Wake Up Call: Latham, Hogan Lovells Remove DEI From Websites

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

• Latham & Watkins and Hogan Lovells removed much of their diversity, equity, and inclusion content from their websites, including references to institutional racism, disability, and LGBTQ+ issues. Hogan Lovells rebranded its DEI section as “HL Inclusion,” removing previous terminology and content, while Latham altered its DEI page and removed statements about combating systemic inequities. (Law.com)
• Judge Jeffrey Zimmerman of the New York City Criminal Court decided to resign amid an investigation into allegations of misconduct, including interfering in attorney-client relationships, prejudging cases, and displaying discourteous behavior. The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct announced that Zimmerman will step down on April 3 and agreed never to seek another judicial position. (ABA Journal)
• Joshua Wright, a former law professor at George Mason University who also served on the Federal Trade Commission, faces a motion for sanctions after dropping his defamation lawsuit against a woman who accused him of sexual misconduct. The woman’s attorneys argue that Wright’s lawsuit was a baseless, retaliatory attempt to intimidate his accusers and are seeking attorney fees and costs under Virginia’s anti-SLAPP law. (Law.com)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• J. Trumon Phillips joined Dentons as a partner in its litigation practice in Miami.
• Stacy Carpenter and Michael Dulin joined Greenberg Traurig as shareholders in its litigation practice in Denver. They join from Polsinelli.
• Adam Chernichaw joined Pillsbury as a partner in its global sourcing and technology transactions practice in New York. He joins from A&O Shearman.
• Michael Swartz joined Quinn Emanuel as a partner in New York. He joins from Schulte Roth & Zabel.
• Vanessa Singh Johannes and Charles Throckmorton joined Foley & Lardner as partners in Miami. They join from Carlton Fields.
• Steven Homan joined Fried Frank as a partner in its global asset management practice in New York. He joins from Simpson Thacher.
• Joseph Shifer joined Pryor Cashman as a partner in its bankruptcy, reorganization, and creditors’ rights group in New York. He joins from Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel.