Wake Up Call: Jenner & Block Calls for Four Days in the Office

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

• Jenner & Block is moving from three to four mandatory in-office days per week starting March 1, citing major investments in new office space, alignment with peer firms, and preserving the firm’s culture. The shift comes amid strong financial and hiring growth and follows similar moves by Goodwin Procter, Cooley, Dechert, and other large firms, as the industry continues tightening in-office expectations years after the pandemic. (Law.com)
• Oregon’s top prosecutors are split on how far they can go in pursuing federal agents for alleged excessive force. Attorney General Dan Rayfield and several county DAs signed a warning letter to the Trump administration asserting that federal officers aren’t immune from state charges when acting beyond their duties, and Rayfield says he is actively reviewing cases for potential referrals. But Multnomah County DA Nathan Vasquez is now stressing that such cases are still highly unlikely to meet the legal standard, cautioning against “unreasonable expectations.” (Bend Bulletin)
• Benjamin Louis Zelenko, a Washington lawyer whose seven-decade career helped shape major civil-rights legislation, died at 90. A Harvard-trained attorney who began in government service, he became a key counsel to House Judiciary Chair Emanuel Celler in the 1960s, drafting and negotiating language for the Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, and other landmark bills. (Washington Jewish Week)
• New York Attorney General Letitia James is paying Munger Tolles $1 million — up to $1,650 an hour for partner work — for representing her in acting US Attorney John Sarcone’s investigations into her office. Munger is giving James’ office between 18% and 23% discounts on its standard rates, according to the state comptroller’s office. (Law.com)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Mark Lebovitch rejoined Bernstein Litowitz as a partner.
• Manish Kumar joined Freshfields as a partner in San Francisco, specializing in criminal antitrust litigation and related white collar matters. He joins from the Justice Department.
• Negar Tekeei joined Eversheds Sutherland as a partner and global co-lead for its corporate crime and investigations practice. She joins from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.