BP, Halliburton and Transocean Lawyer Up (Jamie Gorelick)

[The Straight Story]

BP, Halliburton and Transocean Lawyer Up


Corporations facing investigations and lawsuits as a result of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill are putting their financial largesse to use.

BP, which was leasing the Deepwater Horizon oil platform when it exploded and sunk, has retained the international firm WilmerHale. One of the firm’s partners is Jamie Gorelick, who served as a deputy attorney general in the U.S. Department of Justice during the Clinton administration and as a member of the 9/11 Commission. BP is hoping Gorelick’s insider experience will help them prepare for the criminal investigation that Attorney General Eric Holder is launching into the accident.

Transocean Ltd., owner of the Deepwater Horizon, has recruited Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, while Halliburton Co., which performed work on the oil well at the bottom of the ocean, has hired Patton Boggs. Jeffrey Turner, a partner at Patton Boggs, has experience representing other companies under investigation by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which may conduct its own investigation into the disaster.

Since the April 20 accident that has spilled millions of gallons of oil into the gulf, Halliburton has ramped up its campaign contributions to key lawmakers. The company donated $17,000 in May, including donations to seven members of Congress who serve on committees that are likely to examine the oil spill.


http://www.allgov.com/Top_Stories/ViewNews/BP_Halliburton_and_Transocean_Lawyer_Up_100607

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Patton Boggs is an enormous influence on Congress.

Long long history of lobbying for corporations, and It has "participated in the formation of every major multilateral trade agreement considered by Congress."
Related to Hale Boggs, if anyone remembers him.
Perfect company for Halliburton, even has an office in Dubai and one in Qatar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patton_Boggs

[DURHAM D]

4. Yep - Tom Boggs is Cokie Roberts sister.

I just love the ruling class...

[NeedleCast]

5. I interviewed at Patton Boggs about three years ago

for a job in their IT department as a technical trainer. The interviewer made it clear that I would be working with "high powered attorneys at the pinnacle of their careers. Their building in downtown D.C. is filled with expensive art and lots of dark wood paneling. The halls are silent and brooding. When the interviewer asked me if I had any questions I asked "Is this a fun place to work?" She looked at me and repeated "you will be working with high powered attorneys at the pinnacle of their careers.

I took that as a no and declined a 2nd interview.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. That Allgov site is the coolest one I have seen in a long time!!!!

If I am not back from it in a week, let someone know, please.
It is so packed with information, all in one handy place.

:hi:

[The Straight Story]

3. Just an FYI on it - they update the Front page stories at around 8am each day

One of the sites I spend a lot of time on.

Here are two more for you:
http://www.usnpl.com/
(a link to all the papers/news stations in the US, including college papers)

http://www.google.com/unclesam
Search govt sites and only govt sites

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. Gorlick of the 9/11 Commission!

whitewash