Wake Up Call: New York Big Law Duo Launches White-Collar Firm

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

• Sidley Austin‘s Tim Treanor and Covington & Burling‘s Arlo Devlin-Brown are leaving Big Law to launch their own firm, aiming to take advantage of a government retreat from white-collar enforcement and regulation of the surging cryptocurrency market. The new firm, Treanor Devlin Brown, will handle both defense and plaintiffs'-side work in white collar and crypto cases. (Reuters)
• San Diego attorney Joseph McMullen used AI to help win a $1.5 million judgment against US Customs and Border Protection after two American children were wrongfully detained at the border. Initially wary of the technology after testing chatbots that cited fake cases, McMullen said AI helped him organize evidence and strengthen his written arguments for the case. (Business Insider)
• The Arizona Bar is facing accusations of discrimination and retaliation after publicizing disciplinary actions against attorney Sheree Wright, who is representing four former Phoenix Suns employees claiming workplace discrimination. Former clients State Sen. Catherine Miranda (D) and the Phoenix chapter of the National Action Network, who support Wright, claim the state bar improperly released sensitive information to discredit Wright and her lawsuits. (The Arizona Republic)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Eunice Choi joined Pillsbury as a partner in its investment funds practice in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. She joins from Goodwin Procter.
• Sarah Bowman joined Perkins Coie as a partner in its private client services practice in Seattle. She joins from K&L Gates.
• Jessica Sievert joined Holland & Knight as a partner in its North Florida litigation practice group in Jacksonville, Fla.
• Matt Hanson rejoined King & Spalding as a partner in its special matters and government investigations practice group in Washington. He joins from the Justice Department’s Office of Legislative Affairs.
• Greg Oguss joined Mayer Brown as a partner in its corporate and securities practice and global insurance industry group in Chicago. He joins from Athene Holding.
• Menachem Danishefsky joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges as a partner in its tax department in New York. He joins from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.
• Adam Dilluvio joined Goodwin Procter as a partner in its life sciences group and health-care practice in New York. He joins from Gurnet Point Capital.
• Anne Marie Cook joined Phathom Pharmaceuticals as chief legal officer and corporate secretary. She joins from Sage Therapeutics.
• Jonathan Ballan joined Akerman as a partner in its corporate practice group in New York.
• Caitlin Lawrence rejoined Vinson & Elkins as a partner in its finance practice in Houston. She joins from Baker Botts.
• Samuel Francis and Reed Schuster joined Vinson & Elkins as partners in its investment management practice. They join from Kirkland & Ellis.
• Moni Sarmadi rejoined Haynes Boone as a partner in its real estate finance practice in New York. He joins from Goldman Sachs.
• Thomas Bartolozzi joined Fox Rothschild as a partner in its real estate department in Atlanta. He joins from Morris, Manning & Martin.
• Andrew Krause and John Paul Bratcher joined Taft Stettinius & Hollister as partners in its private client practice in its new office in Naples, Fla. They join from the Mrachek Law Firm.