Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

March 28, 2005 | Texas Lawyer

In the wake of the March 11 Atlanta courthouse shootings, when court officials across the country are re-examining courtroom safety, three Texas Lawyer reporters visited courtrooms in three different state courthouses to get a sense of how secure they are.

By John Council, Mary Alice Robbins and Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

18 minute read

May 10, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

A former client of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell has sued the Dallas-based firm, alleging the firm's negligence in handling a federal court declaratory judgment action led to a default judgment against it. In a petition in CH MM Denton LLC v. Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, the plaintiff alleges the firm failed to keep it apprised of developments, including discovery requests and depositions, in First Regency Enterprises Inc., et al. v CH MM Denton LLC , which was filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

5 minute read

November 16, 2005 | Texas Lawyer

When Houston plaintiffs lawyer W. Mark Lanier bought a 15-foot piece of art at a charity auction held at Christie's in New York in 2003, he says he didn't have a clue where he would display it. But Lanier found the perfect location for the paint, pencil and charcoal drawing created by U2 frontman Bono and the singer's two daughters — Lanier had it installed in the elevator lobby of his firm's brand-new New York City office.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

3 minute read

October 28, 2002 | Law.com

In a split decision, Texas' Court of Criminal Appeals has ruled that the odor of marijuana smoke wafting from an open door isn't enough to provide police officers, drawn to a house to check out an anonymous tip of drug dealing, with probable cause to believe the man who opened the door had marijuana on him and therefore to arrest everyone in the house.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

8 minute read

January 17, 2008 | National Law Journal

Many associates are richer due to bonus money. Large firms in Texas paid bonuses roughly equivalent to what they paid associates for 2006 work. The generous bonuses are in addition to salary raises that many big firms gave associates in 2007 as the Texas base salary for first-year associates increased to $160,000. "We felt like some of the associates ... were working excess hours, and we felt we should provide a special bonus to them," says Stanley Mayo, managing partner of Patton Boggs' Dallas office.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

12 minute read

November 30, 2007 | Law.com

Ken Jones' chin-length hair screams poet more than buttoned-down defense lawyer. But he brought the two worlds together earlier this month at a reading by poet-lawyers at a Borders bookstore in Houston. Jones and the other poet-lawyers in attendance said they have been writing poetry since their school days and, despite other demands on their time, find a way to write. Lawyers make good poets, because they are skilled at using language, Jones says. "Ultimately, as attorneys we are writers," he says.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

8 minute read

March 21, 2000 | Law.com

In a market where wet-behind-the ears associates at large Texas firms are paid base salaries of $110,000, the Office of the Attorney General can't compete for lawyers with money. So the agency is trying to lure associates out of the private market by offering what it can -- courtroom experience and the glamour of public service.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

4 minute read

January 16, 2003 | Law.com

Houston litigator Barbara A. Radnofsky really does have it both ways. Radnofsky does defense work at Vinson & Elkins, but also runs a small plaintiffs' personal-injury practice within V&E. It's an unusual arrangement, but one that works because she carefully avoids client and issues conflicts. There aren't many others in her situation, but those who do work both sides of the bar find it immensely satisfying.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

11 minute read

March 08, 2004 | Law.com

Most of the Texas lawyers testifying at State Bar of Texas hearings on proposed new civil rules that would cap referral fees are sending a clear message to the Texas Supreme Court -- don't mess with our fees.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

10 minute read

July 15, 2002 | National Law Journal

Potential implications of the Andersen verdict for in-house counsel.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

8 minute read