Sarah Patel Pacheco Named to Top 100 Houston and Top 50 Women Texas Super Lawyers Lists - Crain Caton & James

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Crain Caton & James Welcomes Financial Institutions Litigator Fourteen Crain Caton & James Lawyers Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® List Eight Crain Caton & James Attorneys Included in 2022 Edition of the Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch List Administration Announces Intent to Revise Definition of WOTUS EPA Assesses Penalties for Inadequate Protective Measures US Supreme Court Says Pipelines Can Condemn State Property Court of Appeals Says CWA Climate Change Case against ExxonMobil Should Not Wait on EPA Key WOTUS Issue: Ephemeral Streams EPA Announces Several Enforcement Settlements for Filing and Pollution Prevention Deficiencies Biden Administration Announces Plan for Interim Return to Pre-2015 Definition of WOTUS Texas Appellate Court Upholds Permanent Closure of Recurring Nuisance Energy Company Pays $1 Million to Settle Clean Water Act Case TCEQ Renews Stormwater MSGP for Industrial Facilities Eighth Circuit Rejects Remedy that Orders Emission Reductions at Company’s other Plant A New WOTUS Definition-the Administration’s Dilemma Fifth Circuit rebuffed an individual guarantor’s claims of “fraudulent inducement, duress, unclean hands, and equitable estoppel” against lenders U.S. Supreme Court held “No Concrete Harm, No Standing” for class-action lawsuit members Seventh Circuit ruled CRAs were responsible for investigating “factually inaccurate information,” but not “legal inaccuracies.” Crain Caton & James Lawyers Selected to 2021 Texas Super Lawyers List Crain Caton & James Welcomes Experienced Real Estate Attorney Environmental, Health and Safety Bankruptcy and Creditor Rights Commercial Litigation Corporate, Business Transactions and Tax Employment & Labor Law Health Law Estate, Trust and Wealth Planning Insurance and Personal Injury Intellectual Property Real Estate Fiduciary Litigation Energy EPA Rescinds Guidance on Permitting Discharges through Groundwater Appeals Court Reverses CERCLA Decision Finding Harm Capable of Apportionment Texas Facility to Pay Millions to Settle Clean Air Act Case Recent case of interest where Texas passes a landmark bill (HB 4474) recognizing, defining, and clarifying virtual currency and its control Switching from Coal to Natural Gas Leads to Declines in Greenhouse Gas Emissions West Texas Gas Companies to Pay $3 Million to Settle Clean Air Act Case Crain Caton & James represented Synergy Offshore LLC in the sale of certain oil and gas assets to U.S. Energy Corp Home Banking and Financial Services Sarah Patel Pacheco Named to Top 100 Houston and Top 50 Women Texas Super Lawyers Lists Sarah Patel Pacheco Named to 2022 Best Lawyers® List Flare Issues Lead to $3.4 Million Penalty EPA Announces PFAS Comprehensive National Strategy Crain Caton & James Named to the 2022 U.S. News-Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings H. Miles Cohn Definition of “Habitat” Is Endangered ALERT: Environmental EPA Proposes Rules to Reduce Methane Emissions DOJ Announces New Actions to Respond to Corporate Crime Kristina Cunningham and Keith Taylor Promoted to Senior Associates A recent trial court summary judgment ruling on NSF Fees you may find of interest Texas Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of TCEQ’s Issuance of Controversial Injection Well Permit TC Energy Submits Request for NAFTA Arbitration regarding Keystone XL Pipeline Barge Company to Pay $15 Million for Injuries to Natural Resources Pipeline Company Sentenced to $15 Million Fine and Three Years of Probation EPA Announces New Regional Administrator for Region 6 EPA Issues Report on Seasonal Effects of Climate Change EPA Issues Report on Seasonal Effects of Climate Change Crain Caton & James Announces Executive Committee Changes Judge Rejects States’ Request to Resurrect Keystone Pipeline Project Environmental Groups Challenge EPA’s PFAS Rules EPA Announces Environmental Justice Actions US Supreme Court Accepts another WOTUS Case Crain Caton & James Represents In-Depth in Legal Vindication Circuit Court Says Pipeline’s Endangered Species Review Was Inadequate EPA Enforcement Filings Continue Downward Trends Power Plant Emissions Increased in 2021 Class Action Can Proceed Alleging Management Hid Environmental Liabilities Alleged Injury to Aesthetic Interests Can Satisfy Standing Requirement Possible Rule Changes of Interest Where Texas Supreme Court Creates Rules for Justice Courts Two Attorneys Named to Texas Rising Stars List Sarah Sokol Clark Listed on Houstonia Magazine’s Top Lawyer List Crain Caton & James Welcomes Two New Attorneys Two Crain Caton & James Lawyers appear on The Best Lawyers