Wake Up Call: Millions in Legal Bills Are Draining Trump’s PAC

Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of legal industry moves and other news.

• Legal bills are draining Donald Trump’s PAC. The political action committee, which began last year with $105 million, now has less than $4 million left after paying tens of millions of dollars in legal fees for Trump and his associates. The dwindling cash reserves have fallen to such levels that the group has made the highly unusual request of a $60 million refund of a donation it had previously sent to a pro-Trump super PAC. (The New York Times)
• Northwestern University has hired former US attorney general Loretta Lynch of Paul Weiss to conduct an independent review of its processes and athletics department culture in order to address hazing issues. The university says it will make the results public. (Northwestern)
• Dinsmore & Shohl announces an expansion into Florida, through a merger with the 19-attorney firm Mateer & Harbert. “Florida, and particularly Central Florida, is a booming region,” Tom Harbert said. “Combining with Dinsmore will enable us to expand our footprint in the state to allow us to better serve our clients’ needs. (Law.com)
• Heritage Foundation’s former general counsel Chris Byrnes has joined religious law firm Nelson Madden Black and will be launching the Washington, D.C., office of the New York-based firm. “Chris’s arrival speaks volumes about how far Nelson Madden Black has come since we opened our doors seven years ago. Chris brings a whole new level of organizational advocacy to our firm as well as a wide network of contacts ... We look forward to continuing to expand our religion law practice in New York and Washington, as well as nationally,” said partner Barry Black. (Religion News)

Laterals, Moves, In-house

• Saul Ewing has opened two offices in Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif., through a combination with law firm Freeman Freeman & Smiley.
• Dickinson Wright has opened an office in Denver, Colo., with five attorneys.
• Adam Fee has joined Paul Hastings as a partner based in Los Angeles.
• Violetta Kokolus has joined Clifford Chance as a partner in the global tech group in the US.
• Travis Sales and John Anaipakos have joined O’Melveny as partners with the general litigation practice group in Houston.
• Matthew Block has joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher as a partner in the asset management department in New York.
• Louis J. Cannon Jr. has joined Baker Donelson as a shareholder in Baltimore, Md.
• Steven Sandretto has joined Baker McKenzie as a partner in New York.
• Lawrence P. Natke has joined Fried Frank as a partner in the M&A and private equity practice in New York.
• Alan Levesque has joined Wiggin and Dana as a partner in the litigation department and international trade compliance practice in Washington, D.C.
• Jeongseok Jay Yu has joined Foley Hoag as a partner.