Wake Up Call: Blackstone Taps White & Case Private Equity Lawyer

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

• Investment management giant Blackstone has hired White & Case M&A lawyer Joshua Alexander-Passe to beef up its European transactional legal team and to strengthen its legal ranks in London. He is joining Blackstone as head of legal for private equity transactions in Europe, according to a source familiar with the matter. (Financial News)
• Trump’s picks for federal oversight roles include antiabortion lawyer Thomas March Bell. The inspector general nominee for Health and Human Services resigned from a government job over an allegation of mishandling taxpayers’ money and has pursued cases against abortion clinics as a GOP attorney. After firing inspectors general at 19 agencies in an unprecedented purge, Trump has named several replacements in recent weeks. (Washington Post)
• Edward Burke Jr. has made a name for himself as a seasoned criminal defense attorney on Long Island by representing wealthy clients in the Hamptons arrested for driving while intoxicated—what he calls a “Deewee.” Known for making DWI charges all but disappear, Burke charges clients up to $1,000 an hour for his expertise navigating the local court system. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Global law firm CMS secured a deal to add India’s seventh-largest law firm, Induslaw, to its network, calling the move a “significant step” in its Asia expansion strategy. The deal comes weeks after the Bar Council of India amended its rules to allow foreign law firms and lawyers to practice in the country for the first time. (Global Legal Post)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Aly Love joined Freshfields as a partner and co-head of its US tech and life sciences mergers and acquisitions practice in its Bay Area offices. She joins from Debevoise & Plimpton.
• Matthew Christiansen joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati as a partner in its energy and climate solutions practice in Washington. He joins from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
• Jana Hymowitz joined Simpson Thacher & Bartlett as a partner in its executive compensation and employee benefits practice in New York.
• Matthew Regan joined Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as a litigation partner in Chicago.
• Michael Barnicle joined Troutman Pepper Locke as a partner and leader of its government contracts practice. He joins from Arnold & Porter.
• Bruno Romagnoli joined Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe as a partner in its mergers and acquisitions and private equity team in Paris. He joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
• Michele Madison and George Reinhardt joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings as partners in its health-care practice group in Atlanta. They join from Morris, Manning & Martin.
• Nick Agnello joined Husch Blackwell as a partner in its consumer financial services team in the firm’s litigation practice. He joins from Burr & Forman.
• Meghan McElvy joined O’Melveny & Myers as a partner in its general litigation practice group and energy industry group in Houston. She joins from Bradley Arant Boult Cummings.
• Andrew Castano joined Greenspoon Marder as a partner in its hospitality, alcohol and leisure industry group in New York. He joins from Emmy Squared.
• Terrence Dugan joined Moore & Van Allen as a member and co-chair of its newly launched entertainment finance group in New York. He joins from O’Melveny & Myers.