Reply #21: Kirkland Law firm protection of corporate interests (hardly democrats)

[IChing]

While Kirkland made its early reputation as a champion of the first amendment,
over the years the firm became more associated with the protection of corporate interests.

In fact, during the 1990s the managing partner of the Washington office, Tom Yannucci,
became the scourge of news organizations, engendering both fear and respect for
his success in defamation cases. His media law practice began in 1993 when
he represented General Motors in its suit against "Dateline NBC," which was found
to have used hidden explosives to spice up a crash test demonstration.

Over the next several years he would take on the ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN,
the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Consumer Reports, and Reuters.

His clients would include tobacco company Brown & Williamson and Chiquita Brands International.

Richard Porter, was found to have faxed an affidavit in the Jones case to the Tribune
before it was officially filed in court. Porter was a former aide to President George H. Bush
and Vice-President Quayle, overseeing opposition research on Vice-Presidential candidate Al Gore.
Porter also was involved in directing Linda Tripp, who had secretly tape recorded conversations
with Monica Lewinsky regarding her relationship with the President, to Starr's office.
Kirkland maintained that Porter's activities were on his own time and did not represent a conflict.


http://www.answers.com/topic/kirkland-ellis-llp?cat=biz-fin