Content from Our Clients
Our clients have been doing a great job of informing their readers of professional news and legal developments.
Need help turning your legal marketing to-do list into reality? We can help with that! Just drop us a line. Muse Communications was named one of Texas’ best legal public relations firms by the readers of Texas Lawyer. And if you’d like to get our legal marketing tips delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
The Content Rundown
Veteran Litigator John S. Morgan Joins Clouse Brown Team, via Clouse Brown. Clouse Brown is expanding its employment law and commercial litigation capabilities with the addition of veteran litigator John S. Morgan. Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, John has more than thirty years of litigation experience in state and federal trial and appellate courts, before arbitration panels, and in mediation. Welcome, John!
BNEM Welcomes Back Civil Litigator and Family Lawyer Arianna Smith, via Brousseau Naftis Erick & Massingill. Former Brousseau Naftis Erick & Massingill attorney Arianna Smith has re-joined the firm as senior counsel. She works with clients on civil litigation and family law matters. Welcome back, Arianna!
Botkin Chiarello Calaf Welcomes Appellate and Business Litigator Ryan Bates, via Botkin Chiarello Calaf. Botkin Chiarello Calaf is expanding its commercial disputes and appellate practices with the addition of Ryan Bates as Senior Counsel. Ryan has handled a wide range of commercial litigation and appellate matters in venues in Texas and across the country, including cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth, and Tenth Circuits, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. Welcome to the firm, Ryan!
Four Experienced Attorneys from Dallas’ Hamilton Wingo Ranked Among Country’s Best for Plaintiffs’ Lawsuits, via Hamilton Wingo. Hamilton Wingo name partners Chris Hamilton and Paul Wingo appear alongside fellow firm partners Damian Williams and Anne Hamilton in the recently announced 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers guide published by Lawdragon Inc. Congrats, all!
The Aftermath of a Business Email Compromise, by R3 Digital Forensics' Allyn Lynd. Business Email Compromise attacks cause billions of dollars in losses to American businesses, and their impact only grows with each passing year. In a business email compromise (BEC), criminals send deceptive emails that seem to originate from trusted sources, tricking employees into transferring funds or sharing private data with fraudulent accounts. Forensics examiner Allyn Lynd explains what a BEC attack looks like and how to respond.
Three Things Business Owners Should Know About Texas Divorce, by Epstein Family Law's Robert Epstein. Determining the value of a business interest and which spouse will own all or part of it after the divorce is often the subject of tough negotiations and litigation. Family lawyer Robert Epstein outlines three important topics business owners should consider while pursuing a divorce.
Spouses Have a Fiduciary Duty, Until They ‘Lawyer Up’ for Divorce, by The Law Office of Carol A. Wilson's Carol Wilson. Fiduciary duty is when one party owes a duty of honesty and fair dealing to another party. In its simplest form, it is the “Golden Rule.” Family lawyer Carol Wilson explains why this rule needs to be followed until a lawyer is in the picture.
Why You Are Being Pushed Towards Making a Trust (and Why You May Want to Push Back), by Brousseau Naftis Erick & Massingill's Cynthia Dooley. The older we get, the more we seem to hear this: “Everyone needs his or her own trust. If we don’t have a trust, we relegate our grieving heirs to a hellscape called ‘probate.’” Very seldom is much of that true. Sure, a trust might be for you, writes estate attorney Cynthia Dooley, but it's important to do your homework and ask the right questions before you sign up for one.
Leah Bhimani Buratti Discusses Narrative-Crafting in IP Cases, via Botkin Chiarello Calaf. Botkin Chiarello Calaf partner Leah Bhimani Buratti and U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower spoke on the importance of storytelling in intellectual property litigation at the Central Texas Federal Bench Bar Conference on February 28.
Congratulations to our clients who were named to the 2025 Chambers Spotlight guide!
Botkin Chiarello Calaf: Commercial and Intellectual Property Litigation
Burford Perry: Commercial Litigation
Cawthon Law: Commercial Litigation
Hallett & Perrin: Commercial Litigation
The Castañeda Firm: Energy and Natural Resources Law
Wittliff Cutter: Commercial and Intellectual Property Litigation
Essentials for an Effective Fee Agreement, by Popps Law's Laura Popps. An effective fee agreement does far more than establish the fee for a representation. It establishes trust with the client, sets expectations about the attorney-client relationship, and clearly communicates important terms of the representation. Attorney ethics practitioner Laura Popps explains the intricacies of fee agreements that all attorneys should know.
Botkin Chiarello Calaf Welcomes Christine Roseveare, via Botkin Chiarello Calaf. Botkin Chiarello Calaf has grown its appellate practice with the addition of Christine Roseveare. Christy is a seasoned appellate advocate who can handle a wide range of complex legal issues, from constitutional challenges to intricate contract disputes. Welcome, Christy!
