Cia Nicole Baze

A concise legal guide for #Texas #contractors: Learn how constitutional mechanic's liens secure payment, who qualifies, and best strategies for enforcing lien rights.

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#Houston: We Have a Solution!   As we continue to report on the cases in which Houston arbitration lawyers have participated, on April 7, 2025, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) registered a second case brought by a U.S. joint venture FPJVC (Amec Foster Wheeler USA, Process Consultants, as well as individual members) against Colombia based on the Colombia-USA Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA).                                                                                 It was previously revealed that in 2009, FPJVC signed a contract for the renovation of a Cartagena oil refinery with the Ecopetrol’s owned local company Reficar. Later, investigations led by the Colombian authorities concluded that there was gross negligence in the project’s fiscal management by the claimants and Reficar officials with a damage to public finances amounting to USD 2.34 billion. This led to first arbitration under the TPA, Amec Foster Wheeler USA Corporation et al. v. Republic of Colombia, in which tribunal of José Emilio Nunes Pinto, John Beechey, and MARCELO GABRIEL COHEN issued an award dated December 19, 2024.   A new request for arbitration was initially filed in July 2024, but the registration of the case was suspended until the tribunal’s decision on the preliminary objections raised by Colombia. After the award was issued, the claimants proceeded with the registration of the new case. As in the first arbitration, the claimants are represented by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in #Houston and New York.   These arbitrations raise important questions not only of the of the articulation of different provisions of Colombia-USA TPA, but also of the interplay of treaty based/contract claims which confirms an extended expertise of #Houston #arbitration teams.

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We are proud to announce the formation of the Women in Law Section of the Houston Bar Association (formerly the Gender Fairness Committee). This new Section will develop meaningful programming and elevate awareness of the issues women face in the legal profession, while fostering mentorship, connection, and advancement across our bar. We are honored to recognize the Section’s inaugural Officers and Council Members: • Chair Anna Archer of Hicks Thomas LLP • Chair-Elect Brittney Williams of B. Williams Law Firm, PLLC • Vice-Chair of Programming Emily Mott of BakerHostetler • Vice-Chair of Mentorship Monica Uddin of AZA: Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing • Vice-Chair of Communications Kaitlyn Dawson of Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP • Secretary Kelly Hill Wilson of Jordan, Lynch & Cancienne PLLC • Treasurer Kat Kunz of Hicks Thomas LLP • Council Member Kristin Kruse Lotz of Lotz Law Firm PLLC • Council Member Adriana Merlan • Council Member Glenda Duru of Resnick & Louis, P.C. - Attorneys at Law • Council Member Colleen Migl of Quadros Migl & Crosby PLLC

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The June issue of the Oil & Gas E-Report is now available! Read the new issue online: https://lnkd.in/gnDex8Ua Inside this issue: 🔍 Louisiana Appellate Court Decides Issue in Legacy Litigation Dispute 🔍 Louisiana Court Says Pipeline Owner Cannot Block Pipeline Crossings 🔍 U.S. Fifth Circuit Dismisses Challenge to EPA’s Grant of Class VI Primacy to Louisiana 🔍 Ohio Oil and Gas Lease Probably Did Not Authorize Drilling Horizontal Well Into Adjoining Tract 🔍 Market Enhancement Clause in Ohio Lease Did Not Authorize the Disputed Royalty Deductions 🔍 Ohio Courts Disagree on Whether Abandonment Notice Attempts by Certified Mail Constitutes “Reasonable Diligence” under Dormant Mineral Act 🔍 Court in Pennsylvania Dismisses Hydraulic Fracturing Subsurface Trespass Claim 🔍 South Dakota Bans Use of Eminent Domain for Carbon Dioxide Pipelines 🔍 EPA and Texas Enter Memorandum of Agreement Regarding CCS 🔍 EPA Grants Class VI Permits for CCS Project in Ector County, Texas 🔍 Texas Supreme Court Says That Salt Dome Caverns Belong to Surface Estate 🔍 Contingency Planning Key for Addressing the Administration’s Tariff Policy ⭐ OPINION: It's Time to Modernize PHMSA #EReport #EnergyLaw #IELPublications #IndustryUpdates #Energy #OilandGas

