Wake Up Call: Firms Take Security Cautions for Middle East Staff

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 with Middle East offices are implementing safety measures for staff as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran intensifies, including evacuation support, remote work policies, travel suspensions, and enhanced security monitoring. Charles Russell Speechlys has hired security consultants to assist in evacuation support, while Simmons & Simmons, Dentons, Clyde & Co, and Baker McKenzie said they remain operational through remote work. (FN London)
• Offit Kurman and Thomas & Libowitz will form an affiliation, expanding Offit Kurman’s growth and its presence in Baltimore. The move follows Offit Kurman’s recent expansion into Georgia, Texas, and Florida, while bringing Thomas & Libowitz onto a national platform. (Offit Kurman)
• Aleshire & Wynder faces a possible $10,000 fine after a judge found multiple fake case citations in a December court filing while the firm was representing the City of Fresno, Calif. The filing was signed by attorney Carrie Raven, who is no longer with the firm, and Fresno’s city attorney said Raven has been removed from city work and the firm will address the issue at its own expense. (Fresnoland)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Shai Schmidt and Jakeob Brown joined Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft as partners in its financial restructuring practice. Schmidt joins from Glenn Agre Bergman & Fuentes. Brown joins from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.
• Stacy Frazier joined Clifford Chance as a partner in its antitrust group in Washington. She joins from UnitedHealth Group.
• Matthew Huppert joined Winston & Strawn as a partner in its litigation department in Washington. He joins from the Justice Department.
• Gabriel Salinas joined White & Case as a partner in its global mergers and acquisitions practice and global energy industry group in Houston. He joins from Mayer Brown.
• Bryan Lowrance joined Hogan Lovells as a partner in its mergers and acquisitions practice in Boston. He joins from Ropes & Gray.