David Warren has resigned as managing partner of Verrill Dana LLP in the wake of the disclosure that another partner allegedly stole $401,000 from the firm and a handful of clients.
Warren, who has served as managing partner of the firm since 1994, will continue on as partner for the 145-year-old company, but will give up his leadership position, the Portland Press Herald reported.
John D. Duncan, who spent 29 years as a trusts and estates lawyer for Verrill Dana, was fired in November after Ellie Rommel, his legal secretary, came forward in June with a report that Duncan was writing checks to himself from a client’s account. Warren initially told Rommel the firm would handle the matter internally, but Rommel went to another lawyer to force Verrill Dana to order an outside audit, which alleges Duncan embezzled $185,000 from the firm, stole $109,000 from 10 clients and overbilled three clients for $107,000 since 1997, according to the paper.