We have more sad news to report from California, where a young associate from a top Biglaw firm was recently struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bicycle.
Blake Ackerman, 27, a 2023 graduate of Loyola Law, was a first-year associate in the Century City office of Morgan Lewis. The Recorder has additional details on his untimely death:
Ackerman died after being struck by a fleeing driver on July 10 while bicycling along a street in West Hollywood, according to the law firm.
Local news reports say that Ackerman died after being struck by a BMW sedan at around 9:45 p.m. …
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to look for the driver who struck and killed Ackerman.
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Morgan Lewis released a statement following Ackerman’s death, which reads, in relevant part: “Blake was an exceptional person with a contagious smile and personality—a bright rising star, full of life and positivity. … He was also known for giving back, and shortly before his death, Blake asked one of our partners to work with him on a pro bono matter to help someone in need; we will see that through in his memory. Our entire Morgan Lewis community is holding Blake and his loved ones in our thoughts and hearts during this incredibly difficult time. We will miss and remember him.”
Jami McKeon, the firm’s chair, called Ackerman “a true delight—full of life, positivity, and a deep eagerness to learn and grow,” and went on to say that he was a “bright rising star” who “embodied our firm values in all that he did and was always looking for ways to support others.”
A GoFundMe created to assist Ackerman’s family in the wake of his passing has already reached more than $160,000 in just days.
We here at Above the Law extend our condolences to Blake Ackerman’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
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Morgan Lewis Litigation Associate, ‘A Bright Rising Star,’ Killed in Hit-and-Run While Bicycling [The Recorder]
Staci 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 Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.