Paul Hastings has fired back at the Coca-Cola Co., asserting that its representation of a startup suing the beverage giant for $100 million is entirely appropriate and that Coke’s attempt to disqualify it from that case is a “technique of harassment” aimed at giving Coke the upper hand in the suit.

It’s a black-and-white case, Paul Hastings asserts, because Coke in April 2021 signed an engagement letter with the law firm on a human rights matter giving it wide latitude to work with any client it wishes so long as the subject is “not substantially related to a matter in which we have represented you.”