Katherine Franke Dropping a Client Like a 'Hot Potato'
Professor Bennett Gershman and Joel Cohen, a senior counsel at Petrillo Klein & Boxer, engage in a back and forth over a perplexing ethical and practical issue that has recently arisen and may continue to bedevil law firms in an increasingly polarized society.
November 02, 2024 at 05:52 PM
8 minute read
As the New York Times reported on Oct. 27, Katherine Franke, a Columbia University School of Law professor, was dropped as a client by Outten & Golden several months after she had retained the firm to represent her in a dispute with Columbia University's Office of Affirmative Action.
Franke was being investigated for her statements in a TV interview about student protests at Columbia during which she made comments that were claimed to constitute harassment of Israeli students. Franke retained Outten & Golden in February 2024 as a pro bono client. The firm is well-regarded and has a strong reputation for protecting the rights of employees.
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