Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

February 13, 2007 | Law.com

The 5th Circuit affirmed a Rule 11 sanctions order against Dallas lawyer Donald H. Flanary Jr. in connection with a brief he filed in a racial discrimination suit that contained a racially charged word not used in the supporting affidavit. Flanary says he wants to talk to his counsel before deciding if he will ask for a rehearing before the 5th Circuit. "It's an important issue for lawyers -- if someone makes a one-word mistake in the brief," he says.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

3 minute read

July 17, 2008 | Law.com

Over the past 15 years, even before she became a lawyer, Carlie Bishop spent thousands of hours working at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo as a volunteer, and that extracurricular work became her passion. Now her passion is her job, too. Bishop is the show's new general counsel and chief administrative officer, a position she calls her "dream job." In addition to all legal matters for the show, Bishop oversees risk management, contracts, human resources, education programs and office administration.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

7 minute read

May 20, 2010 | Law.com

R. Allen Stanford filed a motion Tuesday seeking release from pretrial detention -- or dismissal of the indictment against him -- on the ground that his constitutional due process rights have been violated. Hours after Stanford filed the motion, Texas federal Judge David Hittner, who denied two earlier release requests from Stanford, signed an order striking the document because it was not in 14-point font and double-spaced and because it included names of lawyers who are not attorneys of record in the case.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

4 minute read

June 17, 2008 | Law.com

Roughly 27 percent of Houston-based Bracewell & Giuliani's 418 lawyers are in out-of-state offices, and managing partner Mark Evans expects that percentage to grow over the next five years -- "Easily at least 35 percent," says Evans. His confidence about Bracewell's growth outside Texas reflects the enthusiasm expressed by managing partners of other big Texas firms about why they're happy to increase the size of their national and international footprints with a network of new offices.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys and Miriam Rozen

32 minute read

November 04, 2009 | Texas Lawyer

Professor Gerald Treece noted that O'Quinn had conquered the "monster of alcoholism" more than a decade ago, but he was still fighting the "monster of low self-esteem," despite his tremendous success as a trial lawyer. O'Quinn's pastor asked the more than 2,000 people who attended the funeral to pray for O'Quinn and described him as a man of "overwhelming contradictions."

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

3 minute read

October 22, 2009 | Law.com

Many incoming first-year associates at large law firms are dealing with months of unexpected free time because their firms have delayed their start dates from the fall of 2009 to January 2010 or later. While some are vacationing or relaxing after taking their bar exam, others have found jobs, either on their own or with the assistance of their firms. Here are five "What I Did on My Deferral" stories from incoming first-year associates at Texas firms.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

12 minute read

February 23, 2000 | Law.com

When Lawrence O'Donnell III moved into the general counsel office at Houston's Waste Management Inc., he inherited a company with a struggling stock price, an accumulation of shareholder suits alleging insider trading and some serious fraud litigation. That's not to mention an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and an in-house probe led by a board member who used to head the SEC. O'Donnell says he took the job because of the challenges. "I see it all as an opportunity."

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

8 minute read

October 22, 2007 | National Law Journal

When a claim of patent infringement is a necessary element of a legal malpractice suit, those suits should be tried in federal court, the Federal Circuit has ruled in a case of first impression. The appeals court upheld a ruling that denied a request by Akin Gump and a Corpus Christi, Texas-based firm to remand a malpractice suit to state court. The opinion may lead to all sorts of legal malpractice suits being filed or tried in federal courts instead of state courts.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys and John Council

12 minute read

July 25, 2011 | Texas Lawyer

In the 2011 legislative marathon in Austin that ended after a 30-day special session on June 29, Texas lawyers who lobby and their clients had to settle for what they could get. That's because state funding deficit woes and redistricting made getting attention for clients' wish lists a difficult proposition. John "Jack" Erskine of K&L Gates lobbied for The Boeing Co., Department of Public Safety Officers Association, and Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers among other clients.

By Miriam Rozen and Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

5 minute read

September 06, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

In two cases decided Aug. 27, the Texas Supreme Court issued opinions that could directly impact lawyers' practices.

By Mary Alice Robbins and Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

5 minute read