Texas Lawyer

Akin Hires Katten Private Equity Partner in Dallas

Akin Hires Katten Private Equity Partner in Dallas | Law.com Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld brings on the Katten Muchin Rosenman private equity partner in Dallas shortly after it added a four-lawyer private equity team from Sidley Austin in New York and London.

Texas Boutique Ahmad Zavitsanos Raises Associate Salary Scale, Partly Matching Milbank

Texas Boutique Ahmad Zavitsanos Raises Associate Salary Scale, Partly Matching Milbank | Law.com Texas trial firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing matched Milbank's new, higher associate salary scale for years one through four, and will pay performance-based compensation to more veteran associates.

With Fifth Circuit Judge Kurt Engelhardt taking senior, President Trump has the first opportunity in his second term to fill a vacancy on the New Orleans-based court.

“Though hard to imagine, my hope is that my successor will enjoy serving as much as I have," Engelhardt said.

From reporter Avalon Zoppo: 🔗 https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2026/06/09/5th-circuit-judge-kurt-engelhardt-to-take-senior-status/

ALERT: Deadline to submit a nomination has been extended to 11:59pm CST on June 29, 2026.

This year, we're soliciting nominations in the following categories:

🟦 Attorney of the Year
🟦 Best Mentors
🟦 Dealmakers of the Year
🟦 Energy Attorney of the Year
🟦 Influential Woman of the Year
🟦 Intellectual Property Attorney of the Year
🟦 In-House Impact Award
🟦 Law Firm of the Year
🟦 Legal Innovators
🟦 Lifetime Achievement Award
🟦 Litigation Departments of the Year: General Litigation
🟦 Litigation Departments of the Year: Specialty Categories
🟦 Managing Partner of the Year
🟦 Maritime Attorney of the Year
🟦 Most Promising Newcomer
🟦 On the Rise
🟦 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
🟦 Real Estate Attorney of the Year

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Call for Nomination: Texas Legal Awards 2026 | Law.com Texas Lawyer and Law.com's Texas Legal Awards recognizes professional excellence in the legal community in the state.

Houston-based maritime intelligence startup SynMax alleges in the 11th Texas Business Court that Planet Labs, a publicly traded satellite imaging company, covertly trained a competing artificial intelligence product by using SynMax software accounts.

The allegation that Planet Labs used SynMax’s platform access to "train" and "build patterns" for a competing product raises unresolved legal questions, writes litigation reporter Laura Lorek, such as when observing a software platform constitutes misappropriation and what qualifies as a "derivative" AI product.

Yetter Coleman partner Paul Yetter represents SynMax along with partners Tyler Young, Natalie Alfaro Gonzales and associate Ayla Syed. Michael K. Oldham of Reynolds Frizzell in Houston represents Planet Labs, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

🔗 https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/2026/06/09/latest-case-in-texas-business-court-former-partners-spar-over-ai/

King & Spalding energy and infrastructure partner Kaleb Walker has joined Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe as a partner in Houston.

"We see shifts of investment from time to time in sub-sectors of the energy and infrastructure space, but the demand for seasoned practitioners with good judgment is as good as it has ever been," Kyle Drefke, the Washington, D.C.-based leader of Orrick's energy and infrastructure business unit, said in a press release.

From senior reporter Brenda Jeffreys: 🔗 https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/2026/06/09/orrick-adds-king--spalding-energy-infrastructure-partner-in-houston/