Attorneys for new law provider UnitedLex urged a Virginia federal bankruptcy judge Thursday to throw out the core of a $128 million lawsuit filed by the bankruptcy trustee for LeClairRyan in an oral argument that turned on whether a 2018 joint venture between the parties ran afoul of rules of professional conduct.

Greenberg Traurig shareholder Greg Milmoe denied that the deal between UnitedLex and LeClairRyan, which resulted in the creation of a joint venture to handle support services, led to any arrangements that violated ethics rules in any way. But he emphasized that even if ethical missteps did occur, the trustee could not hold UnitedLex legally responsible.

"Even if we did violate these rules, that does not stand as a predicate for conspiracy," he said.