Wake Up Call: Diddy Trial Judge Warns Lawyer for Podcast Remarks

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

• The judge overseeing Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking trial admonished a lawyer close to the defense team for referring to the prosecutors in the case as a “six-pack of white women” in comments on a podcast. Mark Geragos, who has previously represented Hunter Biden and the Mendendez brothers, said that the racial and gender composition of the six-member prosecution team was “interesting” and that race may be an “undercurrent” at the trial. (Reuters)
• An Anne Arundel, Md., attorney was removed from prosecuting a murder trial after a judge ruled she failed to disclose key exculpatory evidence—that the murder victim had allegedly once pulled a knife on the defendant. The judge found Anne Colt Leitess’ failure to share the information violated legal obligations and showed poor prosecutorial conduct, especially given the self-defense claim central to the defendant’s case. Leitess had also spoken to multiple witnesses alone, which the court deemed inappropriate and damaging to her role. (The Baltimore Banner)
• The now-defunct Australian law firm Erudite Legal was fined $50,000 for creating a “repugnant” work environment, including forcing a female lawyer to work up to 24 hours in a day, underpaying her $8,000 in three weeks, and instructing her to watch a film late at night. The firm, led by Shivesh Kuksal, also isolated the employee from family, worsened her health, and ignored court orders to correct the underpayment. Kuksal has since been banned from practicing law and using the Erudite Legal name. (Daily Mail)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Neel Chopra joined Steptoe as a partner in its investigations and white-collar defense practice in New York. He joins from Binance.
• Laura Stoffel joined Cooley as a partner in its emerging companies and venture capital practice in Boston. She joins from Gunderson Dettmer.
• Hyung Soo Kim joined Holland & Knight as a partner in its corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and securities practice group in New York. He joins from Arnold & Porter.
• Robert Nelson Jr. joined Polsinelli as a principal in its global project finance practice in San Francisco.
• Monica Gogna and Ayesha Corrine Singh joined Squire Patton Boggs as partners in London. They join from EY UK.
• Joyce Adetutu joined Vinson & Elkins as a partner in its export controls and economic sanctions practice in Houston. She joins from Baker Botts.
• Katie Anderson joined Hinshaw & Culbertson as a partner in its health-care practice group in Springfield, Ill. She joins from Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen.
• Zohra Tejani joined Seyfarth Shaw as a partner in its government contracts practice in Washington. She joins from Fenwick & West.
• Matt Maranges joined Jones Walker as a partner in its litigation practice group in Miami.