Brown Rudnick
{{Short description|American law firm}}
Brown Rudnick is an American law firm known in the practice areas of bankruptcy, litigation, brand and reputation management, and corporate transactions.{{Cite web |title=Brown Rudnick's Blueprint to Land Another 100 Lawyers |url=https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2022/10/14/brown-rudnicks-blueprint-to-land-another-100-lawyers/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=The American Lawyer |language=en}}
Founded in 1948 by Charles Rome, Matthew Brown, Alford Rudnick, and Hirsh Freed, it was initially known as Rome, Brown, Rudnick & Freed. It underwent many name changes due to mergers and expansions, including with Berlack Israels & Liberman in 2002.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=P. B. N. |date=2002-02-12 |title=Brown Rudnick to merge with N.Y. firm |url=https://pbn.com/brown-rudnick-to-merge-with-ny-firm8620/ |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Providence Business News |language=en-US}}
Notable cases
Brown Rudnick represented Massachusetts in her lawsuit against the tobacco industry in 1995. After the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement in 1998, the Firm was one of the five industries that was awarded $775 million by a national arbitration panel but sued for an additional $1.3 billion in legal fees.{{Cite news |last=Beam |first=Alex |date=2004-06-01 |title=Greed On Trial |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/06/greed-on-trial/302957/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |work=The Atlantic |language=en |issn=2151-9463}}{{Cite news |last=Zezima |first=Katie |date=2003-11-05 |title=Law Firms Sue Massachusetts for Tobacco Money |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/05/national/law-firms-sue-massachusetts-for-tobacco-money.html |access-date=2024-07-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Weinstein |first=Henry |date=1999-07-30 |title=Law Firms Will Get $775 Million in Massachusetts Tobacco Battle |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-30-fi-60955-story.html |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} In December 2023, a jury awarded an additional $100 million in fees.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2003-12-19 |title=Boston jury awards lawyers millions, not billions, from tobacco settlement |url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2003/12/19/boston-jury-awards-lawyers-millions-not-billions-from-tobacco-settlement/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Maryland Daily Record |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Lawyers get $100M more in tobacco case |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2003/12/20/lawyers-get-100m-more-in/50934673007/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Cape Cod Times |language=en-US}} The firm gained international attention for its representation of Johnny Depp in the 2022 Depp v. Heard trial.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-20 |title=Who is Camille Vasquez, Johnny Depp's lawyer who cornered Amber Heard? |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3178509/meet-camille-vasquez-johnny-depps-feisty-lawyer-legal |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Maddaus |first=Gene |date=2022-05-27 |title=Why Was Depp-Heard Trial Televised? Critics Call It 'Single Worst Decision' for Sexual Violence Victims |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/johnny-depp-amber-heard-cameras-courtroom-penney-azcarate-1235280060/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Sicha |first=Choire |date=2022-06-03 |title=The Mainstream Media Lost the Depp-Heard Trial |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/johnny-depp-amber-heard-trial-influencers.html |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Intelligencer |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-02 |title=Law&Crime Network Hits Record 330 Million Viewers On Depp v. Heard Coverage |url=https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/depp-v-heard/lawcrime-network-hits-record-330-million-viewers-on-depp-v-heard-coverage/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Law & Crime |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-13 |title=How a 15-year-old gamer struck YouTube gold with Depp v. Heard videos |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/amber-heard-trial-depp-youtube-content-platform-algorithm-tiktok-rcna28016 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=NBC News |language=en}} Depp's attorney Camille Vasquez became an overnight celebrity.{{Cite web |last=Hess |first=Liam |date=2022-06-01 |title=The Depp v. Heard Jury Finds Amber Heard Guilty of Defamation |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/johnny-depp-amber-heard-verdict |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Lawrence |first=Andrew |date=2022-05-21 |title=Move over Johnny Depp as his lawyer Camille Vasquez gets her own fanbase |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/may/21/camille-vasquez-johnny-depp-lawyer-celebrity |access-date=2024-06-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Following the trial, Camille Vasquez was promoted from associate to partner.