By Zoe Tillman, From Legal Times

The man found dead in a downtown Washington hotel earlier this week was identified by D.C. police as DLA Piper associate David Messerschmitt.

Messerschmitt was found unconscious and unresponsive on Tuesday about 11:15 a.m. at the Donovan Hotel, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. The man was suffering from apparent stab wounds, according to police. The police spokeswoman declined to release any additional information about the status of the investigation.

Relatives reported Messerschmitt missing 24 hours before his body was found, The Washington Post reported, citing D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier.

Police on Wednesday night issued a photo seeking public assistance to identify a person of interest. The photo was taken inside the Donovan Hotel on Monday, Feb. 9 about 7:45 p.m. MPD also released this video showing the person walking into the hotel on Monday evening. Additional photos, provided by the police, are here.

Messerschmitt’s biography is no longer on DLA Piper’s website, but the firm was listed as his employer in D.C. Bar records. Messerschmitt, an associate in the firm’s technology and sourcing practice, focused on intellectual property, licensing and corporate matters, according to a cached version of his DLA Piper biography captured by Above the Law.

“This is an extremely tragic situation and we send our sincere condolences to David’s family. We are cooperating with the police as they continue their investigation,” a DLA spokesman said in a statement. Messerschmitt joined the firm in April 2014.

A representative of the Messerschmitt’s family, Gary Meltz, said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the loss of David, our beloved husband, son, and brother. We ask that everyone respect our privacy. We will have no further comments at this time.”

Before joining DLA Piper, Messerschmitt was an associate at Mayer Brown, first in Chicago and later in Washington. Daniel Masur, the partner-in-charge of Mayer’s Washington office, said in an email: “We are stunned and saddened to hear this news. Our thoughts are with David’s wife and family.”

Messerschmitt didn’t enter any appearances in federal court, according to a search of dockets, but he was involved in at least one deal that made headlines. In 2011, while he was an associate at Mayer Brown, he was part of a team that worked on the $14 billion merger of AMB Property Corp. and ProLogis.

A LinkedIn profile said Messerschmitt was a graduate of Boston University School of Law. Messerschmitt was involved in the Review of Banking and Financial Law at the law school, one classmate said.

Messerschmitt was an intern for U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott in Cincinnati in the summer of 2007. Dlott on Wednesday recalled Messerschmitt as an “outstanding” intern. “Everything he did was A work,” Dlott said. “He was one of the best interns I’d ever had.”

Dlott said Messerschmitt had “a fabulous future in front of him. He was a talented lawyer.”

IMAGE: Donovan Hotel at 1155 14th St., N.W. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/NLJ

For more on this story go to: http://www.nationallawjournal.com/legaltimes/id=1202717652507/DLA-Piper-Associate-Found-Dead-in-DC-Hotel#ixzz3RXSJg4Xn