Patterson Belknap, Stradley Ronon Must Remain on Ex-GC’s Case

A Manhattan judge has refused to allow two law firms to withdraw from defending the former general counsel of Oppenheimer & Co. in a sex harassment case.

Judge Judith Gische ruled that former general counsel Eric Shames had raised legitimate concerns that the withdrawal just days before trial would make it more difficult to defend himself, the New York Law Journal reports. Seeking to withdraw were lead counsel Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young and local counsel Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler.

The firms represented both Oppenheimer and Shames, and Oppenheimer had paid Shames’ legal fees. The two firms sought to withdraw after Oppenheimer settled with the plaintiff, a former paralegal, but Shames did not reach an agreement, the story says.

Stradley Ronon maintained in a brief that continued representation of Shames represented a conflict of interest because its defense of Shames could be at odds with Oppenheimer’s interests, the story reports. Both Stradley Ronon and Patterson Belknap claimed their relationship with Shames had suffered; Stradley Ronon called it “nothing short of dysfunctional."

Gische noted in her Nov. 20 opinion that a letter of joint representation provided that in the event of a conflict, Patterson Belknap could continue to represent Shames. She also said Oppenheimer is no longer a party to the litigation “and has no role to play at trial other than to have its people testify truthfully as to relevant facts."