In today’s column, Pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline poached the top lawyer at education publisher Pearson; electric car company Lucid Motors snagged a top lawyer from its big rival, Tesla; most of President Trump’s re-election campaign spending in April went to a boutique known for libel actions against media; the College of William & Mary’s law school hired an African-American dean, the university’s first; Burford Capital released a new survey report on gender diversity in the legal profession; the suspended chief legal officer of the U.S. Soccer Federation has resigned; Wake Up Call is taking a break Monday for Memorial Day and will be back Tuesday, May 26.
- Leading off, Uber Technologies Inc. cut at least 16 jobs from its legal department, among thousands of layoffs the ride-hailing company has made this month as the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting shutdown have slammed its core business. (Corporate Counsel)
- The number of law firms announcing pay and other austerity cuts this week was down sharply from last week, although one Big Law firm was reported to be making “stealth layoffs,” which the firm did not confirm. (ABAJournal.com)
- Transatlantic firm Bryan Cave Leighton…
