Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

November 20, 2006 | Texas Lawyer

For Converse lawyer ileta A. Sumner, former general counsel of Family Violence Prevention Services Inc. in San Antonio, public interest law was a big part of her life � until she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. "It's such a euphoria helping women and kids get safe," she says. "It was such a high, so when I think that could be over forever, I get angry."

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

11 minute read

March 10, 2005 | The Legal Intelligencer

Finding Baker Botts breached its fiduciary duty in connection with estate-planning work done for a wealthy widow in Kerrville, Texas, a jury in Kerr County returned a $65.5 million verdict on Feb. 25 against the Houston-based firm and other defendants.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

5 minute read

December 05, 2005 | Texas Lawyer

Much of the job for Jonathan Needle, general counsel of the Houston Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund, is giving speedy and accurate answers to questions about benefits for the 6,027 active and retired firefighters who have a stake in the $2.28 billion fund. Needle has other responsibilities as general counsel -- a major duty is working on contracts for pension fund investments.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

10 minute read

February 05, 2001 | Law.com

Jenkens & Gilchrist is paring about 25 lawyers from its San Antonio office, including many with an insurance-defense practice, apparently because they arent bringing in enough money. David Laney, chairman of the Dallas-based firm, says about half of the lawyers in the San Antonio office were presented with some options, including the opportunity to regroup at a new firm.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

6 minute read

November 10, 2005 | Corporate Counsel

In 2004, eight corporations that gave money to a Republican PAC founded by U.S. Rep. Tom Delay were criminally indicted for unlawful corporate political contributions. By April 2005, the indictments against four of those corporations were dismissed, an excellent result by any GC's standards. However, this September's grand jury indictment of DeLay and two others on conspiracy charges has brought those corporations, and the other four companies with pending cases, back into the media spotlight.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

9 minute read

September 16, 2002 | Texas Lawyer

Last summer, Spencer C. Barasch, head of enforcement for the Securities and Exchange Commission in Fort Worth, was worried about pending budget cuts. But in short order, terrorists attacked the country; Enron Corp. collapsed in a wash of scandal; Arthur Andersen was indicted on a charge of obstruction of justice; and WorldCom filed bankruptcy in the wake of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the SEC. It's a new day for the SEC. And there is much to do.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

10 minute read

August 15, 2011 | Texas Lawyer

Two California residents sued Dallas-based Winstead and shareholder Mike McWilliams on July 29 alleging they failed to disclose a conflict of interest that left the plaintiffs "without effective representation" in connection with several real estate and financing transactions. Jeffrey Goldfarb (pictured) represents the plaintiffs in the case.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

4 minute read

November 15, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

Kathleen "Kate" McCabe (pictured) was on vacation in Antigua with her husband in early November when she learned that she had passed the July Texas bar exam. Later she was surprised to learn that she a fellow University of Texas School of Law graduate had tied with the highest score on the exam.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys and Jeanne Graham

9 minute read

July 18, 2011 | Texas Lawyer

A Vinson & Elkins team helped Vanguard Natural Resources LLC negotiate a merger agreement with Encore Energy Partners LP only six months after V&E helped Vanguard acquire Encore's general partner and purchase of 45.6 percent its limited partner interests. The agreement, announced July 11, calls for Encore to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vanguard's operating company, Vanguard Natural Gas LLC.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

3 minute read

August 02, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

A malpractice suit against Thompson & Knight will go forward in New York state after an appeals court there upheld a lower court's decision declining to dismiss the suit on forum non conveniens grounds. Thompson & Knight partner Luke Ashley (pictured) says the firm may ask the New York court for reconsideration, but "it looks like we are probably going to litigate in New York."

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

4 minute read