Three Big Law firms representing Russian banks sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—White & Case, Debevoise & Plimpton, and Latham & Watkins—have been trying to withdraw as counsel for months now, but it’s proving not to be so easy.
White & Case and Debevoise & Plimpton were granted permission to withdraw provided that substitute counsel file a notice of appearance by June 24 or, failing that, the firms provide client contact information to the plaintiffs. But, on that date, William H. Taft of Debevoise & Plimpton and Nicole Erb of White & Case jointly submitted a letter to Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein stating that new counsel would be unable to appear on behalf of their client, Sberbank.
