Murdoch Lawyers Up as FBI Investigates
Rupert Murdoch assembles US legal team over phone-hacking scandal
Appointment of litigation veteran Brendan Sullivan suggests News Corp boss is readying for bitter legal battle in America
Rupert Murdoch is assembling a team of US lawyers with expertise in fighting large federal criminal cases, suggesting he is readying himself for a bitter legal battle in America as a result of the phone-hacking scandal.
At the centre of the team is Brendan Sullivan, one of America's most experienced lawyers, who over 40 years in litigation has acquired a reputation for taking on difficult and sensitive cases. He represented Oliver North, the US marine corps officer, in congressional hearings over the Iran-Contra affair.
At the time of the hearings in 1987, Sullivan was described by the Washington Post as "the legal equivalent of nuclear war". A fellow lawyer said: "He asks no quarter and gives no quarter."
Sullivan describes himself as a specialist in "high-profile criminal litigation", whose typical clients include major companies involved in "criminal investigations, litigation or government regulatory matters". He is the author of Techniques for Dealing with Pending Criminal Charges or Criminal Investigations.
Sullivan was probably brought on board by Murdoch last week on the recommendation of Joel Klein, the former US assistant attorney general who the News Corporation chief has entrusted with leading its internal investigation into the phone-hacking scandal.
Klein's wife, Nicole Seligman, who is now the top lawyer at Sony, used to work for Sullivan's firm, Williams & Connolly, in Washington.
The appointment of Sullivan – revealed last week by the New York Times's Dealbook blog – is being seen as an indication that Murdoch is preparing for the worst. In the UK, News International has already set aside about £20m in preparation for compensation payments to victims of its phone-hacking activities, and pressure is now building in the US for criminal and civil legal action.
The FBI has already launched an investigation into allegations that News of the World journalists tried to obtain phone records of 9/11 victims, and several prominent members of Congress have called for an inquiry into News Corp under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act that penalises US-based firms for bribery abroad.
more
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/18/rupert-murdoch-us-legal...
Appointment of litigation veteran Brendan Sullivan suggests News Corp boss is readying for bitter legal battle in America
Rupert Murdoch is assembling a team of US lawyers with expertise in fighting large federal criminal cases, suggesting he is readying himself for a bitter legal battle in America as a result of the phone-hacking scandal.
At the centre of the team is Brendan Sullivan, one of America's most experienced lawyers, who over 40 years in litigation has acquired a reputation for taking on difficult and sensitive cases. He represented Oliver North, the US marine corps officer, in congressional hearings over the Iran-Contra affair.
At the time of the hearings in 1987, Sullivan was described by the Washington Post as "the legal equivalent of nuclear war". A fellow lawyer said: "He asks no quarter and gives no quarter."
Sullivan describes himself as a specialist in "high-profile criminal litigation", whose typical clients include major companies involved in "criminal investigations, litigation or government regulatory matters". He is the author of Techniques for Dealing with Pending Criminal Charges or Criminal Investigations.
Sullivan was probably brought on board by Murdoch last week on the recommendation of Joel Klein, the former US assistant attorney general who the News Corporation chief has entrusted with leading its internal investigation into the phone-hacking scandal.
Klein's wife, Nicole Seligman, who is now the top lawyer at Sony, used to work for Sullivan's firm, Williams & Connolly, in Washington.
The appointment of Sullivan – revealed last week by the New York Times's Dealbook blog – is being seen as an indication that Murdoch is preparing for the worst. In the UK, News International has already set aside about £20m in preparation for compensation payments to victims of its phone-hacking activities, and pressure is now building in the US for criminal and civil legal action.
The FBI has already launched an investigation into allegations that News of the World journalists tried to obtain phone records of 9/11 victims, and several prominent members of Congress have called for an inquiry into News Corp under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act that penalises US-based firms for bribery abroad.
more
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/18/rupert-murdoch-us-legal...
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by truth on
-
Murdoch whistle-blower Sean Hoare has just been found dead in his a...
Tags:The Guardian reports that former News of the World showbiz reporter, the first named journalist to allege that Andy Coulson was aware of phone hacking at the newspaper, has been found dead at his home.
Police say they are not treating his death as suspicious.
"Destroying the New World Order"
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!
Latest Activity
- Top News
- Everything
The Escape
The dreamland comes as I close my eyesTake me from the forbidden lands that I despiseWhere all…See More
FB_IMG_1775463256193
"ahh yes but one must be well practised in the art of double think for such occasions as these…"
You’ve Heard of Champ, right? This Aint it!
CHAMP, you might be thinking of is a legendary cryptid supposedly existing in the waters of Lake…See More
Truth or Fiction? You Figure it Out
Working for the federal government, specifically, the Pentagon. I was, what you might call a…See More
GOLDSPHINCTER - Donald J Trump is Acrid Goldsphincter (James Bond Music Parody)
In this James Bond parody, Donald J Trump is Acrid Goldsphincter in our version of the classic Bond "Goldfinger" theme song. All voices and singing performed...
How Long does Destabilization Take?
How long does it take to topple a society targeted by the left? What ingredients go into this toxic…See More
"cheeki kea you are spot on. It won't be until the elephant on Wall Street is as high as the…"
© 2026 Created by truth.
Powered by
