A group of FTX investors filed a proposed class action against Sullivan & Cromwell. Lawyers at the firm “were eager to craft not only creative, but misleading strategies that furthered FTX’s misconduct,” the lawsuit said. Investors’ lawyers at the Moskowitz Law Firm are already waging a separate class action accusing Fenwick & West of aiding fraud at the company.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is due back in court today for the first time since his November fraud conviction for a hearing in Manhattan over his new lawyer’s possible conflict of interest. SBF’s defense lawyer, Marc Mukasey, is also representing the founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency lender Celsius Networks, Alex Mashinsky.
More from the legal industry …
Law school admissions program JD-Next could soon gain the ABA’s stamp of approval … SCOTUS declined to hear appeals from Trump-allied attorneys L. Lin Wood and Sidney Powell in election cases … Kirkland & Ellis cannot subpoena Fish & Richardson and Paul Hastings to obtain employment records of a former associate in a sex discrimination lawsuit … A District of Columbia professional conduct board recommended suspensions for founders of law firm Tully Rinckey … Rudy Giuliani sought a new trial in a defamation case filed by two Georgia election workers whom he had accused of election fraud … The Indiana Supreme Court amended its attorney admissions rules to enable graduates of non-ABA law schools to request a waiver to sit for the bar exam … Golden Gate University School of Law and its president were sued by the alumni association and four current students to stop the closure of its JD program … Baker McKenzie must face a lawsuit in the U.S. over alleged legal malpractice by Russian lawyers.
Moves:
In Washington …
Simpson Thacher tapped a five-partner team from Skadden, including Sven Mickisch, the co-head of its financial institutions group. The team will join its D.C. and New York offices … Susanne Grooms, former chief counsel to the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform, joined Cooley to lead a new congressional investigations practice … Akin hired commerce and justice department official Opher Shweiki as a partner … Alexis Early joined Jenner & Block’s national security and crisis practice as a partner … Sheppard Mullin hired white collar partner John Marston from Foley Hoag … International arbitration partner Kristen Young joined Boies Schiller Flexner.
In New York …
Longtime Paul Weiss bankruptcy partner Kelley Cornish joined Selendy Gay … McGuireWoods hired former NY federal prosecutor Garen Marshall … Jennifer Polovetsky joined Duane Morris as a partner in the firm’s real estate practice group from Herrick Feinstein.
In Los Angeles …
Automotive litigator Lauren Deeb joined Hogan Lovells from Nelson Mullins.
In San Francisco …
Morrison Foerster hired finance and private equity partner Michael Vernace from Simpson Thacher.
In Boston …
Nicola Lemay joined Hogan Lovells’ corporate and finance practice as a partner from Foley Hoag where she chaired the tax practice group.
In Dallas …
Kevin Maguire and Nicole Karam joined Frost Brown Todd as partners in its real estate practice group.
In Pittsburgh …
Cozen O’Connor hired Christopher J. Rayl for its public and project finance group from Eckert Seamans.
In London …
Willkie added data privacy partner Briony Pollard from Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
In Seoul …
DLA Piper added Brian Youn as a partner in its finance, projects and restructuring practice from Milbank.