in America List for 25 Years Gabriela M. Barake recognized on Super Lawyers Texas Rising Star List Kathleen Tanner Beduze recognized on Super Lawyers Texas Rising Star List Crain Caton & James Welcomes Two New Business and Financial Services Lawyers Mitigation Project Settlements May Thrive with the Death of SEPs EPA Publishes On-Site Civil Inspection Procedures Careers Recent case of interest I personally argued to the Tex. Sup. Ct. wherein the Court ruled a wire transfer request form did not create a new contract Crain Caton & James Environmental Attorney Named to Chambers and Partners Directory Crain Caton & James Welcomes Litigation Attorney Alex Cohn Recent cases of interest regarding overdraft fees class actions and two additional dismissals/judgments in favor of banks Case of interest related to the E-Sign Act and clicking an “acknowledgement” button to possibly agree to a contract Crain Caton & James Named Houston Chronicle’s Best of the Best in Three Legal Categories Recent case of interest related to N.Y. Court affirming Happy the elephant, a nonhuman animal, is not a ‘person’ subjected to unlawful detention Recent case of interest related to mass-produced ADA Braille gift card complaints Eleven Crain Caton & James Attorneys Recognized on The Best Lawyers® List (2023 edition) Three Crain Caton & James Attorneys Recognized on The Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch List (2023 edition) Robert R. (Rob) Wisner Named “Lawyer of the Year” for Banking and Finance Law in Houston Flare Issues Lead to Multi-Million Dollar Settlement Criminal Charges from Oilfield Deaths and Alleged Obstruction of OSHA’s Investigation New Memorandum regarding Settlements of Environmental Claims Against EPA EPA Releases Strategic Plan Wind Energy Company Pleads Guilty for Eagle Deaths Court Finds Status of Decision on Dam Removal Was Adequate to Allow Suit Federal Appeals Court Allows CWA Citizen Suit to Proceed Despite State Agency Order DOJ Releases FY 2021 Accomplishments Report DOJ Announces Comprehensive Environmental Justice Strategy Court Rules US Forest Service Exceeded Authority in Mining Permit Potential Ramifications of 5th Circuit SEC Decision Company Pleads Guilty in Power Plant Deaths Texas Supreme Court Clarifies Pipeline Condemnation Issues Supreme Court of Texas Upholds TCEQ’s Issuance of Controversial Injection Well Permit DOJ Announces Settlement of Alleged Flare Violations Texas Supreme Court to Hear Toxic Tort Case Supreme Court Decision Consistent with a Structure that Resists Rapid Change Multi-Million Dollar Permitting Mistake in Furnace Rebuild Project RCRA Settlement Requires $84 Million in Financial Assurance Groups Petition EPA to Review TCEQ’s Air Permitting Program DOJ Announces Environmental Justice Investigation of the City of Houston Highlights from the 2022 Texas Environmental SuperConference Court Refuses to Allow Downgradient Landowners to Challenge CERCLA Settlement Divided Texas Appellate Court Upholds Issuance of Air Permit for Facility Near a School EPA’s Approval of Changes to Texas SIP Does Not Have National Applicability Crain Caton & James Adds Shareholder to Fiduciary Litigation Practice Eleven Crain Caton & James Attorneys Recognized in Super Lawyers List (2022 edition) Bankruptcy/Restructuring Shareholder/Partner Crain Caton & James Welcomes Corporate, Business Transactions and Tax Attorney Crain Caton & James Continues to Expand its Fiduciary Litigation and Probate, Trust and Guardianship Practice Recent Case of Interest on $500MM Mistaken Wire Transfer Decision Reversal Our Client, Bechtel, Honored by the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association (HIPLA) Crain Caton & James Welcomes Real Estate and Business Transactions Attorney Crain Caton & James Named to the 2023 U.S. News-Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings Crain Caton & James Represents Port Freeport in Agreement with Volkswagen Group of America to Create New Major Gulf Coast Hub for Vehicle Logistics Case of interest where a Texas Court of Appeals ruled the customer waited too long to sue a bank regarding missing proceeds from a CD account Crain Caton & James Welcomes Real Estate Attorney Crain Caton & James Elves Fill Santa’s Bag 5th Circuit Upholds $14.25 Million Penalty against ExxonMobil Court Affirms EPA Determination of CZMA Compliance Emissions of Hazardous Air Pollutants Lead to Million Dollar Penalty Explosion and Fatalities Lead to $2.5 Million CAA Penalty Chemical Company Reaches Natural Resource Damages Settlement Texas Appellate Court Dismisses Homeowners’ Flood Claims against River Authority UPS Agrees to $5 Million Penalty to Resolve Hazardous Waste Allegations 5th Circuit Says LDEQ Joinder Defeats Federal Jurisdiction Emissions from Storage