Coming in at No. 9 on Androvett Legal Media's list of the Top 10 new Texas laws for 2011, is HB2707, which empowers the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission or a county judge to shut down bars that have a documented history of bar fights or other violence. Like most of the newly created laws, it becomes effective Sept. 1.

The measure is known as “Erik’s Law” in memory of 26-year-old Fort Worth resident Erik Ozuna, who was killed in March 2008 in a volley of gunfire inside a Fort Worth bar. Before a 21-year-old man pulled a gun and started firing randomly into the crowd inside the bar, police had responded to more than 400 incidents there.

“This new law puts a premium on each bar not just adopting, but rigorously implementing employee training and enforcing responsible retailer policies, which is a big part of my practice,” says Andy Siegel from Shackelford Melton & McKinley, whose practice includes alcoholic beverage regulation. “It also means that bar and restaurant owners will need legal counsel to help design preventive programs and be ready to act to challenge any alleged violations in order to allow for continued business operations.”