In an unusual move, Southern District Judge Thomas Griesa has reversed his own disqualification ruling last month and reinstated Baker & Hostetler and partner John Moscow as counsel to real estate companies accused of laundering proceeds of a Russian fraud scheme.

Griesa on Friday said Baker & Hostetler's representation of Prevezon Holdings Ltd. “does not pose a significant risk of trial taint.”

His opinion reversed his Dec. 18 ruling, in which he found there was “a very real possibility” that Baker & Hostetler would be in a position of trying to show that its current clients are not liable by attacking its former client, investment company Hermitage Capital Management (NYLJ, Dec. 22).