George Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader tapped by the Obama administration as its special envoy for the Middle East, was chairman of the international law and lobbying firm DLA Piper until the end of 2008. Mitchell, a well known rainmaker for the firm, now holds the title of chairman emeritus of DLA's global board. The firm has considerable international reach: It boasts a fast-growing Middle East practice with some big government and private clients, plus offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
Partner William Minor said that Mitchell intends to resign from the firm in several weeks when he begins his new role as envoy. George Salem, a strategic adviser at DLA who helps spearhead much of the Middle East work, said Mitchell was supposed to be part of a DLA Piper delegation to the region that departed today to celebrate the firm's newest offices in Kuwait and Oman. But Mitchell bowed out because of his new assignment from the president.
Salem said several other heavy hitters (and former government officials) did depart on the trip. Among them were three key members of the Cohen Group, which has a strategic alliance with DLA Piper: Secretary of Defense William Cohen; former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe Joe Ralston; and former ambassador to Morocco Marc Grossman.
DLA has recently represented the Government of Turkey and the Embassy of the UAE in Washington, as well as the executive office of Dubai, one of the leading emirates. According foreign agent registration records on file with the Justice Department, the firm was paid $681,666 by Turkey and $881,691 by the Dubai executive office for the six month period ending August 31, 2008.
-- Peter H. Stone
See Peter Stone's previous reporting on this subject:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/nj_20071201_12.php
Comments
To post a comment, you must provide a name and a valid e-mail address. Messages must be limited to 400 words. By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Under the Influence does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.