Wake Up Call: US Group Runs Fake Law Firm to Scam Immigrants

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

• Four people were arraigned in New Jersey for running a fake law firm that posed as immigration attorneys and officials to defraud immigrants. Prosecutors say the group staged sham court proceedings, created false documents with government logos, and solicited clients on Facebook, collecting more than $100,000 and laundering funds to co-conspirators in Colombia. (The Guardian)
• Law students in the class of 2025 contributed more than 5.1 million hours of pro bono legal services, according to the Association of American Law Schools. A total of 108 law schools reported that 22,336 graduating students completed an average of 230 hours each, supporting legal aid organizations, community groups, and law school clinics. (National Jurist)
• The Dayton city commission approved a $350,000 development agreement with Horenstein, Nicholson and Blumenthal that will fund office modifications if the firm retains its Dayton jobs and creates 10 new positions over the next three years. (Dayton Daily News)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• William Reiss joined Crowell & Moring as a partner in its antitrust and competition group in New York. He joins from Robins Kaplan.
• Emily Johnson and Mark Stagliano joined Latham & Watkins as partners in New York. They join from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
• Brian Buckley and Melissa Lawton joined Morgan Lewis as partners in its global litigation practice. They join from Fenwick & West.
• Stephen Malito and Nicole Weingartner joined Greenberg Traurig in its government law and policy practice. They join from Davidoff Hutcher & Citron.