Wake Up Call: Lawyer’s Future in Doubt as Kirkland Sides With PE

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’s decision to step away from representing Optimum Communications has thrown renewed attention on star partner David Nemecek, a leading figure behind aggressive debt and “liability management” strategies. Nemecek was widely seen as the architect of the approach that triggered the clash, prompting anger from private capital groups that are also major Kirkland clients. The firm has reassured those clients it will avoid the most confrontational transactions going forward, leaving Nemecek’s long-term future at Kirkland uncertain. (The Financial Times)
• Eversheds Sutherland surpassed $500 million in US revenue for the first time in its history. The UK-founded firm’s US arm reported a gross revenue of $503 million last year, up 9.2% from 2024. The firm’s profits per equity partner also jumped by 13.5% in the US. The firm said its US revenue has grown by 39% over the last five years. (Eversheds Sutherland)
• Michigan Republicans accused Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office of misconduct during a hearing focused on its handling of allegations against Traci Kornak, a former member of Nessel’s transition team. Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R) said the office was “either wholly incompetent or corrupt,” citing claims that it improperly closed an investigation into alleged financial exploitation of an elderly woman by Kornak and discouraged Adult Protective Services from intervening. (Michigan Advance)
• Election lawyer Maureen Riordan left her role as acting chief of the Justice Department’s Voting Section, according to a recent court filing. (Democracy Docket)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• John Stavinoha joined Latham & Watkins as a partner in its M&A and private equity practice in Houston. He joins from Bracewell.
• Michael McGuigan and Marta Kelly joined Ropes & Gray as partners in New York.
• Noah Yavitz joined Ropes & Gray as a partner in its litigation and enforcement practice in New York. He joins from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
• Valentine Bleicher joined A&O Shearman as a mergers and acquisitions and private equity partner in Chicago. She joins from Kirkland & Ellis.
• Greg Lantier and Alexis Cohen joined Sidley Austin as intellectual property partners in its litigation practice in Washington. They join from WilmerHale.
• Meredith Auten joined Holland & Knight as a partner and leader of the office’s False Claims Act team in Philadelphia.
• Richard Madris joined Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner in its funds and asset management group in New York. He joins from Hogan Lovells.
• Joshua Hazan joined King & Spalding as a partner in its business litigation practice in New York. He joins from Simpson Thacher.
• Shawn Johnson joined Fried Frank as an antitrust and competition partner in Washington. He joins from Crowell & Moring.
• Mohsen Ghazi joined Perkins Coie as a partner in its private client services practice in Chicago.
• Jared Lopez joined Pryor Cashman as a partner in its litigation group in Miami. He joins from Black Srebnick.
• Justin Winerman joined BCLP as a partner in its financial restructuring & insolvency practice in Chicago. He joins from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
• Taylor Kiessig rejoined Eversheds Sutherland as a partner in its tax practice group in Washington. He joins from the IRS.
• Cody Yorke and Kerry Zaroogian joined Withers as partners to help launch an East Coast employment practice in the US. They join from Outten & Golden.