Cowles & Thompson, P.C.

06/19/2026

Is Your Ex a Narcissist? In high-conflict custody cases, one parent often acts in ways that seem narcissistic. While research indicates only 0.5% to 5% of people actually have Narcissistic Personality Disorder, “high-conflict coparents” share traits with narcissists, and their behavior frequently leads to child custody litigation.

Family Law attorney Claire E. James explains the traits and tactics of high-conflict co-parents and the impact to child custody in her 2-part article, "Is Your Ex a Narcissist? Parenting with a High-Conflict Ex."

Is your Ex a narcissist? While research indicates only 0.5% to 5% of people actually have Narcissistic Personality Disorder, "high-conflict coparents" share traits with narcissists, and their behavior frequently leads to child custody litigation.

06/18/2026

ICYMI: Nathaniel Ntuk recently joined the firm as an Associate Attorney. He will be a member of our Tort Litigation and Insurance Litigation practice groups. Nathaniel earned his JD from the SMU Dedman School of Law, where he was a Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court competitor.

Nathaniel Ntuk is an Associate Attorney in the Cowles Thompson Insurance Litigation and Tort Litigation practice areas.

06/16/2026

Do you have a Will? Know where it is? Is it the most current copy? Attorney Reagan Wish has written a series to assist people with Wills and Probate:

What Happens When You Die...

1. With a Valid Will
https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/estate-planning-wills-and-probate/what-happens-when-you-diewith-a-valid-will/

2. With a Copy of a Will
https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/estate-planning-wills-and-probate/what-happens-when-you-die-copy-of-a-will/

3. With No Will
https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/estate-planning-wills-and-probate/what-happens-when-you-die-with-no-will/

4. With an Invalid Will
https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/estate-planning-wills-and-probate/when-you-die-with-an-invalid-will/

5. With Multiple Copies of a Will
https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/estate-planning-wills-and-probate/what-happens-when-you-die-with-multiple-copies-of-a-will/

This series will help you or loved ones understand the important elements of drafting a Will as well as what to do when the ideal Will cannot be found.

What are the repercussions of having multiple Wills at the time of death, and the process of bringing a Will to probate when it is one of several versions?

06/16/2026

TODAY, 1:00PM: Phoenix Rising - Opportunities for CPAs in Bankruptcy, Insolvency, and Turnaround Situations.

Bill Siegel, Cowles Thompson Shareholder and Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights attorney and Scott Van Meter, HKA Global Partner and CPA, CFF, CIRA, JD will present this topic as part of the Acctofi CE series today, June 16, 2026.

For more info on this and other topics in today's CE presentations, visit the Acctofi page: https://www.acctofi.com/education/conferences/business-valuations-forensics-and-litigation-services/program

06/11/2026

Facing Divorce? Have Child Custody questions? Our Family Law attorneys, Claire E. James, Lené Alley DeRudder, and Jack Beesley, have recently published topical, helpful articles such as:

What Actually Gets Divided in Divorce? "Business" vs. "Value"
https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/family-law/business-vs-value-what-actually-gets-divided-in-divorce/

What Does Your Phone Know? Digital Evidence in Divorce
https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/family-law/digital-evidence-in-divorce-what-does-your-phone-know/

Fathers' Rights: Summer Possession Schedules and Maximizing Time with Your Children
https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/family-law/fathers-rights-summer-possession-schedules/

Divorce in Later Life -- The Unique Challenges of "Gray Divorce"
https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/family-law/untangling-a-lifetime-challenges-of-gray-divorce/

View all here: https://www.cowlesthompson.com/category/resources/practice/family-law/

06/11/2026

Deal Structure and Avoiding Fraudulent Conveyance -- When title to real property is transferred for the express purpose of placing beyond reach of a known creditor, the transfer is a fraudulent conveyance (or fraudulent transfer).

So, how would a creditor construct deal terms to prevent this? Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights attorney Bill Siegel explains this, the Safe Harbor Rule, and Holliday v. Credit Suisse Securities.

Bill Siegel looks at a 2nd Circuit opinion and explains how a creditor might construct deal terms to prevent fraudulent conveyance.

06/11/2026

Cowles Thompson is proud to be honored by Chambers & Partners USA for the fifth consecutive year, in the area of Commercial Litigation (Dallas-Fort Worth).

Learn more:

For the fifth consecutive year, Chambers & Partners USA has honored Cowles Thompson in the category of Commercia Litigation - DFW and surrounding areas.

