Wake Up Call: Wilson Sonsini Is Latest Firm to End China Office

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

• Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati plans to shut down its office in Beijing, making it the latest US law firm to scale back in the Chinese legal market. The firm, which also has offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, joins at least 11 other US firms that closed or said they would close offices in the country amid slowing deal activity, geopolitical tensions, and growing pressures on foreign businesses. (Reuters)
• A Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor was forced into exile after facing persecution from the country’s conservative elite. She spent two years in prison after accusing a judge of leaking sensitive case details, enduring harsh conditions, including solitary confinement, and severe medical neglect. (The Guardian)
• Missouri Judge Joe Don McGaugh was suspended for a year without pay for repeatedly delaying rulings, sometimes for up to six years, while falsely claiming he had submitted judgments. The Missouri Supreme Court imposed a harsher penalty than recommended, citing his failure to perform duties, dishonesty with attorneys and regulators, and harm caused to vulnerable parties. (ABA Journal)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Joshua Levy will rejoin Ropes & Gray as a partner in its litigation and enforcement practice in Boston. Levy joins after serving as the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
• Nat Edmonds joined DLA Piper as a partner in its white collar, investigations, and government enforcement practice in Washington.
• Shab Puri joined Davis Wright Tremaine as a partner in its energy practice in San Francisco. He joins from K&L Gates.
• Jonathan Drimmer and Yousuf Aftab joined Steptoe as partners.
• Gina Beredo was promoted to executive vice president, chief administrative officer, and general counsel at Owens Corning.
• David Brown joined Cozen O’Connor as a member in its private client, trusts, and estates group. He joins from Saul Ewing.
• M. Evan Corcoran joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck as a shareholder in its litigation department in Washington.
• Lesley Gregory joined Haynes Boone as a cross-border corporate partner in London. She joins from Memery Crystal.
• Michelle Moosally joined Citizens Financial Group as general counsel and chief legal officer. She joins from Wells Fargo.
• Cole Beaubouef joined Akerman as a partner in its corporate practice group in New York. He joins from Winston & Strawn.
• James Roberts joined Baker Donelson as a shareholder in its corporate restructuring and bankruptcy group in Birmingham, Ala. He joins from Burr & Forman.