BigLaw Partner Disbarred After Bilking Firms, Client for $7.8M

Keila Ravelo, a former partner at Hunton & Williams and Willkie Farr & Gallagher, was disbarred in New York for approving payments of nearly $8 million to her ex-convict husband’s companies in exchange for “little or no services.”

Ravelo’s disbarment was retroactive as of her November 2017 guilty plea to federal wire fraud and tax evasion charges. Sentencing is pending in that case.

In its opinion, the Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division, First Department said a New York statute automatically disbarred Ravelo when she pleaded guilty to the felony of conspiracy to commit federal wire fraud. That ...