Sidley Austin is fighting claims that the law firm helped perpetuate the $1.3 billion Woodbridge Ponzi scheme, which had deep roots in South Florida.

A $500 million lawsuit filed on behalf of the receiver, Akerman’s Michael Goldberg, alleges Sidley and Washington partner Neal Sullivan were “heavily involved” in the legal matters of Woodbridge Group of Cos., which was led by California executive and imprisoned mastermind Robert Shapiro. Other law firms and more than a dozen attorneys were named in the complaint.