Biglaw

Amid Growing Scandal, MoFo Launches Investigation Into Partner Justin Fairfax

It isn't just Fairfax's political job that is on the line.

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Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax finds himself in the eye of a scandal, as two women have now accused the Biglaw attorney turned politician of sexual assault. The allegations of Dr. Vanessa Tyson and Meredith Watson have sparked turmoil in the state — supercharged by the blackface scandals surrounding two other Virginia politicians, Governor Ralph Northam and State Attorney General Mark Herring — with articles of impeachment against Fairfax already being discussed.

But it isn’t just Fairfax’s political job that is on the line. Fairfax is a partner at the Biglaw firm of Morrison & Foerster. The firm’s Chair, Larren Nashelsky, told Law.com that the firm has launched an investigation (conducted by outside counsel, though which firm has been engaged has not yet be revealed) into the allegations. Nashelsky’s statement on the matter expressed how “seriously” the firm is taking the investigation:

“We take the allegations against Justin very seriously,” Nashelsky said. “As a firm, we believe that it is important to seriously listen to any allegation of sexual assault or harassment, and to treat all persons making such allegations with respect and sensitivity.”

Fairfax has taken a leave of absence from the firm during the investigation. Fairfax engaged Beth Wilkinson of Wilkinson Walsh + Eskovitz after the first allegations of sexual assault surfaced as part of a newspaper report that ultimately never ran. Wilkinson was also hired by Brett Kavanaugh when he faced his own allegations of sexual assault.

headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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