If it feels like every time you turn around, big name law firms are turning associates loose, you can’t blame Joe Francis. The “Girls Gone Wild” founder is doing his best to employ nearly every lawyer on the west coast.
In the last couple of years, Francis has used and wooed a number of renown law firms including Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and Howrey to defend him on a range of criminal charges. Francis is now replacing his current counsel, The Bernhoft Law Firm, who were initially set to defend him against federal tax evasion charges this year.
Rumor has it that Bernhoft originally wanted to up its celebrity profile following their representation of Wesley Snipes on tax evasion charges. But it appeared that the relationship soured and Bernhoft filed a motion to withdraw from the case last month.
Apparently, Francis had some choice words for Bernhoft attorneys as he mulled his choices for replacement counsel. I’m not reprinting them here because Bernhoft is claiming that much of what was reported by the Los Angeles Daily Journal (the source of the quotes) is not true. So, let’s just saying that there’s some gray area about what happened.
What is confirmed, however, is that Francis is considering California based Munger, Tolles & Olson as his new defense counsel for the tax evasion charges. Not that anyone is counting (okay, we are), but Munger would be the 5th law firm to attempt to defend Mr. Francis for… well, being Joe Francis.
But Bernhoft had to see this coming. After all of the other law firms, the signs had to be there: the late nights, the roving eyes, the saying he’d call when he didn’t. He wasn’t ever going to commit to just one law firm. He’s not that kind of guy.
And Munger may think that they’re *the one* but it’s just a matter of time before the sparkle wears off there, too. Hint: if it doesn’t feel like it’s working out, he’s just not that into you.
