Beveridge & Diamond: Affairs, Forgery, Car Chases, and Other Fun Stuff
In the latest issue of the Legal Times, Nathan Carlile has a somewhat salacious story about Beveridge & Diamond. Perhaps you haven't heard of this D.C.-based environmental law boutique -- which might be mistaken for a livestock brokerage, thanks to the sheep photos on their website. But a livestock brokerage probably has fewer hijinks:
[A] sordid story... has ensnared partners at 95-lawyer Beveridge & Diamond in allegations that include adultery and forgery. The dispute stems from a bitter divorce battle between firm partner John Guttmann and his wife, Nancy Lasater, a nonpracticing attorney who was previously co-chairwoman of the Law Practice Management Section of the D.C. Bar and a solo practitioner who often represented firms on ethics issues.
Some highlights and commentary, after the jump.
The article begins with the exciting account of how name partner Albert Beveridge III tried to escape being served with a subpoena. Two surprises: that a 72-year-old can drive so well, and that he has a silver Acura. (We'd expect something more flashy and European.)
So what about these forgery allegations?
The couple's real-life "War of the Roses" has pulled a litany of well-known Washington lawyers into the fray, including the elusive Beveridge, who is now senior counsel at the firm and was subpoenaed to testify about his role as a former trustee of the firm's 401(k) program.
It was Lasater, acting pro se, who persuaded Maryland state Judge Durke Thompson to issue the subpoena to Beveridge, based on her allegation that Guttmann forged her signature while taking out a loan from the firm's 401(k) plan in 1993. That loan is one of three Lasater is investigating.
The firm argued against subpoenaing Beveridge because of his age and the fact that nearly 14 years have passed since the disputed loan was executed. But that argument didn't get far with Thompson.
Can't be subpoeaned because you're 72 years old? Dubious. At 72, Beveridge is younger than many members of the federal judiciary.
The allegations about Beveridge's loans from the 401(k) program are complex and convoluted; we won't bore you with them. Here's the juicy stuff:
For Lasater, the issues aren't limited to Guttmann and the disputed loans. Dean "Holly" Cannon, a partner at the firm and managing partner from 1996 through the summer of 2001, admitted in an August 2006 deposition to having an affair with Guttmann that began in May 2005, six months before Guttmann filed for divorce, according to a transcript of that deposition. She is also helping Guttmann pay his soaring legal fees in the case.
According to court documents and copies of personal checks produced by Guttmann in the litigation and provided to Legal Times by Lasater, Cannon has contributed more than $300,000 to help Guttmann pay his lawyers at Ain & Bank. Cannon declined to comment. According to court documents, Guttmann has signed promissory notes to repay the money to Cannon.
Lasater alleges in a court document that Guttmann is borrowing money from Cannon and claiming it as a loan in order to "reduce both his obligation to support his family and to negate his equitable obligation to reimburse my legal fees." Court documents show Guttmann's assets totaling $2 million, with a net worth of $1.6 million. He claimed a gross monthly wage of $45,695. Guttmann declined to comment.
The numbers for John Guttmann's assets and net worth seem a little low for a successful lawyer (named one of the 45 best lawyers under 45 by The American Lawyer, back in 1995). Did he make some bad investments in sheep futures?
Allegations of an Affair and a Forgery Ensnare Beveridge & Diamond [Legal Times]
(39) Comments
Figgity First!
Guttman's been a partner for 20+ years, currently earns over $500/k year and has a net worth of only $1.6 million (which, one would assume, includes his home equity, which should be significant). Pretty sad financial management.
the "silver Acura" in question could be the NSX- a mid-engined high-performance sportscar. It's also what Winston Wolf drove in Pulp Fiction. Let's give the guy the benefit of the doubt here.
You people really live very sheltered lives. Do you really think that most lawyers earn what the few partners at the mega firms earn? The man is bringing in over 500K a year. That is pretty impressive for anyone practicing in the real world.
How he could make 500K a year and only have 1.6 million in net assets is a different story.
And why can't his wife just let it go?
What is the point of full-body law firm photos?
my profile photo shows me in downward dog.
@4.37. 4.31 pm here. I think we are making the same point -- I was referring to his personal financial management, not to the firms. $500k/year is plenty impressive, but the man should be able to save some of it.
I drive a silver Acura RDX, which is a sport crossover, or a "baby SUV," for the non-driving types. At $35k, its purchase did not cast me into the po' house. Then again, I'm a first year - not a named or any other kind of partner.
He is going through a nasty divorce, of course he going to report a low net worth. This isn't the time to brag about how much money you have.
I am sure he has a nice stash hidden somewhere--moved offshore about the time he started banging his partner. A buddy of mine does divorce work and we have a grand time laughing at his stories of CEO's and surgeons who testifying how they are "broke" or how their income suddenly takes a nose dive once the papers are filed.
Ok, Bitchy...how about some more talk about your cans!!
5:01 has it spot on. He is in the middle of a nasty divorce, he should have been moving money like its going out of style, and indeed, it appears he has been.
@4:51 - new here? In Lat's case it would be White Guys With Asian Guys.
They need to hire Michael Clayton at that firm
Best firm bio photo of all time.
http://www.bdlaw.com/attorneys-83.html
So did the summer associate that he was banging get no offered or what?
@5:58 - you would appreciate it even more if you had played basketball with him before...
check out the last comment here: http: //www. above the law. com /2007/10/ law_school_exam_ hypothetical_w.php# comments
5:58, I like where you're going with but I think it's a little too subtle. You should have thrown in a slap, a fat bitch or a K&E reference.
It doesn't end just there. This place is SO sporty.
Ok, I take it back. THIS is the best photo ever, but I suspect someone further down the alphabet might be even better.
I feel dirty just looking at that guy's bio.
(Ok, I'm done posting now).
6:06
your web address you posted doesn't go anywhere
http://www.justin.tv/gonatgo/40663
6:16 is right. That shot is beyond creepy, to say nothing of completely unprofessional.
Ha! Oh man, the guy in 6:16's pic is hilarious. Is that just a crease in his pants?
Mrs. Gates looks like she could make partner with a few of the right moves. Is Mrs. Gates really Bitchy McBitchington, III?
Nessa Horewitch also seems appropriately named with her legs in the air like that!
OK, this is ridiculous http://www.bdlaw.com/attorneys-18.html
you can barely see the atty because they were so worried about making sure that the kayak paddle would make the final crop.
Did these guys bring along their own props or did the photographer bring all of that crap?
they better hope that clients don't actually see these pictures. it is a shame that most real estate agents have pictures that are less ridiculous.
On the low net worth, it could be that he is lying as many spouses do in divorce cases. However, it's also worth noting that law firm partners are notoriously big spenders relative to their incomes, at least in NYC. Part of the reason for that may be that the successful big-firm partners consider themselves part of the same world and entitled to live the same kinds of lifestyles as their clients. With the most successful clients now earning so much more than the most successful lawyers, the lawyers can easily wind up overspending.
9:38,
He obviously wasn't spending money on his clothes. For the love of god, at least put on more that $50 worth of clothes for picture day. Also, socks should match the pants...and should be more then 4 inches long.
Other items he did not indulge in: a gym membership, rogaine, ever going outside in the sun, or the intelligence to have his mistress shut her damn trap.
Isn't "Holly Cannon" the name of a "mature" pornstar? ... or maybe that's Holly Cannons.
did it occur to anyone that maybe he buried his money because he was cheating on his wife, and that showing only 1.6M is pretty impressive since he probably has more?
What the f*#ck kind of money did Ms. Lasater have to pay to get something so unprofessional printed about her ex husband? She's gloating all the way to the bank today, but has hurt herself in the process. Regardless of how much money he makes I'm sure he loves his kids very much and the parents need to put them first instead of lashing out through trashy blogs. I bet if you examined the ex's behavior with the same magnifying glass things might look a bit different - looks like you've bought her story hook, line and sinker to me. How does the writer take his payment - cash or check? Shame Shame Shame.
wow, 12:59. We've got some insiders coming and posting here now. I'm pretty sure no one involved with the dispute was at all involved in "lashing out through [this] trashy blog[]"... well, at least not until 12:59 got involved.
Having known this firm and several key players, they are more focused on the environment, global warming, and other key issues than raking in the big $$$. Perhaps the money went to charity, remember these are not your typical flashy attorneys with plush offices and high-end sports cars. I'm not sure why the Legal Times is turning into more of a tabloid, but I can think of far better divorce stories in DC than one that likely just involves a busy wife who can't remember signing a document years ago.
Hey - when are we going to get the good stuff about Lasater's sex life?
I think I know these people. Didn't this all get started when she dumped him after hooking up with an old college squeeze
Doesn't Lassiter blame him for her early onset menopause too. I heard she was suing him for that too.
The Legal Tikmes seems to have forgotten to mention the other man in this story, Taz Tally of 41195 Turkington Circle, Homer Alaska. Let's all contact him at ttallyphd@aol.com, or taztally@alaska.net or www.tazseminars.com to get the rest of the story.
John Guttman treated staff at that firm like crap. all over DC there is joy that this creep is being shown for what he really is... a 2 faced lying bastard. Cannon is cut from the same cloth. They deserve each other...the sad thing is that the other partners let these 2 drag the firm down. But that's the law firm culture...no one cares about anything but billables.