06/09/2026

Our recent Business & Legal Update newsletter, inc:
>How to Structure a Deal and Avoid a Fraudulent Conveyance
>What Happens When You Die...With Multiple Copies of a Will?
>Can Dallas City Hall Be Saved?
> Family Law Spotlight
Timing Divorce in an Uncertain Economy
"Business" vs. "Value": What Actually Gets Divided in Divorce?
> Meet our Construction Law practice

Read more: https://conta.cc/4o3K2Vj

06/08/2026

Fathers' Rights: Summer Possession Schedules and Maximizing Time with Your Children - article by Jack Beesley. While divorced fathers generally see their children less during the school year (than do divorced mothers), summer provides a great opportunity for fathers to spend more quality time with their children. Though some divorce decrees contain unique possession schedules, most divorced fathers in Texas have time with their children designated pursuant to a Standard Possession Order. It is important that you consult your Divorce Decree’s specific terms, which contain your unique possession plan, to determine how and when you can exercise the possession period of your children during the summer.

While divorced fathers generally see their children less during the school year (than do divorced mothers), summer provides a great opportunity for fathers to spend more quality time with their children. Family Law attorney Jack Beesely explains the Summer Possession Period and options in Texas.

06/04/2026

The Bankruptcy Update by Bill Siegel, inc: LIV Golf, Alex Jones, First Brands, M&A Law insider trading scandal.

Auto-parts supplier First Brands:
1: The DOJ seeks @ $286M in unpaid tariffs & penalties, according to a Delaware bankruptcy court filing. https://www.wsj.com/pro/bankruptcy/u-s-government-hits-first-brands-with-286-million-claim-in-underpaid-tariffs-a2251078?st=vmFQpz

2: First Brands (laid off 1,200 Ohio workers) now targets layoffs outside Ohio. Many potential buyers "have suddenly and unexpectedly withdrawn…bids." https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2026/05/19/first-brands-auto-parts-maker-supplier-layoffs-ohio-indiana-fraud-bankruptcy/90155374007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-epti=z116235p116950l004350c116950e008600v116235&gca-ft=9&gca-ds=sophi

3: The US Trustee requested First Brands be converted to a Ch. 7 liquidation or dismissed alleging the business is administratively insolvent & has “no realistic prospect for reorganization.” https://www.wsj.com/pro/bankruptcy/first-brands-faces-u-s-push-for-trustee-led-liquidation-3222749e?st=xcQnzi

LIV Golf:
1: Began work on potential US bankruptcy filing if it fails to raise new funds as main backer Saudi Public Investment Fund pulled funding. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-19/liv-golf-begins-potential-bankruptcy-plans-for-end-of-season?embedded-checkout=true

2: Plans a new business model for new investors ahead of possible bankruptcy. https://www.reuters.com/sports/golf/liv-golf-firmly-focused-funding-solution-amid-bankruptcy-possibility--flm-2026-05-20/

A federal district judge rejected Alex Jones’s bid to shield Infowars from liquidation bringing Infowars closer to a court-ordered sale. https://www.wsj.com/pro/bankruptcy/judge-blocks-alex-joness-bid-to-shield-infowars-from-liquidation-7d3c21d3?st=WRy8wT

Owner of Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, and Hot Dog on a Stick filed a federal lawsuit against lenders to unwind $20.6M in debt & liens on its assets incurred before its bankruptcy filing. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/fat-brands-sues-lenders-to-unwind-hot-dog-on-a-stick-refinancing

Label maker Multi-Color Corp. successfully exited Ch. 11 protection, saying its restructuring reduced net debt by @ $3.8B, reduced annualized cash interest expense by more than $330M, and extended long-term debt maturities to 2033. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260511970460/en/Multi-Color-Corporation-Successfully-Completes-Comprehensive-Financial-Restructuring

Someone kept making winning trades just before big acquisitions that were being handled by the same Boston law firm. Authorities initially thought it was another case of foreign hackers stealing valuable information from a U.S. law firm. But hackers weren’t swiping secrets. Instead, it was an inside job traced to a single lawyer who worked at Boston-based Goodwin Procter. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/the-insider-trading-scandal-that-is-rocking-m-a-law-firms-67a561cc?mod=hp_lead_pos5

A job-hopping lawyer accessed files and recruited lawyers at elite firms to tip traders about pending deals, prosecutors say.