Wake Up Call: Rising From a Two-Person Firm to Hollywood Player

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

• Lawyer Elsa Ramo has built her Los Angeles-based firm into an entertainment law powerhouse over two decades, representing high-profile clients across independent film, television, and digital media. Ramo Law has grown from a two-person operation to a more than 50 employee firm, with a client roster that includes top studios, financiers, and celebrity production companies. The firm handles everything from IP rights to financing and distribution deals, and it played a key role in shaping deal structures for major documentary and unscripted projects that boomed during the Covid pandemic. (Variety)
• A lawyer representing a Latino family in a Los Angeles eviction case received an email from her opposing counsel saying that her clients “are likely to be picked up by ICE,” even though they are US citizens. Sarah McCracken is suing on behalf of Yicenia Morales and her family, who say they were illegally evicted. Rod Fehlman, the attorney who initially represented the real estate agent involved, wrote that the family was likely to be deported before the trial. (Los Angeles Times)
• Criminal defense attorney Roy Black died Monday at 80 years old. The prominent Florida litigator was known for representing disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, for whom he helped secure a controversial plea agreement. (The Hill)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Karen Firstenberg joined Thompson Hine as a partner in its product liability and toxic tort practice in Los Angeles. She joins from Venable.
• Jackie Kelly joined Boies Schiller Flexner as a partner in New York. She joins from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
• David Seymour and Will Bryant joined Freshfields as partners in its private equity real estate practice in London. They join from Ropes & Gray.
• John Rousakis joined Freshfields as a partner in its corporate practice in New York.
• Emily Stephens joined Alston & Bird as a partner in its investment funds, fund finance, and private credit groups in Los Angeles. She joins from Greenberg Traurig.
• Michelle West joined Burr & Forman as a partner in its construction and project development practice in Washington.
• George Vincent joined Kroger as general counsel. He joins from Dinsmore & Shohl.