Wake Up Call: Diddy Lawyers Slam Buzbee’s ‘Egregious Misconduct’

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

• Sean “Diddy” Combs’s legal team is challenging attorney Tony Buzbee’s right to represent the rapper’s alleged victims in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, citing his lack of proper admission and alleged misconduct. They argue Buzbee has filed multiple lawsuits without authorization, failed to disclose a prior denial of admission, and engaged in unethical public tactics, including a media blitz and procedural violations. (USA Today)
• The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that attorney disciplinary proceedings must meet a higher burden of proof—"clear and convincing evidence"—rather than the lower “preponderance of the evidence” standard. The decision clarifies longstanding ambiguity and limits the Office of Disciplinary Counsel’s ability to use prior sanctions as automatic proof of misconduct. (Law.com)
• Las Vegas attorney Gary Guymon was suspended by the Nevada Supreme Court, which cited him as a serious threat to the public amid allegations of plotting murder and coercing women into sex work. The suspension bars him from taking new cases and restricts access to client funds. Guymon, who allegedly referred to himself as a “gorilla pimp,” claims mental health and addiction issues prevent him from defending against the investigation, but the court rejected his petition. (KSNV)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Hiral Mehta joined Mayer Brown as a partner in its global investigations and white collar defense practice in New York. He joins from the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
• Judith Shophet Sidkoff joined Sidley Austin as a partner in its litigation practice in Century City, Calif. She joins from Dentons.
• Paul Salvaty joined Cohen Williams as a partner in its commercial litigation practice in Los Angeles. He joins from Winston & Strawn.
• Todd Fishman joined K&L Gates as a partner in its commercial disputes practice group in New York. He joins from A&O Shearman.
• Jennifer Kaplan Schott was named chief legal officer at Sysco. She joins from ITW.
• Peter Shindel joined Fox Rothschild as a partner in its litigation department in Wilmington, Del.
• Katherine Reilly joined Pryor Cashman as a partner in its white collar and regulatory enforcement practice in New York. She joins from the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York.