Houston Chronicle: Judge Bars Enforcement of Farmers Branch Rental Law
June 5, 2007 –The Houston Chronicle reports that U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay extended an order preventing the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch from enforcing a voter-approved ordinance barring apartment rentals to most illegal immigrants.
The judge decided that a temporary restraining order issued the month prior would remain in effect until June 19, 2007.
“Farmers Branch should not be in the business of determining who is in the country legally,” said then Brewer attorney Jim Renard, who was representing three apartment complexes. He added that the ordinance should be “tossed.”
Read more here.
Austin American-Statesman Reports UT System, Hydro-Quebec Win Round in Battery Suit
February 6, 2007 — The Austin American-Statesman reports that The University of Texas System "won a key appellate ruling in a lawsuit alleging that Japanese telecommunication giant NTT Corp. stole advanced battery technology from the Austin campus." The article, titled “Battery Deal Gives UT Royalty Payments,” states that the ruling "moves the UT System and Canadian utility Hydro-Quebec a big step closer to trying the case in state district court in Austin."
The report states that Bickel & Brewer client Hydro-Quebec is the lead plaintiff in the case. Hydro-Quebec licensed the battery technology from the UT System but claims the "theft and misuse of the technology has cost it and the university licensing deals" — with damage estimates at $500 million to $750 million, according to attorney Bill Brewer.
Dallas Morning News: Never Too Soon to Learn to Lead
June 3, 2006 — The Dallas Morning News (DMN) reports that lawyers John Bickel and Bill Brewer "take pride not only in providing legal service for their clients, but also in taking a genuine interest in the communities where those clients live." The article details the many ways in which Bickel & Brewer are giving back — in particular by developing and funding the Future Leaders Program, which provides "after-school academic resources and leadership training for middle school students from South Dallas and Oak Cliff."
The report details how the program centers around a public-private partnership between schools and teachers from the Dallas Independent School District and those from private schools, including The Hockaday School, St. Mark's School of Texas, and the Greenhill School.
According to the report, the program, which is fully funded by the Bickel & Brewer Foundation, served 70 students during the 2004-05 school year, but expects to serve about 100 during the upcoming school year.
"We understand that these kids are our greatest influence," Brewer told the DMN. "You can help a child in seeing themselves and seeing their lives being elevated to a level of them being able to impact someone else."
The article notes that Brewer's focus on the community led to him receiving the Hero for Children award in 2005 from the Texas State Board of Education.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Announces Major Victory in Multi-Million Dollar Dispute
May 11, 2006 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced today a major victory in an arbitration relating to the ownership and management of two Westin hotels. A three-member arbitration panel issued a unanimous ruling on April 28, finding that Starwood and Westin Hotels Limited Partnership (“WHLP”) had prevailed in a 17-month long arbitration proceeding and were not liable for any portion of the more than $200 million Kalmia Investors, LLC (“Kalmia”) alleged as damages to the WHLP partnership in which it is an investor.
Kalmia asserted numerous claims against WHLP, Starwood and Westin Realty Corporation ("Westin Realty"), the general partner of WHLP, and sought lost profits, disgorgement of management fees, punitive damages and the alleged lost value from the sale of the two hotels in question.
The panel denied Kalmia's claims, stating, "Kalmia failed to carry its burden of proving, separately or in combination, misconduct (by Starwood, WHLP, or Westin Realty) violative of any contractual, fiduciary or other legal duty owed to Kalmia by those parties," and that, “the total damages sought by Kalmia were inflated, unsupported, and lacking in credibility.” The panel also characterized Kalmia's main theory of damages as “entirely speculative and highly improbable.”
“This is an important victory for us," said Kenneth S. Siegel, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel of Starwood Hotels. "This ruling is a major validation of Starwood's business practices and proves that we honored our duties to all parties involved and acted in the utmost good faith. We look forward to continuing to successfully manage the Westin St. Francis Hotel and the Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel.”
“The panel’s decision vindicates Starwood's management of these two great hotels," said William A. Brewer III, partner at Bickel & Brewer and lead defense counsel for Starwood. “We are pleased that the panel agreed and denied Kalmia's claims in all respects.”
To read more, click here.
WSJ Reports on Government’s Probe of Tax Shelters
June 3, 2005 – The Wall Street Journal reports today on “a popular stock option transaction marketed by Bank of America and other institutions” that is at the center of an investigation launched in New York by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. According to the WSJ, the investigation has been joined by the Internal Revenue Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The article comments on firm clients Sam and Charles Wyly. According to the article, the Wylys “feel strongly they only did that which was appropriate,” said Bill Brewer, their Dallas lawyer.
The two created their trusts for the benefit of family members and charitable purposes, Mr. Brewer said. They “hired all these professionals to do what they thought and still hope are legitimate arrangements,” Brewer said.
Read the full report here.
Elite News Reports on Launch of Bickel & Brewer Future Leaders Program
October 25, 2002 — Elite News in Dallas reports that the Bickel & Brewer Foundation has launched a new leadership development program for a select group of 5th and 6th grade students from South Dallas. Designed and funded by the Foundation, the "Future Leaders Program" involves a public-private partnership between South Dallas public schools J. P. Starks Elementary and Billy Earl Dade Learning Center and "two of the city's most prominent private schools," The St. Mark's School of Texas and The Hockaday School.
The report, titled “Bickel & Brewer Help Launch Leadership Development Program,” states, "In a novel approach to Dallas-area education, teachers from the participating private and public schools worked hand-in-hand to build the educational curriculum. They are also working side-by-side in the classroom, teaming to teach the students and create a dynamic learning environment."
"By traveling outside of South Dallas to participate in the program, these students will be exposed to a different learning environment and exposed to many new exciting possibilities," Dallas Independent School District Area Superintendent Shirley Ison-Newsome told the publication.
The inaugural FLP class includes 20 students. Elite News notes that the Bickel & Brewer Foundation is funded by the national litigation firm of Bickel & Brewer.
Dallas Life Magazine: The Rambo Boys
February 25, 1990 — Dallas Life Magazine publishes an article titled "The Rambo Boys," which states that John Bickel and William Brewer, "proud masters of legal 'hardball,' seem to be toning down the guerilla style that has rankled much of the Dallas legal community." But, the article states, neither Bickel or Brewer are about to "apologize for the tactics that sealed their reputations."
The article refers to Bickel & Brewer's lawyers as "unyielding" — with the firm taking advantage of "every opportunity to erect stumbling blocks for the opposition. Matters that once were resolved by phone or over breakfast at the City Club now are often handled before a judge."
The article discusses how the firm burst into the Dallas legal scene in the mid-1980s, assembling a "top-notch legal team" and wooing "some of the most high-profile clients from established firms." Just years later, the firm has branches in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C., and its attorneys are the highest paid in the nation.
According to the article, lawyers who have gone up against the firm "agree that Bickel & Brewer attorneys are exceptionally well-prepared and adroit in the courtroom."
The New York Times Reports on the Firms "Bare-Knuckles" Approach
May 13, 1988 — The New York Times reports on the "back-knuckles" approach of Dallas attorneys at Bickel & Brewer. The article states that lawyers in Dallas say managing partners John Bickel and William Brewer "act like New York lawyers" — commenting on their aggressive tactics.
"New York lawyers are the sharpest in the country," Brewer said." We want to play in that league."
According to the article, the firm opened its own New York office last year and raised salaries — making them equal to that of top New York firms. Bickel & Brewer also has its own in-office mock courtroom, where "lawyers test cases and prepare witness with a run-through of every major trial."
Read the article, "Bare-Knuckles Litigation Jars Many in Dallas," here.