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In the latest edition of its quarterly Oil & Gas E-Report, the Institute for Energy Law included an article written by Vorys Energy Attorney Casey Valentine. The article discusses the conflicting decisions of Ohio’s Seventh District Court of Appeals in Moore v. SWN Production Co., LLC, 2024-Ohio-5517 and Ohio’s Ninth District Court of Appeals in Thomson v. K & R Conservation, LLC, 2024-Ohio-6098.   In Moore and Thomson, the main issue was whether the surface owner exercised reasonable diligence in their efforts to identify all holders of the severed mineral interest prior to publishing a notice of abandonment under the Dorman Mineral Act. Both cases involved a surface owner who attempted to serve notice by certified mail on the original holder’s last known address located in a different county than the severed mineral interest. In each case, the attempt to serve notice by certified mail failed and the surface owner proceeded to serve notice by publication without searching the public records of the county where the original holder last resided. Despite the nearly identical facts, the Seventh District and Ninth District reached different conclusions as to whether the surface owner exercised reasonable diligence. To find out how each court decided, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dEA6zgxX

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Mechanic’s Lien vs. Lis Pendens — Two Tools, Two Purposes!! In Texas construction disputes, especially when payment problems escalate, two legal tools often get used together: the mechanic’s lien and the lis pendens. Mechanic’s lien: Secures a debt for labor or materials by attaching to the property. It’s recorded in the county records and tells the world there’s a claim for payment. Lis Pendens: Filed after a lawsuit is underway, it gives public notice that the property is involved in litigation affecting its title. It can effectively halt sales or refinancing until the case is resolved. A lien is about security; a lis pendens is about leverage. Used together, they protect the subcontractor’s claim and make it harder for the property to change hands without addressing the dispute. If you come across a case where these remedies might be in play, I welcome referrals for review and enforcement actions.

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Cost Breakdown for Process Serving in Houston: A Practical Guide for Attorneys & Collection Agencies For law firms and collection agencies, understanding Houston process server prices is essential for accurate case budgeting, deadline management, and process compliance. Unlike flat-rate services used by the general public, professional civil process serving for legal practitioners often requires a deeper cost breakdown due to specific procedural demands, strict timelines, and the need for documented attempts that withstand court scrutiny. This guide outlines the primary variables that influence process serving fees in Texas, what attorneys can expect when allocating costs, and how specialized requests (rush orders, evasive defendants, or skip tracing) impact the overall budget. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gJrs4qAU #HoustonProcessServerPrices #ProcessServingFeesTexas #HowMuchDoesAProcessServerCost #CostBreakdownProcessServer #NumberOfAttemptsProcessService #HoustonLegalDocumentDelivery #TexasProcessServingRequirements

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𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐖𝐈 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 Navigate the DWI legal process in Houston from arrest through trial. Learn critical deadlines and defense options. #DWIJourney #HoustonLaw #DefenseGuide https://bit.ly/3GGiTDi

If you filed a restraining order and now want to lift it, there are specific steps you must take under Texas law. In this video, we explain the legal process for withdrawing or modifying a protective order, what the court considers, and how to ensure your safety and rights remain protected. #RestrainingOrderTexas #ProtectiveOrder #LiftRestrainingOrder #TexasFamilyLaw #BryanFaganLaw #ModifyProtectiveOrder #LegalAdviceTexas #CourtOrderRelief #DomesticViolenceLaw #LegalSupportTexas

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Being charged with a drug offense in Texas doesn’t automatically mean a conviction. In many cases, there may be opportunities to challenge the evidence, pursue diversion programs, or position the case for dismissal. In Part 2 of our dismissal series, we explain: • What the State must prove in a drug possession case • How possession is challenged in shared spaces like vehicles • When diversion programs may lead to expunction • Why early legal strategy matters Drug cases are complex, and the right defense strategy can make a significant difference in protecting your record and future. Read the full blog here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gKpBP2Ur

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The Office of Injured Employee Counsel (OIEC) is a state agency that helps injured workers in Texas with their workers' compensation disputes. #oiectexas #aboutus #stateoftexas #injuredworker #workerscompensation

An H-E-B employee is facing a lawsuit after allegedly drinking on the job and causing a serious crash, and the company is being named as a co-defendant. This case raises significant legal questions about employer liability, alcohol policy enforcement, and the scope of workplace supervision in Texas. When is an employer responsible for off-policy behavior, and what does case law say? Texas Law Report dives into the details of the claim, legal precedent, and what businesses should consider when reviewing internal risk policies. 👉 Read the full report at texaslawreport.com #TexasLawReport #LegalNews #EmployerLiability #WorkplacePolicy #PersonalInjury #AttorneyLife #LawUpdate

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Beck Redden partner Mark Rodriguez presented "Reps During Negotiations and Fraud Claims" on January 30 during the second day of TexasBarCLE’s 12th Annual Oil & Gas Disputes course, held in cooperation with the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, the oldest, and one of the largest and most active, sections of the State Bar of Texas. The presentation, co‑produced by Mark and Beck Redden associate Maryam Ghaffar, provided an analysis of Texas law related to fraud claims in the context of energy transactions and disputes.

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