LegalIndustry PeopleMoves LegalIndustry
Partnersexitcryptoplaintiffs'firmto launchnewlawfirm
ByDavidThomas
July17,20236:11PMEDT·Updatedayearago
Representationsofcryptocurrenciesareseeninthisillustration,.REUTERS/DadoRuvic/IllustrationPurchaseLicensingRights
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(Reuters)-Twopartnershaveleftthecryptocurrency-focusedplaintiffs'lawfirmpreviouslyknownas RocheFreedmantostarttheirownlawfirm,Dynamis,theysaidonMonday.
EricRosenandConstantineEconomideswerepartnersatFreedmanNormandFriedland,whichchanged itsnameinOctoberfromRocheFreedmanafterco-founderKyleRocheleftfollowingallegationsthathe misusedinvestorlawsuitstoaidaclient.Rochehasclaimed hewasthevictimofanelaboratesetup.
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BeforejoiningtheFreedmanfirm,RosenledtheU.S.investigationintothe"VarsityBlues"college admissionsscandalasafederalprosecutorinBoston.
EconomideshaspreviouslyworkedatlawfirmsGreenbergTraurig,BakerHostetlerandRobbinsGeller Rudman&Dowd.AtBakerHostetler,hewaspartofateamthathelpedrecoverbillionsofdollarsfor victimsofBernieMadoff'sPonzischeme.
RosenandEconomidessaidtheyfeltnowwastherighttimetostarttheirownlawfirm. "Youhavetostrikewhiletheironishot,"Rosensaid."Wefeeltheironishotforus."
RosenandEconomidesarethesolepartnersofDynamis,whichlaunchedwithofficesinBoston,Miami andNewYork.ThefirmalsoemploystwoparalegalsandanassociatefromFreedmanNormand,Brianna Pierce.
Economidessaidtheychoseatradenamefortheirlawfirmratherthansomecombinationofhisand Rosen'slastnamesbecause"weviewthefirmassomethinggreaterthanjustthetwoofus."
ThetwopartnersemphasizedtheywillcontinuetoworkwithFreedmanNormandasco-counselonseveral cases,includinga$33millionarbitrationdemandagainstU.S.cryptocurrencyexchangeCoinbaseon behalfof118peoplewhosaytheywerethevictimsofscams.
Coinbase,whichdidnotimmediatelyrespondtoarequestforcomment,toldtheWashingtonPost in Octoberthatitiscommittedtoprotectingcustomersfromscams,butsaiditscustomershaveexclusive controlovertheirwallet.
"Eric and Constantine got the bug to start their own firm, something we absolutely understand, and we expect to see great things from them," Devin "Velvel" Freedman, a founding partner of Freedman Normand, said in an email.
One case Rosen has taken with him to his new firm is his representation of John Rybarczyk, who was charged along with seven others for allegedly using social media platforms Twitter and Discord to manipulate stocks and earn $114 million. Rybarczyk has pleaded not guilty.
"We intend to grow right now, because we have enough work to warrant growing right now," Economides said.
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David Thomas Thomson Reuters
David Thomas reports on the business of law, including law firm strategy, hiring, mergers and litigation. He is based out of Chicago. He can be reached at d.thomas@thomsonreuters.com and on Twitter @DaveThomas5150.