Wake Up Call: Gaetz in ‘Active Talks’ to Join Morgan & Morgan

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

• Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is reportedly in “active talks” to join personal injury firm Morgan & Morgan, firm founder John Morgan told Politico. Morgan praised Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration to be attorney general, for his positions on marijuana legalization, property insurance, and processed foods. (Politico)
• The Florida Bar is on track to overhaul its policy advocating “diversity and inclusion” for lawyers in the state, eliminating those terms and adopting a more general policy focused on “the quality of legal services.” The state’s supreme court directed the Florida Bar in January to remove funding for diversity and inclusion from its upcoming budget, prompting the revision. (Reuters)
• Rudy Giuliani is blaming US District Judge Beryl Howell for his trouble finding an attorney willing to represent him in his defamation case against two Georgia poll workers. In a filing, the former mayor told Howell that four lawyers refused to accept him as a client because they think the judge is “unreasonable and biased about Trump related matters.” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Emily Naughton joined Gibson Dunn as a partner of its project and infrastructure and real estate practice groups in Washington.
• Mike Clausman was named by Hormel Foods Corporation as its vice president, deputy general counsel, and assistant secretary in Austin.
• Kenneth Chang joined Holland & Knight as a partner in its intellectual property practice in Denver. He joins from Quarles & Brady.
• Maria Cáceres-Boneau joined K&L Gates as a partner in its labor, employment, and workplace safety practice. She joins from Duane Morris.
• Joshua Hafenbrack joined Winston & Strawn as a partner in its litigation department in Washington.
• Christopher Ende joined Foley Hoag as its chief operating officer in Boston.