Wake Up Call: Ashurst’s Top Partner Handed £600,000 Pay Rise

Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel.

• Ashurst’s highest-paid partner saw compensation jump nearly 20% to £3.76 million in the year to April 2025—about £600,000 more than the year before and nearly triple the firm’s average equity partner profit of £1.39 million. The figures come as partners prepare to vote on a proposed transatlantic merger with Perkins Coie. (FN London)
• California eviction attorney Dennis Block, known for aggressively representing landlords, is facing disciplinary charges from the California State Bar that question his handling of client money and conflicts of interest. The bar alleges Block improperly labeled fees as “non-refundable,” failed to properly account for or return client funds and property, missed court-ordered payments, and in one case represented both a tenant and her landlord. (LAist)
• Former Maryland bankruptcy lawyer Sari Kurland pleaded guilty to orchestrating three schemes that defrauded 21 victims out of a combined $4.2 million. Prosecutors said Kurland persuaded victims with false promises of high returns and services that were never delivered. In the largest scheme, she convinced 18 people she was brokering a Middle Eastern petroleum deal, but prosecutors say the funds were instead wired overseas and none of the victims were repaid. (The Baltimore Banner)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Ji Hye You joined Sidley as a partner in its global finance group in New York. She joins from Proskauer Rose.
• David Marcinkus joined Dechert as a partner in its financial services group in Washington. He joins from the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Michael Boldt joined Greenberg Traurig as a shareholder in its energy and natural resources practice in Austin. He joins from Eversheds Sutherland.
• Farheena Rasheed joined Orrick as a partner in its Supreme Court and appellate practice in Washington. She joins from the United States Patent & Trademark Office.
• Mae Rogers joined King & Spalding as a partner in its finance and restructuring practice in New York. She joins from Mayer Brown.
• John Pearce joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as a partner in its litigation practice in Salt Lake City. He joins from the Utah Supreme Court.
• Maria Hera joined Dentons as a partner in its hospitality and leisure practice in New York.
• Fabien Roy joined Arnold & Porter as a partner in its life sciences and healthcare regulatory practice in Brussels.
• Benjamin McMillen joined Jackson Lewis as a principal in Kansas City. He joins from Husch Blackwell.
• Liesbeth Truyens joined Crowell & Moring as a partner in its international trade group in Brussels. She joins from Schoups BV.
• Phillip Brown joined Thompson Hine as a partner in its commercial and public finance practice in Atlanta. He joins from Jones Day.
• Adam Endick and Christy Mazzola joined Fried Frank as partners in its real estate department in New York.
• James Wolff joined Greenspoon Marder as a partner in its corporate and innovation and technology practice groups in New York.
• Robert Giacchetti joined Seyfarth Shaw as a partner in its mergers and acquisitions team in Boston. He joins from Holland & Knight.