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Barber Ranen Leaders Resign Over Racist, Sexist Emails
By Xiumei Dong
Law360 (June 5, 2023, 5:00 PM EDT) -- The two name partners of Barber Ranen, who spearheaded a massive exodus from Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP last month, reportedly resigned on Monday after a series of emails that showed the lawyers using offensive and derogatory language while at their former firm.
John Barber and Jeffrey Ranen, who were the managing partner and chief financial officer of the new firm, respectively, resigned after the firm requested their resignations, according to a story from Reuters on Monday afternoon.
Prior to launching their own firm with over 100 attorneys from Lewis Brisbois in May, Barber had been with Lewis Brisbois for over 25 years, while Ranen had a 20-year tenure with the Los Angeles-based firm.
Barber and Ranen did not immediately return Law360 Pulse's request for comment.
The leaked emails, which were first reported by The New York Post on Saturday and obtained by Law360 Pulse on Monday, revealed that the two senior partners had repeatedly used misogynistic, racist, and anti-LGBTQ language to talk about their clients and colleagues while at Lewis Brisbois.
For example, in a June 2012 email reacting to Ranen's comment about an employee overtime request, Barber wrote, "Kill her by anal penetration." The two lawyers also had repeatedly referred to women as "cunts" in the emails, as well as calling an opposing counsel a "gypsy" and a judge "sugar tits."
According to a statement from Lewis Brisbois' management committee on Monday, the firm had begun an investigation on the two former partners following their departure after an anonymous complaint was lodged against them concerning their behavior.
"In keeping with firm policies, the management committee immediately began an investigation and were shocked to find dozens of emails between John Barber and Jeff Ranen with unacceptable, prejudiced language aimed at our colleagues, clients, attorneys from other firms, and even judges," the statement said.
While the committee continues to conduct a comprehensive review of Barber and Ranen's behavior during their time at the firm, including a thorough examination of their correspondence and interviews with other employees who interacted with them, the committee's statement also noted that no disciplinary action will be taken at this moment since the lawyers are no longer with the firm.
According to Elizabeth Lampert, a strategist specializing in law firm public relations and crisis communications, the lawyers from Barber Ranen had previously stated their intention to create a new firm that aligns with their values and beliefs when they departed from their previous firm. However, if the leaked emails indeed belong to them, it represents a deeply regrettable day for the pair.
"It would take an incredible reversal of thought by these two employment attorneys to walk back what they've said within the profession, their community, and their social circles," Lampert said.
--Editing by Marygrace Anderson.
John Barber and Jeffrey Ranen, who were the managing partner and chief financial officer of the new firm, respectively, resigned after the firm requested their resignations, according to a story from Reuters on Monday afternoon.
Prior to launching their own firm with over 100 attorneys from Lewis Brisbois in May, Barber had been with Lewis Brisbois for over 25 years, while Ranen had a 20-year tenure with the Los Angeles-based firm.
Barber and Ranen did not immediately return Law360 Pulse's request for comment.
The leaked emails, which were first reported by The New York Post on Saturday and obtained by Law360 Pulse on Monday, revealed that the two senior partners had repeatedly used misogynistic, racist, and anti-LGBTQ language to talk about their clients and colleagues while at Lewis Brisbois.
For example, in a June 2012 email reacting to Ranen's comment about an employee overtime request, Barber wrote, "Kill her by anal penetration." The two lawyers also had repeatedly referred to women as "cunts" in the emails, as well as calling an opposing counsel a "gypsy" and a judge "sugar tits."
According to a statement from Lewis Brisbois' management committee on Monday, the firm had begun an investigation on the two former partners following their departure after an anonymous complaint was lodged against them concerning their behavior.
"In keeping with firm policies, the management committee immediately began an investigation and were shocked to find dozens of emails between John Barber and Jeff Ranen with unacceptable, prejudiced language aimed at our colleagues, clients, attorneys from other firms, and even judges," the statement said.
While the committee continues to conduct a comprehensive review of Barber and Ranen's behavior during their time at the firm, including a thorough examination of their correspondence and interviews with other employees who interacted with them, the committee's statement also noted that no disciplinary action will be taken at this moment since the lawyers are no longer with the firm.
According to Elizabeth Lampert, a strategist specializing in law firm public relations and crisis communications, the lawyers from Barber Ranen had previously stated their intention to create a new firm that aligns with their values and beliefs when they departed from their previous firm. However, if the leaked emails indeed belong to them, it represents a deeply regrettable day for the pair.
"It would take an incredible reversal of thought by these two employment attorneys to walk back what they've said within the profession, their community, and their social circles," Lampert said.
--Editing by Marygrace Anderson.
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