Heim Payne & Chorush Earns High Marks in Patexia Patent Litigation Report, via Heim, Payne & Chorush. Heim, Payne & Chorush and several of the firm’s lawyers are recognized for their extensive patent trial expertise in the latest Patent Litigation Intelligence Report published by Patexia Inc. Of the more than 10,000 eligible attorneys, Heim, Payne & Chorush partners Mike Heim, Eric Enger, Alden Harris, Blaine Larson, and Wills Collier were among the top 250 for performance in patent trials. Congratulations to everyone at the firm!
Enforceability of Premarital Agreements, by Epstein Family Law's Jordan Watson. A premarital agreement is a smart idea for individuals contemplating marriage. Addressing how property and debt will be handled during the marriage and upon divorce while a couple is in a positive headspace is beneficial to both future spouses. However, it is vital to ensure that the agreement is enforceable and covers all terms the parties want to include.Family lawyer Jordan Watson explains.
Why Unmarried Couples May Need a Cohabitation Agreement, by The Law Office of Carol A. Wilson's Carol Wilson. Marriage isn’t for everybody. For many reasons, a couple may decide they don’t want to make it official, but they do want to live under the same roof. That’s all well and good — until it isn’t. Just because you aren’t married doesn't mean you’re immune to the legal and financial complexities of a long-term relationship. Carol Wilson unpacks the circumstances under which a cohabitation agreement would be beneficial.
Signer Beware: What to Think About Before Setting Up Joint Bank Accounts, Brousseau Naftis Erick & Massingill's Elayna Naftis Erick. Opening a joint bank account with a spouse, partner, parent, or child is a routine procedure for many people, and one for which they are unlikely to seek the advice of an attorney. Unfortunately, if one of the people on the account passes away, depending on how the account is set up, the remaining account holder may not be able to access those funds until the deceased person’s estate goes through the probate process, which is sometimes the very procedure the account holder wanted to avoid. Family and estate lawyer Elayna Naftis Erick shares some details.
Houston Intellectual Property Law Firm Alavi Anaipakos, Individual Attorneys Recognized Among Nation’s Best in 2025 Patent Litigation Intelligence Report, via Alavi Anaipakos. Alavi Anaipakos and several of our attorneys are proud to be named among the nation’s most active and best-performing for patent trials in Patexia Inc.'s 2025 Patent Litigation Intelligence Report. The firm is home to several lawyers who are singled out for their work in patent trials, including Amir Alavi, Demetrios Anaipakos, Masood Anjom, Michael McBride, and Ryan Pinckney.
Employment Law Litigator Veronica Harte Joins Jackson Spencer Law, via Jackson Spencer Law. Jackson Spencer Law is pleased to announce the addition of employment law litigator Veronica Harte. Driven by a deep sense of justice, Veronica focuses her practice on representing workers in disputes involving sexual harassment and discrimination. She comes to Jackson Spencer Law with experience handling employment-related disputes in federal venues, as well as pre-litigation matters and mediations.
Botkin Chiarello Calaf Welcomes New Partner Gerard Bifulco, via Botkin Chiarello Calaf. Botkin Chiarello Calaf is pleased to announce that Gerard Bifulco has joined the firm’s growing commercial and intellectual property litigation teams as a partner. Gerard has represented corporate entities and individuals throughout the country, and has handled matters at the trial and appellate levels, including arguing and winning a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Hallett & Perrin Elevates Jesse Beck to Shareholder, via Hallett & Perrin. Congratulations to Jesse Beck, who was recently promoted to shareholder at Hallett & Perrin. A seasoned commercial litigator, Jesse is a trusted advisor to clients facing complex disputes across a broad range of industries. His extensive experience in state and federal venues throughout Texas includes developing and executing proactive and reactive strategies in disputes involving contractual conflicts, oil and gas litigation, fiduciary duty cases, and fraud claims.
Caldwell Cassady & Curry Welcomes Experienced Patent Trial Attorney Andrew Langford, via Caldwell Cassady & Curry. Caldwell Cassady & Curry is opening the New Year with the addition of experienced patent trial attorney Andrew Langford. Andrew joined the firm as a principal after working at an AmLaw Top 10 firm for over a decade. He represents clients in high-stakes patent disputes in trials and appeals. Welcome to the firm, Andrew!
Katherine Chiarello, Jennifer Colimon to Speak at Austin Bar Association CLE Event, via Botkin Chiarello Calaf. Looking for CLE hours to kick off the new year? Botkin Chiarello Calaf partners Katherine Chiarello and Jennifer Colimon will speak on January 27 at the Austin Bar Association’s Civil Litigation CLE. The event is 12-1 p.m. at McGinnis Lochridge, 1111 W. 6th Street, Suite 400. Learn more.
Christina takes traditional legal marketing copy and upcycles it into snackable, click-able and shareable digital content. As Muse’s newsletter aficionado, she creates custom newsletters for clients from development to distribution.
If you’re looking for a snappy headline or engaging email, send her a note at christina.dipinto@muselegalpr.com.
