Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily compilation of significant events impacting legal professionals, law firms, and corporate counsel. A recent highlight within legal circles is the resolution of a protracted legal battle between Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and its former attorney, Kristy Wagner. This dispute has spanned eight years following Wagner’s allegations of workplace discrimination post a zip-lining accident that left her severely injured. Wagner insisted that, although she was permitted to work remotely due to her injuries, the firm obstructed her progression to partner status, contingent upon her physical presence in the office and willingness to travel for work-related assignments. The conclusion of this case has been reported by Reuters.
Further, the landscape of legal and political accountability faced a stir with the actions of the University of Michigan, which opted to bypass local prosecutors in an effort to prompt State Attorney General Dana Nessel to levy charges against pro-Palestinian campus protesters. This move has raised discussions on potential conflicts of interest, given the financial and professional ties between Nessel and the university regents. For an in-depth analysis, visit The Guardian.
In another development, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is facing potential disciplinary measures, including a 90-day suspension of his law license. This action follows Knudsen’s noncompliance with a court order and derogatory remarks about judges within a 2021 case involving the state legislature’s subpoena power contest. More information is available in Montana Free Press.
Also noteworthy is the move by Cravath Swaine & Moore to enhance their London office by appointing Chris Medley and Rohan Saha as new leveraged finance partners, both of whom previously worked with Linklaters. This strategic hire reflects ongoing competitive shifts within international law firms, discussed in FN London.