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The Content Rundown

Houston’s Heim, Payne & Chorush Scores Another PTAB Victory Against BMW, via Heim, Payne & Chorush. Attorneys from the Houston intellectual property litigation boutique Heim, Payne & Chorush LLP have won another key ruling against automobile manufacturing giant BMW of North America, LLC, on behalf of firm client Arigna Technology Limited of Ireland. Firm partner Mike Heim and associate Chris Limbacher defeated BMW’s attempt to invalidate 32 separate claims filed against Arigna’s U.S. Patent No. 8,289,082.

Making the Most of Mediation, by The Law Office of Carol A. Wilson’s Carol Wilson. Most courts require mediation in almost all family law cases before the case goes to trial. Some courts require the case go to mediation before the case can even be set for trial. Family lawyer Carol Wilson insists that rather than viewing mediation as a “box to be checked” or a “task to be done,” go into mediation with the determination to make the most of the opportunity to reach a settlement you can live with.

Leah Bhimani Buratti Successfully Closes 11-Year Asylum Case, via Wittliff Cutter. Wittliff Cutter partner Leah Bhimani Buratti recently concluded an 11-year pro bono case on behalf of a Honduran woman fleeing domestic violence in her native country. After multiple appeals, remands, and venue change requests, the U.S. government agreed to withholding of removal for Leah’s client, Y.P.

Chris Hamilton of Dallas’ Hamilton Wingo Named Among Nation’s Leading Consumer Lawyers for Plaintiffs, via Hamilton Wingo. Trial attorney Chris Hamilton, the founder of Dallas plaintiffs firm Hamilton Wingo, has earned recognition as one of the 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Consumer Plaintiff Lawyers in the U.S. for his record-setting courtroom victories and settlements. Chris is known as one of the top trial lawyers in the U.S. based on his dedication to clients and his work to help them win billions of dollars in court-approved recoveries.

Getting to Know Kayna Stavast Levy, via Wittliff Cutter. A former government antitrust attorney, Kayna Stavast Levy brings a unique professional perspective to Wittliff Cutter, having worked in enforcement and completing a mid-career judicial clerkship before embarking on private practice. Read this post to get to know more about Kayna’s practice and her involvement in the Austin community.

Burford Perry, LLP Wins $155 Million Verdict in Fraud and Breach of Fiduciary Duty Case, via Burford Perry. Robert Burford led a team from Houston-based business litigation firm Burford Perry, along with co-counsel Jeff Diamant, of Jeff Diamant P.C.; and Shawn Johnson, of SAJPLLC, in winning a jury verdict totaling $155 million in damages in a complex fraud and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit on behalf of Laura Yosowitz and Greenlet, LLC.

Negotiating Your Commercial Lease Letter of Intent, by Luna Law’s Rachel Luna. One of the largest costs for many businesses is their commercial lease. While business owners often hire an attorney to review the lease itself, it is not as common for them to consider retaining an attorney to assist when negotiating a letter of intent (LOI) related to the lease, which typically serves as the foundation to the eventual lease. Small business attorney Rachel Luna offers offers some insight and issues to consider when reviewing an LOI, along with a free downloadable checklist.

Alavi Anaipakos Adds Experienced Trial Lawyers In Houston, via Alavi Anaipakos. The trial lawyers at Houston-based Alavi Anaipakos are welcoming two proven attorneys who have joined the firm with extensive track records in high-stakes business lawsuits and intellectual property trials. Ken Wall joins the firm as Of Counsel with more than 35 years of experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courtrooms throughout Texas and nationwide. Ryan Pinckney joins Alavi Anaipakos as an associate with more than 15 years of patent litigation experience in federal courts in Texas, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and North Carolina, in addition to the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C.

Protecting Your Share of the Community Estate When Your Spouse May Be Hiding Assets, by Brousseau, Naftis & Massingill’s Arianna Smith. Divorce can be a complicated and emotionally charged process, especially when one spouse primarily handles all of the finances during the marriage. One common issue that arises in these situations is the suspicion that one spouse is hiding or diverting assets. Attorney Arianna Smith blogs about the steps to take to uncover the truth.

