Wake Up Call: City of St. Louis Targets Bryan Cave Over Taxes

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

• The city of St. Louis said in January that Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, “one of the few white-shoe law firms remaining in downtown,” owed $370,000 in past-due taxes, interest and penalties via the city’s 1 percent earnings tax. The city sent Bryan Cave notice of tax delinquency, causing the firm to pay the sum “under protest"—and then to file a lawsuit over the city’s demands. (Riverfront Times)
• A new study of 400 senior lawyers and finance professionals from litigation funder Burford Capital found that legal leaders in construction and mining expect the biggest increases in litigation spend over the next five years, with pharma and food close behind. Three of four general counsel in construction and real estate said a top priority is to increase certainty and predictability of legal costs. (PR Newswire)
• Paul, Weiss partner Kannon Shanmugam, who represents the National Football League in a contract interference suit filed by former Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden, declined to comment on a ruling finding the league can force the civil case into private arbitration that might be overseen by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Gruden attorney Adam Hosmer-Henner said he’ll appeal to the full seven-member Nevada Supreme Court. (NFL.com)

Laterals, Moves, In-house

• Nate Bolin and David Allman have joined K&L Gates as partners in its antitrust, competition, and trade regulation practice in Washington. The pair joins from DLA Piper.
• Dario J. Frommer has rejoined Mayer Brown as a partner in the public policy, regulatory and government affairs practice in Los Angeles.
• Brent M. Douglas has joined Snell & Wilmer as a partner in the labor and employment practice group in the San Diego office. He joins from Hahn Loeser & Parks.
• Gregory M. Fliszar has joined Baker Donelson as a shareholder with the firm’s health law group in its Nashville office.
• Myles F. Reynolds has been appointed managing partner of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Dallas and Austin, Texas, offices.
• Daniel Mallet has joined Haynes and Boone as a real estate finance partner in the Orange County, Calif., office. He joins from Sheppard Mullin.
• Frank A. Mazzagatti has arrived at Hinshaw & Culbertson as a partner with the firm’s health care industry group in New York. He joins from Weiss Zarett Brofman Sonnenklar & Levy.
• Wendy Lee has joined Buchalter as a shareholder in Seattle.
• James C. Bookhout has joined Katten as a partner and chair of the mergers and acquisitions litigation practice in the Dallas office.