Wake Up Call: Startup Looks to Automate Lawyers’ Timesheets

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

• Legal tech startup PointOne is trying to tackle one of lawyers’ biggest annoyances: tracking billable hours. Its AI software runs in the background and automatically logs work activity into timesheets, an approach that has helped it quickly attract law firm clients and new funding led by venture capital firm 8VC. (Business Insider)
• A federal jury convicted personal injury lawyers Jason Giles and Vanessa Motta for their roles in a scheme to stage crashes with 18-wheelers and then pursue fraudulent insurance payouts. Prosecutors said the attorneys worked with “slammers” who were paid to intentionally cause accidents, leading to lawsuits that generated settlement payouts. (The Guardian)
• Eckert Seamans plans to relocate its Richmond office from the Truist Center to Riverfront Plaza in the coming months. The firm has signed a five-year lease for nearly 7,900 square feet on the 11th floor in one of the complex’s buildings at 901-951 E. Byrd St. (Richmond BizSense)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Rachel Shepardson joined Paul Hastings as a partner in its investment funds and private capital practice New York. She joins from Paul Weiss.
• Christian Albanesi joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett as a partner in its international disputes and arbitration practice in Washington. He joins from Linklaters.
• Douglas Gansler and Stephen Ruckman joined Greenberg Traurig as shareholders in Washington. They join from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.