Wake Up Call: DOJ, Big Law Alums Form Anti-Trump Nonprofit Firm

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

• A group of former lawyers from the Justice Department and Milbank alum Nathaniel Zelinsky launched a nonprofit to take on cases for free to oppose actions by the Trump administration. The Washington Litigation Group will represent targets of criminal and congressional investigations and pursue civil litigation targeting President Donald Trump’s executive orders. (Reuters)
• Internet personality Jake Paul hired Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan‘s Alex Spiro to pursue legal action against anyone who has claimed that his boxing matches are fixed. The accusations began last year, when Paul took on Mike Tyson and came out on top, leading many to suspect the fight was scripted or staged. (Men’s Fitness)
• Megan Thomas, a Syracuse lawyer specializing in sexual harassment cases, was initially approved to place an ad for her law firm at the Syracuse airport but was later told to alter the language due to concerns it might upset men and politicians. Her proposed ad included messaging aimed at victims of workplace harassment, but airport officials deemed it “unprofessional” and “inflammatory.” (Syracuse.com)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Annalie Mitchelson joined K&L Gates as a partner in the tax practice in Sydney.
• Tricia McNeill joined Baker Donelson as a shareholder in its financial services transactions practice in Raleigh, N.C. She joins from Troutman Pepper Locke.
• Michael Qian joined Haynes Boone as a partner in its Supreme Court and appellate practice groups in Dallas and Washington. He joins from the Justice Department.
• Jeffrey Charkow joined Duane Morris as a partner in its trial practice group in Chicago. He joins from Harris Winick Harris.
• Jason Stephen was appointed general counsel at GoPro.