A federal judge in Washington on Monday sharply rebuked the attorney representing a Russian company fighting charges in a case brought by special counsel Robert Mueller III, raising uncertainty about whether the lawyer will continue to represent the company.

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich of the District of Columbia upbraided Reed Smith partner Eric Dubelier, who represents Concord Management and Consulting, over what she described as “personal attacks” on the special counsel and federal prosecutors in recent filings. Pointing to his latest brief to the court, which included a reference to the 1978 movie “Animal House,” Friedrich described his comments as “unprofessional, inappropriate, and ineffective.”