{{Cite web |title=Depp Lawyer Vasquez Gets Promotion After $15 Million Win (1) |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/johnny-depp-lawyer-vasquez-gets-promotion-after-15-million-win |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=news.bloomberglaw.com |language=en}} The trial was featured in a 2023 three-part documentary series Depp v. Heard released internationally by Netflix in August 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-27 |title='Depp v. Heard': New Netflix documentary examines the defamation case that captured the world |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-07-26/depp-v-heard-new-netflix-documentary-defamation-case-global-media-event |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Citation |last=Access |title=Camille Vasquez Reacts To Johnny Depp & Amber Heard Trial Netflix Docuseries (EXCLUSIVE) {{!}} Access |date=2023-08-16 |url=https://www.accessonline.com/videos/camille-vasquez-reacts-to-johnny-depp-amber-heard-trial-netflix-docuseries-exclusive |access-date=2024-01-23 |language=en}}
The firm has also represented Mexican pop star Gloria Trevi in two civil lawsuits filed by two women on December 30, 2022, in California.{{Cite web |last=Barbeito |first=Camila |date=2023-06-09 |title=Camille Vasquez Defends Client Gloria Trevi, Firm Says There Could Be 'Conspiracy' Behind Lawsuit |url=https://wearemitu.com/wearemitu/news/camille-vasquez-defending-gloria-trevi-conspiracy/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=we are Mitú. 100% American & Latino |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Johnny Depp's Lawyer Camille Vasquez Talks Verdict 1 Year Later, Attorneys Still Text Actor 'Often' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/johnny-depp-lawyer-camille-vasquez-talks-verdict-year-later-exclusive-7507334 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Culture |first1=Ryan Smith Senior Pop |last2=Reporter |first2=Entertainment |date=2023-05-29 |title=Gloria Trevi's lawyer shuts down Ghislaine Maxwell comparisons amid lawsuit |url=https://www.newsweek.com/gloria-trevi-lawyer-camille-vasquez-shuts-down-ghislaine-maxwell-comparisons-lawsuit-1802526 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}
In October 2022, Brown Rudnick was hired by Kanye West to provide legal counsel on his business interests.{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Tre'Vaughn |date=2022-10-21 |title=Kanye West to receive legal counsel from lawyer behind Johnny Depp defamation trial win - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kanye-west-legal-counsel-johnny-depp-lawyer-camille-vasquez/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Bryant |first=Kenzie |date=2022-10-21 |title=Kanye West Reportedly Hires Johnny Depp's Preferred Law Firm |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2022/10/kanye-west-camille-vasquez-brown-rudnick-johnny-depps-law-firm |access-date=2024-06-27 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}} However, following West's refusal to retract his anti-Semitic remarks, the collaboration was dissolved.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=Camille Vasquez and her law firm reportedly aren't representing Kanye West anymore |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-10-24/camille-vasquez-kanye-west-brown-rudnick-lawyer |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Justice hired Brown Rudnick on February 28, 2024 on a wide-ranging retainer that includes handling interactions between the ministry and the U.S. Justice Department.{{Cite web |title=Kazakh justice ministry hires Brown Rudnick for US, UK legal work |url=https://globalinvestigationsreview.com/article/kazakh-justice-ministry-hires-brown-rudnick-us-uk-legal-work |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=globalinvestigationsreview.com |language=en}}
In June 2021, the firm sued Aylo (formerly MindGeek) and Visa in California on behalf of Serena Fleites and other child sex trafficking victims, claiming that Pornhub and MindGeek knowingly profited from videos depicting rape, child sexual exploitation, revenge porn, trafficking, and other nonconsensual sexual content.{{Cite web |title=Expert Perspectives on Biggest Court Cases |url=https://www.law.com/litigationdaily/2021/06/21/meet-the-brown-rudnick-duo-pursuing-human-trafficking-claims-against-pornhub-407-17917/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Litigation Daily {{!}} The American Lawyer |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Kolhatkar |first=Sheelah |date=2022-06-13 |title=The Fight to Hold Pornhub Accountable |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/06/20/the-fight-to-hold-pornhub-accountable |access-date=2024-06-27 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=News |date=2021-06-17 |title=Pornhub parent company MindGeek faces U.S. lawsuit over exploitation allegations |url=https://calgary.citynews.ca/2021/06/17/pornhub-parent-company-mindgeek-faces-u-s-lawsuit-over-exploitation-allegations/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=CityNews Calgary}}{{Cite web |date=2021-06-18 |title=Pornhub faces lawsuit alleging it knowingly participated in trafficking and child pornography |url=https://www.kget.com/national-news/pornhub-faces-lawsuit-alleging-it-knowingly-participated-in-trafficking-and-child-pornography/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=KGET 17 |language=en-US}} Brown Rudnick attorney Michael Bowe was featured in the 2023 Netflix documentary Money Shot: The Pornhub Story.