Wake Up Call: Defense Lawyers Push to Toss NJ Criminal Cases

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

• Defense attorneys are urging a federal judge to dismiss criminal cases in New Jersey as a remedy for an unprecedented leadership crisis in the US Attorney’s Office. After an appeals court disqualified Trump loyalist Alina Habba for serving without confirmation, US District Judge Matthew Brann is now weighing whether prosecutors there have the authority to bring cases at all. (Politico)
• London-based law firm Mishcon de Reya elected Daniel Naftalin as its new managing partner. Naftalin will take over from James Libson this summer and has been a partner at the firm since 2003. He is currently chair of the firm’s employment department and sits on the management board. (Mishcon de Reya)
• A Los Angeles judge sanctioned the lawyer who represented security guard Emani Ellis in her failed assault lawsuit against Cardi B, finding he knowingly violated a court order by asking the rapper on the stand about possible gang ties. Judge Ian Fusselman ordered attorney Ron Rosen Janfaza to pay a $1,500 fine and self-report to the state bar, rejecting his claims that the question was accidental, inexperienced advocacy, or a mistake. (Billboard)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Rachel Strickland, Daniel Forman, Andrew Mordkoff, and Andrew Minear joined Ropes & Gray as partners in its restructuring practice. They join from Fried Frank.
• Eve Konstan joined Sirius XM Holdings as chief legal officer. She joins from Spotify.
• Justin Becker rejoined Sidley Austin as a partner in its global arbitration, trade & advocacy practice in Washington. He joins from Baker McKenzie.
• Gordon Novod joined Boies Schiller Flexner as a partner in New York. He joins from Grant & Eisenhofer.
• Katie McShane joined DLA Piper as a partner in its leveraged finance practice. She joins from Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft.