Frost Brown Todd is opening its first Pennsylvania office

Frost Brown Todd has announced that the 475-attorney law firm is opening its first office in Pennsylvania, with 10 lawyers who previously worked for Burleson. Burleson, an energy-focused law firm based in Houston, announced earlier that it plans to close its doors by the end of the year. The new…

Dec 2, 2015 10:10 AM CST

Following layoffs, 60-attorney law firm says it will close its doors by end of 2015

Hard hit by the downturn in the oil and gas industry, a 60-attorney Houston-based law firm is closing its doors at the end of the year. Founded nearly a decade ago with two attorneys, the fast-growing Burleson firm at one point had over 140 lawyers on its roster. However, the…

Nov 24, 2015 10:10 AM CST

Expecting M&A uptick, Baker Botts adds 25 Houston lawyers, wants 25 more in 2016

A slump in the energy market hasn’t kept Baker Botts from expanding the attorney roster in its Houston headquarters. After adding 25 lawyers in 2015, the firm is looking to add 25 more in 2016, the Houston Business Journal reports. The law firm is expecting an uptick in mergers and…

Oct 20, 2015 11:55 AM CDT

Supreme Court considers whether regulations encouraging energy savings intruded on state power

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday considered whether the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission had the power to require compensation for large electricity users that reduce consumption during peak demand. Arguing on behalf of the Electric Power Supply Association, Paul Clement said the regulation required power plant operators to provide the…

Oct 16, 2015 6:15 AM CDT

Oil industry dismisses its lawsuit against Texas town over fracking ban

The Texas Oil & Gas Association and the city of Denton, Texas, have resolved a lawsuit over the city’s ban on hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking.” According to a press release from Baker Botts, which represented the association, the parties both moved to dismiss the claims as moot. Denton…

Sep 17, 2015 5:33 PM CDT

Lawyers ‘lean to the left,’ study says; which schools, firms and practice areas are most liberal?

Many conservative commentators have aired claims that trial lawyers appear more liberal than the rest of the population, and they overwhelmingly contribute to Democratic candidates. Is it true? And is the legal profession on the whole left-leaning? A study by professors from Harvard, Stanford and the University of Chicago Law…

Sep 2, 2015 5:45 AM CDT

Local fracking bans are banned under a new Texas law

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation Monday to prevent local communities from banning fracking, a process used to extract gas from shale. Abbott said the measure protects private property rights and regulatory burdens on property owners, report the Houston Chronicle, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.), the Texas Tribune and…

May 19, 2015 1:22 PM CDT

Steptoe lays off 32, including 14 attorneys, following energy-price drop

Following a precipitous drop in oil and gas prices, Steptoe & Johnson has laid off energy lawyers and staff in its Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia offices. A total of 32 people were recently let go, including 14 attorneys, reports the Charleston Daily Mail. “Due to continued…

Apr 3, 2015 10:15 AM CDT

Human rights ‘storm’ may hit oil, mining industries

Apr 1, 2015 1:00 AM CDT

Class action judge orders lawyer to stop recruiting opt-out plaintiffs in oil royalty suit

An Oklahoma judge overseeing a class action against Chesapeake Energy has ordered a Texas lawyer to stop encouraging class members to opt out of a proposed settlement. Judge Jon Parsley of Beaver County issued a temporary restraining order barring the recruitment by the law firm of Fort Worth lawyer Dan…

Feb 20, 2015 6:53 AM CST

Human rights should be a priority in oil, gas and mining industries, say speakers at ABA Midyear

At a time when access to oil and gas is a primary concern throughout the world economy, there is a growing push to make sure that human rights are not sacrificed at the altar of commerce. Speakers at a program held this afternoon as the 2015 ABA Midyear Meeting got…

Feb 6, 2015 9:10 AM CST

Blank Rome raids Duane Morris and Reed Smith to open new Pittsburgh office

A well-known Philadelphia law firm is expanding its footprint in the state and has raided two major Pennsylvania-based competitors to do so. As of Friday, Blank Rome will have a five-partner office in Pittsburgh, headed by a former managing partner from the Duane Morris office there, the Philadelphia Business Journal…

Jan 7, 2015 12:55 PM CST

9 remaining lawyers at Houston litigation boutique to join Vorys Sater

Only about three years ago, there were 33 attorneys on the roster of Houston litigation boutique Schwartz Junell Greenberg & Oathout. But many went to bigger firms looking to hire local talent in the area’s hot energy law market, and now the remaining nine attorneys at Schwartz Junell are doing…

Dec 15, 2014 4:55 PM CST

Unusual SCOTUS lineup supports class-action defendant seeking to transfer case to federal court

An unusual five-justice majority of the U.S. Supreme Court has sided with a defendant who sought to remove a class action from state to federal court. The court ruled that a defendant seeking to remove a class action does not need to introduce evidence with the notice of removal showing…

Dec 15, 2014 10:56 AM CST

Regulator fines utility $1.05M over emails lobbying for preferred administrative judge in rate case

A gas company has been fined $1.05 million by the California Public Utilities Commission over ex parte emails in which it successfully lobbied to have the judge its officials preferred preside over an administrative rate-setting case. A spokesman said Pacific Gas & Electric would appeal the penalty, which also includes…

Nov 20, 2014 3:35 PM CST