{{Cite AV media |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt26739529/characters/nm7048215 |title=Money Shot: The Pornhub Story (2023) - IMDb |access-date=2024-06-27 |via=www.imdb.com}} The first scenes shot were with Bowe on the day he filed a legal complaint.{{Cite web |last=Bright |first=Susie |date=2023-03-16 |title=The Truth About Pornhub |url=https://bookandfilmglobe.com/creators/directors/interview-suzanne-hillinger-susie-bright-money-shot-netflix-pornhub-story/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Book and Film Globe |language=en-US}}
In a ruling issued on July 29, 2022, U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney ruled that it was reasonable to conclude that MindGeek's activity in hosting child pornography was knowingly facilitated by Visa. The judge ruled in favor of the plaintiff Serena Fleites, and denied Visa's motion to dismiss the case.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2022-07-31 |title=Visa 'Intended to Help' Pornhub and Its Parent Company Monetize Child Porn, Judge Finds in Allowing Case to Move Forward |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/pornhub-visa-child-pornography-court-ruling-1235330052/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
In August 2022, in the immediate aftermath of the decision, MasterCard and Visa jointly suspended their acceptance of payments from TrafficJunky.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Kate Rooney,Yun |date=2022-08-04 |title=Visa and Mastercard suspend payments for ad purchases on Pornhub and MindGeek amid controversy |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/04/visa-suspends-card-payments-for-ad-purchases-on-pornhub-and-mindgeek-amid-controversy.html |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-04 |title=Visa suspends card payments for ads on Pornhub in wake of lawsuit |url=https://nypost.com/2022/08/04/visa-suspends-card-payments-for-ads-on-pornhub-in-wake-of-lawsuit/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-08-02 |title=Judge Denies Visa's Request To Be Excluded From MindGeek Lawsuit |url=https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/2bstnox9764n3iwzpfy80/culture/judge-denies-visas-request-to-be-excluded-from-mindgeek-lawsuit |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Institutional Investor |language=en}}
Brown Rudnick was part of a group of firms that led the opposition to the Texas two-step bankruptcy of Johnson & Johnson subsidiary LTL Management.{{Cite news |title= Johnson & Johnson's Second Talc Bankruptcy Case Thrown Out|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/johnson-johnsons-second-talc-bankruptcy-case-thrown-out-74a63a13|author= Akiko Matsuda |author2=Andrew Scurria|date=July 28, 2023}}{{Cite web |title=J&J Unit's Failed 'Two-Step' Talc Bankruptcies Cost $178 Million |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/j-j-units-failed-two-step-talc-bankruptcies-cost-178-million |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=news.bloomberglaw.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.ltltalccommittee.org/}}{{Cite web |title=Judge rejects 6-month bankruptcy ban for J&J's talc subsidiary |website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/judge-rejects-6-month-bankruptcy-ban-jjs-talc-subsidiary-2023-08-11/}}
Pro bono and community service
In February 2021, Brown Rudnick and Lawyers for Civil Rights sued the city of Worcester, Massachusetts alleging that the city's system of electing school committee members diluted the voting power of people of color and violated federal voting laws.{{Cite web |author=Stephanie Ebbert|title=Worcester voters, activists sue school committee over Voting Rights Act - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/08/metro/worcester-voters-activists-sue-school-committee-over-voting-rights-act/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-02-08 |title=Minority Voters In Worcester File Federal Voting Rights Suit Over School Committee Election |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/02/08/minority-voters-worcester-federal-voting-rights-suit |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=www.wbur.org |language=en}} The city agreed to a settlement that would replace the all at-large system.{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Steven H. Foskett |title=Hispanic/Black group, Worcester agree to settle lawsuit over electing school board |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/2021/10/14/hispanic-black-group-and-city-agree-to-settle-lawsuit-over-electing-school-board/8452420002/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://brownrudnick.com/}}
Category:American companies established in 1948
Category:1948 establishments in Massachusetts