Wake Up Call: Lawyer Faces $256 Million Verdict for Witness Pay

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

• Lawyer Terrence Collingsworth was hit with a $256 million defamation and racketeering jury verdict for paying witnesses and fabricating claims that coal company Drummond Co. backed Colombian paramilitaries. The verdict followed years of litigation in which Drummond uncovered emails and records showing tens of thousands of dollars paid to witnesses—sometimes conditioned on favorable testimony—undermined lawsuits Collingsworth brought on behalf of Colombian plaintiffs. (The Black Chronicle)
• Kentucky’s public defender system is facing a turnover “crisis” driven by low pay. Nearly a quarter of staff attorneys left in 2025, often after about 21 months, lured by higher salaries in other states or by switching to better-paid prosecutor roles in the same courtrooms. (Kentucky Lantern)
• Law students at the University of Arkansas are protesting after the school abruptly rescinded a job offer to incoming law school dean Emily Suski. About 100 demonstrators said the decision undermines academic freedom, chills faculty speech, and shows political interference outweighed faculty and student input in the hiring process. Law students and faculty say the move could damage the school’s reputation and hinder recruitment. (Arkansas Advocate)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Reginald Davis joined Epic Games as its general counsel. He joins from Qualia Labs.
• Leel Sinai joined McDermott Will & Schulte as a partner in its transactions practice group in New York.
• Danielle Tully, Mike Powell, and Josh Glucoft joined Orrick as partners in its IP litigation practice. Tully and Powell join from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. Glucoft joins from Kirkland & Ellis.
• Andrew Amos joined Greenberg Traurig as a shareholder in its restructuring and special situations practice in Singapore. He joins from M&G Plc.
• Gail Levine joined Paul Hastings as a partner in its antitrust and competition practice in Washington. She joins from Mayer Brown.
• Marc Hecht joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher as a partner in the restructuring department in London. He joins from Simpson Thacher.
• Mary McQuinn joined Mayer Brown as a partner in its real estate and real estate funds practices in Washington. She joins from Goodwin Procter.
• Betre Gizaw rejoined King & Spalding as a partner in its international trade team in Washington. He joins from Stripe.
• Brian Donnelly joined King & Spalding as a partner in its real estate and funds practice group in New York. He joins from McDermott Will & Schulte.
• Chris Montgomery joined King & Spalding as a partner in its finance and restructuring practice group in New York. He joins from Cadwalader.
• Jennifer Zucker joined Vinson & Elkins as a partner and co-head of its government contracts practice in Washington. She joins from Greenberg Traurig.
• William Weltman joined Blank Rome as a partner in its business litigation group and food and beverage and technology industry teams in Chicago. He joins from Reed Smith.
• Reem Sadik joined Barnes & Thornburg as a partner in its white collar, compliance, and investigations practice in Washington.
• Corey Dietrich joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges as a partner in its US private funds group in New York. He joins from Proskauer Rose.
• Brian Faerstein joined Cozen O’Connor as a member in its white collar defense and investigations practice in California.