Vessels Lead to Multi-Million Dollar Settlement Crain Caton & James Elects New Shareholder EPA Issues Supplemental Proposal to Control Methane from Oil and Gas Operations Violations of Stormwater Permits at Four Construction Sites Lead to over $1.3 Million in Civil Penalties Texas Appellate Court Says City Not Responsible for Remediation of Waste Carried in Sewer System Supreme Court of Texas Says Defense Doctor Must Be Allowed to Examine Toxic Tort Plaintiffs Supreme Court of Texas Limits Cell Phone Discovery in Toxic Tort Case EPA and Corps Issue New WOTUS Rule-Issue Currently before US Supreme Court Failure to Meet Industry Standards Leads to Significant Enforcement Case of interest where the 11th Circuit ruled that a bank agreement cannot reduce the 1-year reporting requirement for unauthorized wire transfers Case of interest where marketing influencer may be liable for direct trademark infringement and unfair business practices claims Congratulations to our Houston Marathon Runners, Walkers, and Volunteers! Probate, Trust and Guardianship Failure to Re-Install Safety Device Leads to Guilty Plea and $3 Million in Punitive Damages Environmental Groups Challenge Approval of Deepwater Oil Export Terminal Supreme Court of Texas to Consider Investor Liability in Plant Explosion Case Fifth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Ft. Bend County Flood Suit against USACE Tenth Circuit Dismisses New Mexico’s Challenge to Nuclear Waste Storage License D.C. Circuit Upholds FERC Interpretation Despite Dissent Claiming “Chevron Maximalism” EPA Says Switch to Natural Gas Primarily Responsible for Lowering Power Plant Emissions Case of interest where Second Circuit ruled that the legal inaccuracy alleged by Plaintiff was not cognizable as an “inaccuracy” under the FCRA Case of interest where Federal District Court ruled that financial institution does not have to reimburse a customer after they were tricked into doing Zelle transfers Crain Caton & James Welcomes Two New Banking Litigation Attorneys Three Attorneys Named to 2023 Texas Rising Stars List Crain Caton & James Adds Family Law Practice Section Texas Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of Toxic Tort Case Texas Supreme Court Reinstates Flood Case against City Texas Supreme Court to Review Permanent Closure of Temporary but Recurring Nuisance Stormwater Violations Lead to Large Penalty DOJ and EPA Sue Norfolk Southern for East Palestine Derailment Settlement of Air Pollution Case Will Cost Oil and Gas Producer Millions Family Law Celebrity Divorce Representation Child Custody and Visitation Divorce Enforcements and Modifications High Net-Worth Divorce Representation Mediation Paternity Premarital (Prenup) and Post-marital Agreements Property Asset and Division Case of interest where 5th Circuit finds insurance coverage exists for a loss caused by wire transfer fraud Case of Interest where U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a purported unknowing bankruptcy debtor can be held liable for her husband’s fraud Improper Handling of Lab Waste Leads to $600,000 Penalty Gas Processors Pay Millions to Settle Air Pollution Cases Refinery to Pay $27.5 Million for Violations of Prior Settlement Ninth Circuit Upholds Liability in Groundwater Contamination Case Appraiser Pleads Guilty in “Billion-Dollar Conservation Easement” Tax Fraud Case Best of the Best Voting Record-Setting Penalty in Air Emissions Case US Supreme Court Defines WOTUS Settlement with $2.4 Million Penalty Helps Complete Sale of Facility US DOJ and City of Houston Reach Agreement on City’s Response to Illegal Dumping Seek Federal Registration of Your Trademark Now Should I Patent It… Estate Plan 101: What is it and why do you need one? 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Circuit Reverses Approval of Utah Rail Line due to Inadequate Environmental Analysis Case of interest where the Texas Supreme Court discusses when a parent corporation could potentially be responsible for a subsidiary’s torts Clean Air Act Violations Will Cost Oil Company over $10 Million Crain Caton & James Welcomes Corporate and Business Transactions Shareholder Delaware Supreme Court Refuses to Allow Suits for Only Increased Risk of Harm Fifth Circuit Affirms Issuance by Corps of Engineers of Permit for LNG Terminal Crain Caton & James Attorneys Recognized in Super Lawyers List (2023 edition) Ninth Circuit Refuses to Stop Fire Management Projects in Yosemite N.P. Family Law Attorney Sherri Evans Recognized in the Top 100 Super Lawyers and Among the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas Tenth Circuit Rejects Colorado’s Proposed SIP Revision Crain Caton & James Attorney Selected for HYLA Leadership Academy EPA Enforcement Initiative: Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Facilities