, 2025 Alexa Shrake

Online Dating Company to Pay $14M to FTC

A settlement between Match Group and the Federal Trade Commission will resolve the dating website’s alleged misleading practices. The Dallas-based company has agreed to pay $14 million and clarify its “guarantees.”

August 13, 2025 Alexa Shrake

Asked & Answered with V&E’s Quentin Smith: Morehouse, Michigan and MDL — the Making of a Texas Litigator

Asked & Answered is a new standing feature The Texas Lawbook will bring readers twice a month, highlighting the work of leading Texas lawyers and offering insight into their lives outside the courtroom. In this edition, Alexa Shrake sits down with Vinson & Elkins partner Quentin Smith, who discussed securing an $80 million breach of contract verdict for Huntsman Chemicals in Louisiana and representing Oncor Electric in litigation stemming from Winter Storm Uri — as well as the only brand of jelly beans worthy of the war room.

August 13, 2025 Alexa Shrake

Pandemic Loan Consultant Pleads Guilty in $300M Scam

Nathan Reis entered his guilty plea on the day his trial was to begin before U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth. Reis’s wife, former Phoenix TV news anchor Stephanie Hockridge, was convicted by a jury in Judge O’Connor’s court in June.

August 12, 2025 Bruce Tomaso

Sidley Austin Helps Secure Landmark Pro Bono Victory After 15-Year Legal Battle

After a 15-year legal battle, Robert Velevis and Yvette Ostolaza led a Sidley Austin team to a landmark pro bono victory in a class action lawsuit against the state of Texas for unlawfully confining people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in nursing homes. A federal judge issued a sweeping 475-page opinion finding that Texas caused “irreparable injury” by failing to offer community-based living alternatives. Sidley Austin represented the plaintiffs alongside the Center for Public Representation and Disability Rights Texas.

August 12, 2025 Krista Torralva

Big D and Big Ben: London Partner Discusses Haynes Boone’s Rising Global Reach

Haynes Boone's lateral partner activity in 2025 has been a case in point that no corporate law firm headquartered in Texas is expanding faster outside the state. One-fourth of the firm's 20 lateral partner additions this year have been in London. The Lawbook met in person with office co-leader Nick Davis, one of those 2025 recruits, earlier this summer. "The epicenter of the world seems to be heading towards Texas right now," he said in the interview.

August 12, 2025 Brooks Igo

DigitalBridge, Crestview to Take Colorado Broadband Company Private for $1.5B

Simpson Thacher, Wachtell and Davis Polk advised the parties on the transaction which takes private the regional internet, cable and telecommunications provider.

August 12, 2025 Allen Pusey