Biglaw

Biglaw Partner Leaves Firm After Being Reprimanded For DWI, Battery Charges

The firm wasn't very happy with his ethical transgressions.

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(Image via iStock)

State supreme courts that oversee lawyers’ ethical transgressions generally don’t take kindly to members of the bar who rack up criminal charges. A Biglaw partner recently received a public reprimand for his allegedly drunken escapes, and now he’s left the firm because of them.

Jeffrey McIntyre, 58, a partner at Husch Blackwell who practiced in the firm’s IP and business litigation group, was publicly reprimanded by the Wisconsin Supreme Court after committing two criminal acts that called into question his “honesty, trustworthiness or fitness as a lawyer.”

The first incident occurred in December 2017, when McIntyre punched a bar manager in the face on Christmas Day. The Wisconsin State Journal has the details:

The altercation occurred after McIntyre and two women were not happy the bar they were at was closing for the night. After one of the women urinated on the bar’s floor, the bar manager called police and followed the three to the apartment building, and ended up getting punched by McIntyre.

McIntyre pleaded guilty in May 2018 to a charge of misdemeanor battery, which formed the basis for the first violation of the Supreme Court rules.

In February 2018, three months before McIntyre pleaded guilty to battery, he was pulled over for speeding and received a DWI for having a blood alcohol level of 0.143. In October 2018, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and was sentenced to 60 days in jail (but received privileges that allowed him to leave jail for work). McIntyre had two prior convictions for DWI from March 2003 and in August 2014. The third time was not the charm for his career.

McIntyre’s bio appeared on the Husch Blackwell website until yesterday morning, but was promptly removed by yesterday afternoon. It’s available here via Google cache.

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Husch Blackwell was obviously none too pleased with McIntyre’s behavior, releasing this statement announcing that McIntyre had left the firm:

We were surprised and disappointed to learn of Jeff’s misconduct and the resulting Supreme Court reprimand. Obviously, our firm does not condone or tolerate his behavior. Jeff has withdrawn from the firm, and as of today, he is no longer affiliated with Husch Blackwell.

As a friendly reminder, don’t drink and drive. It’s a danger to yourself, others, and your legal career. If you believe you have a drinking problem, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP, or reach out to a lawyer assistance program in your state (don’t be fooled by the name; these programs also provide services to law students).

BigLaw partner leaves firm after reprimand for DWI and alleged nose punch [ABA Journal]
Madison attorney gets public reprimand from state Supreme Court [Wisconsin State Journal]

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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