Cowles & Thompson, P.C.

08/31/2026

By now, everyone knows it's Back To School time. But even if you are a seasoned parent of school-aged children, if you are newly divorced this year - you may be confronting some new challenges. Family Law attorney, Jack Beesley, outlines ways to navigate the new school year, including a divorced parent's rights regarding their child's schooling.

Family Law attorney Jack Beesley explains divorced parents' rights regarding a child's schooling, including selection of school, access to school records, and information on school uniforms and supplies as well as school attendance.

08/24/2026

FinCEN Permanently Exempts US Companies from BOI Reporting -- As of August 11, 2026, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a final rule to permanently remove the Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirement. This is good news for SMBs.

However...family-owned and small businesses should remain alert: The Corporate Transparency Act remains active statutory law passed by Congress. Thus, it's possible that a future administration might reverse the regulatory exemptions and reinstate the reporting mandates. Small business advocates celebrated the final rule and database deletion as a massive win for Main Street. Yet, advocates emphasize: Congress should officially codify these protections into law (such as through the proposed Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act (H.R. 425)), so that future administrations cannot reverse the change.

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08/21/2026

In bankruptcy, there are several defenses to a preference action, one of which is commonly referred to as the Ordinary Course of Business Defense. Bill Siegel explains the subjective and objective prongs of the Ordinary Course of Business Defense in a Bankruptcy Preference Action.

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08/20/2026

Congratulations team! Best Lawyers® 2027 recently selected 10 Cowles Thompson attorneys for inclusion to its list of “Best Lawyers in America®” and named attorney Helen Emerson to the 2027 list of “Ones To Watch.”

Best Lawyers® recently selected 10 Cowles Thompson attorneys for inclusion to its list of 2026 Best Lawyers in America®. and named Helen Emerson to the 2026 list of “Ones To Watch.”

08/19/2026

ICYMI, we recently welcomed to the firm Associate Attorney, Naomi Stelivan. Naomi graduated from SMU Dedman School of Law, where she was an active leader both on campus and in the community. She participated in the SMU Criminal Law Clinic as an Associate Member of the State Bar of Texas. She also served as President of the State Bar of Texas -- Law Student Division -- and held board positions with both the Black Law Students Association and Student Bar Association. She is a member of our Tort Litigation and Insurance Litigation practice groups.

Prior to returning to Dallas, she worked in Houston where she dedicated volunteer time with the Nehemiah Center Christian Program and the Girl Scouts of America.

Associate

08/14/2026

Bankruptcy Update v/ Bill Siegel, inc: Aston Martin, J&J, Fridays, & more.
>Aston Martin creditors threatened legal action over a plan to sell branding rights (https://www.reuters.com/business/aston-martin-creditors-threaten-legal-action-over-plan-sell-branding-rights-ft-2026-08-03/) –now fume after the car maker left them out of a secured £550M deal with bondholders. https://jingdaily.com/posts/aston-martin-creditors-fume-at-lack-of-detail-on-debt-deal

>Former Red Lobster owner Thai Union Group said management conceived the ill-fated “Endless Shrimp” plan to drive traffic, not boost Thai Union’s shrimp business. The chain emerged from bankruptcy in 2025. https://www.nrn.com/casual-dining/former-red-lobster-owner-says-it-s-not-to-blame-for-endless-shrimp

>Johnson & Johnson to pay an est. $5.5B to resolve lawsuits of claimants who allege its baby powder/ talc products cause ovarian cancer. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/johnson-johnson-announces-55-billion-settlement-talc-lawsuits-2026-07-27/

>TGI Fridays won approval of a wind-down plan following sales of its corporate-owned restaurants that will create a liquidating trust for creditor repayment. Some 460 franchisee locations will continue. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/tgi-fridays-dining-chains-bankruptcy-wind-down-plan-approved

>FAT Brands received approval for a wind-down plan after selling off interests in Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Twin Peaks. https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/amp/news/business-of-brands/fat-brands-gets-court-go-ahead-for-liquidation-plan/132675447

>The second-largest US wine and spirits distributor Republic National Distributing Company filed bankruptcy. It has over 100,000 creditors, assets between $500M-$1B, & liabilities between $1-$10B. https://vinepair.com/booze-news/rndc-files-for-bankruptcy/

>Post Pandemic, banks fled commercial real estate loans, fearing losses from office vacancies. Now, they return with tighter lending standards to focus on areas like multifamily housing & industrial real estate (fueled by big data-center projects). https://www.wsj.com/finance/banking/big-banks-are-wading-back-into-commercial-real-estate-lending-07faec10?mod=finance_lead_pos4

>Bankrupt Dish Wireless LLC attempts to halt lawsuits brought by network infrastructure providers after collapse of its 5G build-out plan. Dish & affiliate Dish DBS Corp. filed Ch. 11 to protect its parent company. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/dish-urges-bankruptcy-court-to-halt-network-providers-lawsuits

>Senior living & care organizations filed 14 bankruptcy petitions in the first half of 2026 (13 in Q1 alone), compared to 13 total in 2025. Senior living/care sector bankruptcies along with those of clinics & physician practices led all other healthcare areas in the first half of 2026. https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/news/senior-living-and-care-bankruptcies-first-half-2026-gibbins/

Bankruptcies in the senior living and care sector are leading other healthcare areas in bankruptcies in the first half of the year.

08/13/2026

Newly divorced? Here are some topics you may find helpful -- as the school year begins and as business revs up for Fall:

> Cowles Thompson Family Law articles: https://www.cowlesthompson.com/news/?_categories=family-law

> Back to School: A Divorced Parent's Guide to the School Year: https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/family-law/a-divorced-parents-guide-to-a-new-school-year/

> Separate vs. Community Property in Texas Divorce: https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/family-law/separate-vs-community-property-in-texas-divorce/

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

> Beyond Standard Parenting Plans - 5 Key Considerations for High Net Worth Parents: https://www.cowlesthompson.com/resources/practice/family-law/beyond-standard-parenting-plans-5-considerations/

Texas courts apply the “best interest of the child” standard in every custody case, but high-income families often require more carefully curated plans to ensure stability for children.

08/12/2026

Join us as we welcome Associate Attorney Naomi Stelivan. Naomi will work with our Insurance Litigation and Tort Litigation teams. Naomi earned her J.D. from Southern Methodist Dedman School of Law, where she was an active leader both on campus and in the community. She participated in the SMU Criminal Law Clinic as an Associate Member of the State Bar of Texas. She also served as President of the State Bar of Texas – Law Student Division and held board positions with both the Black Law Students Association and Student Bar Association.

Before relocating to Dallas, Naomi was a long-time volunteer in Houston, serving with the Nehemiah Center Christian Program and the Girl Scouts of America, reflecting her commitment to community service.

MORE: https://www.cowlesthompson.com/attorneys/naomi-stelivan/

08/10/2026

Every summer as the calendar flips to August, parents everywhere realize just how underpaid teachers are as they prepare their kids to return to school in just a few days. For divorced parents, navigating a school year in a coparenting relationship brings an additional set of challenges. Jack Beesley discusses in Back to School: A Divorced Parent's Guide to a New School Year.

Family Law attorney Jack Beesley explains divorced parents' rights regarding a child's schooling, including selection of school, access to school records, and information on school uniforms and supplies as well as school attendance.

08/03/2026

Cowles Thompson -- celebrating 48 years! Experience Matters.