CDT Roundup: 15 Deals, 10 Firms, 90 Lawyers, $10.4B
The capital markets continued to provide more solid companies with the cash they need to keep going through the coronavirus pandemic.
Texas Lawyers Advising on J.Crew Bankruptcy
J.Crew is the first of an expected wave of major brand names to file for bankruptcy as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep retailers' doors shuttered. J.Crew's Chapter 11 features prolific Dallas litigators and a private equity owner with Texas roots.
Low Tax Revenues, Interest Rates Sap Legal Aid Funds
The two-fisted beating of an coronavirus shutdown and an oil market crash is begetting yet another crisis on the horizon in Texas: the need for legal aid. Zero interest rates and dwindling tax revenues are sapping low-income legal resources, even as the need for them is set to explode. "That's the next big story," says SCOTX Chief Justice Nathan Hecht. Janet Elliott explains.
Gold’s Gym Files for Bankruptcy in Dallas
The Dallas-based company has tapped lawyers at Dykema to lead it through Chapter 11. Natalie Posgate reports on this story and another bankruptcy filing by a Dallas men's clothier.
Monica Latin: ‘Picking Your Law Firm is Like Picking Your Spouse’
Carrington Coleman has a new managing partner this week: Monica Latin, who has been the firm's head of litigation. “We had an official passing of the torch Friday on an all-firm Zoom,” Latin told The Texas Lawbook in an interview Sunday. “We thanked Bruce [Collins] for his eight years of incredible leadership.”
Former Fifth Circuit Law Clerk Set to Make His U.S. Supreme Court Debut – By Teleconference
Texas-born Mithun Mansinghani will be making his first appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court next week as Oklahoma's Solicitor General. Since the case will be argued via teleconference he won't actually be appearing, but that doesn't make the case any less important, or the pressure any less intense. Tony Mauro profiles Mansinghani and what's at stake in the case.
State Bar Discipline: 2 Judges Disciplined, 3 Lawyers Disbarred, 8 Lawyers Suspended
The State Bar of Texas reported disciplinary actions against 15 lawyers, two of them judges. A judge from San Antonio was disciplined for her Facebook posts about lawyers in her court and an Austin lawyer, previously suspended for a marijuana charge in Arizona, was disbarred for defrauding a client's account and generally neglecting another client's litigation.
High Wired: Mark Werbner’s Guide to the new SCOTUS TeleArguments
Your dog or your 4-year-old are cute additions to the office Zoom conference, but if you happen to be arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court anytime soon, you might want to get out of the house. Come Monday, the court will be taking their arguments by teleconference and the experience will be...different. We asked Dallas trial lawyer Mark Werbner for his advice on adapting the chance of a lifetime to the Age of Social Distance.
‘sha-vrown-us’ The Weird Story Behind Chevron’s $15.6M Trademark Win
When Chevron discovered an unaffiliated company was securing business deals on counterfeit Chevron letterhead, they filed a lawsuit that resulted in a $1.1 million jury verdict. But by the time U.S. District Judge David Hittner issued his judgment, the price tag was $15.6 million. Natalie Posgate explains why.
Texas Legacy Firms: 2019 Was Good, 2020 May Be Make or Break
A dozen of the 17 Texas-based corporate law firms on The Texas Lawbook 50 generated more money in 2019 than they did the year before. Seven scored record high revenues. Some increased income more at their non-Texas offices. This year, however, the leaders at most of the Texas firms are just hoping they make 70-cents on last year’s dollar. The Lawbook provides an in-depth look at Texas firm finances.