via
Getty)
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.
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.
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
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on Bluesky, X/Twitter,
and Threads, or
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with
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on LinkedIn.