and Landfills Transition to Natural Gas Is Responsible for Huge Decrease in GHG Emissions Crain Caton & James Attorney Completes 2023 Valero Bike Ride for Multiple Sclerosis Real Estate Shareholder/Partner (15 Years’ Experience) Head of DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Highlights Priorities Fifth Circuit Says Environmental Assessment Was Inadequate in 404 Permit Case Crain Caton & James Named to the 2024 U.S. News-Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” Rankings Corporate Officials Convicted in Explosion Case Eighth Circuit Rejects EPA Insecticide Ban Crain Caton & James Continues to Expand Family Law Practice Company Pays Over $500,000 for Failure to Demonstrate Clean Air Act Compliance Fifth Circuit Reverses TCEQ’s Issuance of Air Permit to LNG Facility Case of interest where the court answered: If a computer makes art, can the AI produced art piece be registered for a copyright? Sixth Circuit Rejects PFAS Class Action Crain Caton & James Elves Spread Cheer: Wrapping Holiday Gifts for Children in Need! The Importance of Conducting an Annual Business Confidentiality Refresher by James E. Hudson III, Shareholder Recognize and Protect Your Brands Now by James E. Hudson III Annual Review of Trademark Use is Key by James E. Hudson III Heartfelt Holidays: Adopt-An-Angel Gifts Packed and Ready to Bring Joy to Children Settlement of RCRA Claims Will Cost Recycler Millions Texas Appellate Court Says Case Can Proceed against Environmental Engineering Firms Crain Caton & James Announces Promotions of Two Attorneys Company Agrees to PFAS Sampling Plan Michigan Alumni’s 43-Year Wait Ends in Triumph: Championship Game Win in Hometown thrills a Proud Graduate Crain Caton & James Celebrates Achievement as Jennifer L. 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Vance Lewis, A Houston Pioneering Black Attorney Four Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Texas Rising Stars List Larry and Karen George Honored at the 42nd Annual Friends of Fondren Library Gala EPA Finalizes Standards for Emissions from Gasoline Distribution Facilities EPA Issues Rule Requiring Facility Response Plans DC Circuit Upholds FERC’s Extensions of Construction Deadlines ITC to Pay $6.6 Million to Settle NRD Claims Resulting from 2019 Fire Chemical Company to Pay $1.4 Million in Chemical Accident Prevention Settlement Case of interest where the Texas Supreme Court Delivers Ruling on When and How Courts or Arbitrators Decide “Arbitrability” Questions Consider the Consequences Before the Brand Refresh Beware the Scams Targeting Your IP. Crain Caton & James and Sponsors Tee Up Support for First Community Cares Foundation’s Golf Tournament! 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Crain Caton & James P.C. congratulates Sarah Patel Pacheco for being named to the Top 100 Houston Super Lawyers and Top 50 Women Texas Super Lawyers Lists for Estates & Trusts Litigation (2021 edition). Sarah was named to both lists in 2008, 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Attorneys appearing on Top 100 or Top 50 received the highest ratings from their peers and researchers.

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About Sarah Patel Pacheco

Sarah Patel Pacheco is a shareholder with Crain Caton & James, P.C., where she assists clients involved in complex estate, trust, guardianship and fiduciary litigation and administration issues. She received her J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law, and undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1998 she became Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and served as the Chair of that exam committee’ from 2007-2010. Sarah participated in firm leadership as a member of the Executive Committee for 15 years.

Sarah is a co-author of two (2) of West Publishing’s Texas Practice Guides: Probate and Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning. She is an Associate Editor of the State Bar of Texas’s Texas Guardianship Manual. She remains active in various local and state legal organizations including: HBA Probate, Trust & Estates Section; Chair 2009-2010; CLE Committee; Co-Chair 2008-2009: Judicial Polls Committee; 2008-2010: HBA Foundation, Fellow (elected 2004): HYLA; Fellow (elected 2000).

She has been named by Texas Monthly as One of the Top 50 Female Attorneys in Texas, a Texas Super Lawyer since 2004, and a Texas Rising Star. She has also been named as a Top Lawyer in Houston and as one of the Best Lawyers Under 40 by H Texas Magazine, and as a Top Lawyer in Houston, by Houston Magazine. Sarah has appeared on the Best Lawyers in America list since 2007. She continues to be a frequent author and speaker for various state and local professional organizations.