Wake Up Call: Kirkland, Cole Schotz Advising Bed Bath & Beyond

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

• Kirkland & Ellis and Cole Schotz are advising Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. on the houseware retailer group’s Chapter 11 filing Sunday, according to a statement. (PR Newswire)
• Law firms’ lateral hires fell almost 50% in 2023’s first quarter, with associate hires down far more than partner hires. The data suggest that firms, facing tighter finances, are focused on hiring rainmaking partners, according to a report. (American Lawyer)

Lawyers, Law Firms

• After Elon Musk erased their free blue check marks signaling their accounts were verified, only a handful of law firms said they’re paying to keep the badges. On the other hand, some star attorneys are paying to keep the marks, according to a report. (Reuters)
• Kirkland & Ellis advised FJ Management on its acquisition of Kum & Go, a family owned convenience store chain with over 400 locations across 13 states, and Solar Transport, a tank truck carrier and logistic provider, from Krause Group. Vedder Price said president, CEO and shareholder Michael A. Nemeroff and shareholder Shelby E. Parnes led its team for Krause Group. No financial details were disclosed for the transaction, which is expected to close “in the coming months.” (Businesswire)
• Paul Hastings said it advised GenScript Biotech Corporation and its subsidiary Probio Technology Limited on Probio’s approximately $224 million Series C financing round led by Legend Capital, Highlight Capital, Hillhouse, and other institutional investors. Paul Hastings said partner Jia Yan, the Shanghai-based co-chair of its China offices, led the team advising GenScript on the financing, which closed April 21. (Paul Hastings)

Laterals, Moves, In-house

• Employer-side worklaw firm Jackson Lewis PC hired labor and employment litigator Chris Cavaliere in Tampa as principal. He arrives from Shumaker Loop & Kendrick. (JacksonLewis.com)
• Reed Smith’s Hong Kong office brought in financial services regulatory attorney Jill Wong, who arrives from Howse Williams. She was earlier deputy general counsel at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and was in-house counsel at Credit Suisse. (ReedSmith.com)
• Moses & Singer picked up K&L Gates commercial disputes partner Paul Eckles as partner in New York. He earlier spent 25 years at Skadden, including as antitrust and litigation partner. (MosesSinger.com)
• Lewis Roca said law firm human resources management pro Lauren Symington joined the firm as its first-ever chief talent officer, in Phoenix, Arizona. She was recently director of human resources and talent management at Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch. (LewisRoca.com)
• Offshore litigation and dispute resolution firm Baker & Partners added insolvency and litigation attorney Mungo Lowe as partner. (BakerandPartners.com)
• Alternative dispute resolution services provider JAMS added retired New York magistrate judge James Orenstein as arbitrator, mediator, special master/referee and neutral evaluator on its New York panel. Orenstein, also a former federal prosecutor and Baker Hostetler partner, in 2022 was appointed to help the special master in Trump v. United States. (JAMSadr.com)
• Copper, a crypto asset custody provider, promoted acting general counsel, Sam Brown, a former Morgan Stanley in-house attorney, to general counsel. (Copper.co)