Two Los Angeles lawyers who recently formed a new firm have resigned from said firm after a series of offensive emails were exposed, including emails containing antisemitic content.
The Forward obtained emails from Jeffrey Ranen and John Barber during their tenure at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith and found that Ranen had written emails where he said: “I forgot to write that we will not hire Jews,” “I might be able to Jew them down,” and “This Jew is cracking me up. I almost ONLY write to him on Saturday mornings,” referencing an opposing counsel who asked not to be sent emails related to the case during Shabbat. Another email featured Barber calling Ranen a “Jew c—” after Ranen brought in bagels and cream cheese. The New York Post, which first reported on the matter, also found an email where Barber referred to an attorney at another law firm who previously served in the Israeli Defense Force as a “f-g.” Other emails reportedly featured Barber and Ronen using the words “f—-t,” “n—-” and “c—ts” as well as referring to a judge as “sugar tits” and suggesting that they kill a co-worker asking for overtime “by anal penetration.”
The emails first came to light after an anonymous complaint was sent to Lewis Brisbois and they are investigating the matter. “The firm was shocked to find dozens of emails between John Barber and Jeff Ranen containing highly inappropriate and offensive content,” Lewis Bribois said in a statement.
Barber and Ronen issued a joint apology on June 5, saying: “We have had to acknowledge and reckon with those emails. They are not, in any way, reflections of the contents of our hearts, or our true values.” The Barber Ranen firm will be reformed into a new firm.
“It’s appalling to see such ugly antisemitism among partners at one of LA’s largest law firms,” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. “Lewis Brisbois must immediately investigate & address this hateful conduct by former partners, as must the new firm. @ADL is here to counsel & assist them as they undertake this process.”
It's appalling to see such ugly antisemitism among partners at one of LA’s largest law firms. Lewis Brisbois must immediately investigate & address this hateful conduct by former partners, as must the new firm. @ADL is here to counsel & assist them as they undertake this process. https://t.co/BNAlaYBFdM
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) June 5, 2023
