Wake Up Call: Big Law Aims to Ease DEI Divisions in Trump Era

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

• Law firms are considering changes to their public and internal messaging about diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to align with the administration’s wants. Many expressed a continued commitment to DEI, while they will reduce their outward communication of their policies and eliminate controversial language. (Law.com)
• The District of Columbia will pay $1.5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit concerning the 2013 suicide of former Labor Department lawyer Paul Mannina inside a city jail. The suit, which was filed by Mannina’s wife, alleged that his death was the result of a systemic failure to identify people in custody who are at risk of harming themselves or others and to adequately address such instances. (Washington City Paper)
• The American Civil Liberties Union asked a judge to order the Maine Commission on Public Defender Services to provide counsel to defendants the moment they’re charged, to release those without a lawyer after seven days, or dismiss charges after 45 days. Maine, which adopted a full-time public defender system in 2022, still relies on a hybrid system with temporary attorneys. (ABA Journal)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Lisa Miller will join Sidley Austin as a partner in its white collar practice in Washington. She joins from the Justice Department.
• Alex Schwartz joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton as a partner in its corporate and securities practice group. He joins from Kirkland & Ellis.
• Marcus Brooks joined Jackson Walker as a partner in its tax practice group.
• Alex Rossmiller rejoined Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan as of counsel in New York. He joins from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
• Stephen Baumann II joined Holland & Knight as a partner in its labor and employment and litigation practices. He joins from Littler Mendelson.
• Rob LeBlanc joined Greenberg Traurig as a shareholder in its intellectual property and technology and trademark and brand management practices in Dallas. He joins from Haynes Boone.
• Sara Klein was promoted to chief legal officer at Alumis.
• Ryan Whitaker joined Frost Brown Todd as a tax partner in Cincinnati.
• Eva Weiler joined K&L Gates as a partner in its litigation and dispute resolution practice. She joins from Shook Hardy & Bacon.
• Kenya Dixon joined Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough as a partner in its litigation practice in Washington. She joins from TechCentrics.
• Anthony Phillips joined Fox Rothschild as a partner in its litigation department. He joins from Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani.
• Chris Newby joined Ryan Specialty International as general counsel in London. He joins from AIG.
• Matt Bonovich joined Husch Blackwell as a partner in its energy and natural resources industry team in Chicago. He joins from Sheppard Mullin.