Tyler Rector To Serve Expanded Role at R3 Digital Forensics, via R3 Digital Forensics. Effective February 1, 2023, Tyler Rector will take on a larger role within the company, expanding his responsibility beyond digital forensics to include managing the Operations Office. Tyler, a certified forensic examiner, has been with R3 Digital Forensics for more than 10 years, and his long tenure with the company will enable him to make valuable contributions to the day-to-day operations of the business. Congratulations, Tyler!

What’s a Buy/Sell Agreement? By The Law Office of Carol A. Wilson’s Carol Wilson. Most people have heard of premarital agreements (also known as prenuptial agreements), but you may not have heard of Buy/Sell agreements. If you are a part owner of a multi-owner business (or are married to one), write family lawyer Carol Wilson, you will want to acquaint yourself with Buy/Sell Agreements because they are a bit like the business equivalent of a premarital agreement: they spell out what happens to the married partner’s ownership interest in the event of a divorce.

Burford Perry’s Jay Jackson Speaks at the State Bar’s Advanced Trial Strategies Course, via Burford Perry. Clyde James “Jay” Jackson III, Of Counsel to Burford Perry, recently spoke at the State Bar of Texas’ 12th Annual Advanced Trial Strategies Course. To accompany the presentation, Mr. Jackson submitted “Texas Supreme Court: Twelve Years of Summary Judgment Decisions,” which he co-authored with Brian S. Humphrey II, of Houston’s Humphrey Law PLLC.

Dallas’ Law Firm Hamilton Wingo Adds Experienced Attorney Hannah Hansen, via Hamilton Wingo. The Dallas law firm Hamilton Wingo is boosting its roster of trial lawyers with the addition of experienced attorney Hannah Hansen as the firm’s newest associate. Ms. Hansen represents individuals and their loved ones in lawsuits involving a range of catastrophic injuries.

Wittliff Cutter Looks Back on 2022, via Wittliff Cutter. Wittliff Cutter is kicking off their first newsletter with the aim of making it a part of their regular conversation with their colleagues, clients, co-counsel, and friends. With plans to send their newsletter once or twice a year, they’ll send news about their team, their work and the ways that they strive to create a fairer and better world in our community and beyond.

Are Republican legislators trying to drive away investment firms?, by The Castañeda Firm’s Chrysta Castañeda. Yet another insightful look at the state of energy and investment in Texas by engineer-turned-lawyer-turned-political candidate Chrysta Castañeda. Are Republican legislators really sabotaging the future of Texas? A recent hearing with BlackRock – one of the largest investors in Texas oil and gas – might show that they are. Her article, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, explains it all.

Ann Marie Cowdrey Joins Hallett & Perrin, P.C.’s Corporate Practice as Shareholder, David Hammack Elevated to Litigation Shareholder, via Hallett & Perrin. Hallett & Perrin, P.C. welcomes Ann Marie Cowdrey as a shareholder in our corporate practice. The firm is also proud to announce that litigation attorney David Hammack has been elected a shareholder of the firm. Ann Marie’s practice focuses on transactions involving private equity funds, and David is a commercial litigator who represents businesses and individuals in a variety of commercial disputes.

Dallas Law Firm Hamilton Wingo Wins Nation’s “Most Impressive Plaintiffs Verdict of 2022” by Courtroom View Network, via Hamilton Wingo. A historic trial victory won last summer by a team of attorneys from the Dallas law firm Hamilton Wingo is being recognized by the Courtroom View Network (CVN) as the “Most Impressive Plaintiffs Verdict of 2022” among the many trials the network broadcast last year. Hamilton Wingo secured the $7.37 billion verdict on behalf of the family of 83-year-old Betty Thomas, who was stabbed to death in her home by a cable repairman who worked for Charter Communications.

Christina takes traditional legal marketing copy and upcycles it into snackable, click-able and shareableD digital content. As Muse’s newsletter guru, 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.