When a judge’s secret romance with a law firm partner is exposed, experts uncover ethics risks, courtroom fallout, and lessons on trust and integrity in today’s legal world.
What happens when a top judge hides a secret romance with a law firm partner working before him — and the firm allegedly looks the other way? This explosive case out of Texas exposes a dark underbelly of legal ethics: betrayal of trust, concealment, and systemic failure. Jackson Walker’s looming trial isn’t just about money—it’s about whether law firms are turning a blind eye to failures of integrity from within the organization.
Join Francesca Giannoni-Crystal, Attorney at Law and Founder of Crystal & Giannoni-Crystal LLC, and Marc Tassé, Director of the MBA Program at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, in this CLE ethics webinar as they dissect how this case shatters the illusion of professionalism and compels lawyers to confront the devastating consequences when private passion collides with public duty.
Key Topics:
· Spot undisclosed relationships and ethical breaches
· Understand courtroom fallout: sanctions & dismissed cases
· Gauge reputational, financial, and compliance risks
· Balance loyalty to colleagues with fidelity to the law
· Apply takeaways from recent high-profile scandals
Live and Recorded CLE & CPE Webcasts in the Legal, Tax, Finance, Risk, Compliance and Human Resources Industries
Founded in November 2006, The Knowledge Group has established itself as a premier eLearning hub for Continuing Legal Education (CLE), Continuing Professional Education (CPE), and technology-focused webcasts. We equip lawyers, accountants, and industry professionals with expert-driven insights, timely regulatory updates, and practical strategies to help them stay ahead in an ever-evolving landscape.
Attorney at Law, Founder at Crystal & Giannoni Crystal LLC
With over two decades of experience in Europe and the United States, Francesca Giannoni-Cystal has provided transactional and compliance assistance to a diverse range of clients, including technology companies, industrial and commercial enterprises, financial institutions, aerospace and defense organizations, and law firms. Her career includes working with Deloitte Legal and holding an in-house counsel role for an international internet and mobile content group (where she managed international technology agreements, privacy and data protection, and terms and conditions matters while coordinating local counsel teams across multiple countries). Francesca is a founding member of Crystal & Giannoni-Crystal, LLC, a "lawyer for lawyers and international matters" boutique law firm, serving law firms and companies (both domestic and international). She also serves as outside in-house counsel for the Pasquali Group, a company operating in the aerospace and defense industry. A multilingual attorney, Francesca's linguistic skills enhance her ability to navigate complex cross-border legal matters and engage effectively with clients from diverse jurisdictions. She has written extensively (both scholarly articles and blogs) on professional responsibility (including on choice of law for engagement agreements, cross-jurisdictional practice, privileges, cloud computing for lawyers, and AI), privacy, and space law.
Director - MBA Program at Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa
Marc Y. Tassé is a globally recognized authority on governance, ethics, and strategic leadership. He is among the few people to hold both the Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant and Fellow Chartered Governance Professional designations, in addition to multiple certifications from leading U.S. institutions. He advises boards and regulatory bodies nationally and internationally on matters of integrity, risk, and governance. His collaborations with the IMF and the OECD have strengthened global accountability. A decorated academic and keynote speaker, he has taught over 10,000 students and reached more than 140,000 participants. His contributions earned him the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal.
