Biglaw, Email Scandals, listserv, Partner Issues, Rudeness, Screw-Ups

More Proof That Lawyers Will Fight Over Anything

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Sometimes you just have to whip it out and wait for somebody to bring over a ruler. That’s just a part of life.

But some lawyers seem to sit around all day just waiting for an opportunity to drop drawers and call for the chains.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at this guy from SNR Denton. He was reading the Middle East Practice Area ABA listserv and came across an innocent question and follow-up discussion. Instead of answering the question or providing any helpful information whatsoever, he shot off a quick little response about his firm’s own magnificence.

And to make matters worse (and hilarious), it turns out he didn’t even know what he was talking about in the first place…

The thread starts off innocently enough:

I’m in need of a referral to a US law firm with offices in the Middle East to track down bank accounts/assets in UAE, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and who knows where else. Any referrals can be provided off list and any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Warmest Wishes,
[Redacted]

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Hey, that’s what these listservs are for. Eventually someone responded (to the entire list):

I currently work for the banking & finance division at Al Tamimi & Company in Dubai. We are the largest regional office and have offices in UAE, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.

Please feel free to contact me to discuss in detail.

My contact details are as follows: [Redacted]

Again, there’s nothing to take issue with here. Unless you are David Pfeiffer, a partner in the Kuwait office of SNR Denton. If you are David Pfeiffer, even a simple listserv conversation can turn into an opportunity to puff yourself up:

Sorry, [Redacted] is mistaken. I am a partner at SNR Denton, and, in fact, we are the largest law firm in the Middle East with 180 lawyers in 11 offices.

David Pfeiffer

In the words of Jules: I don’t remember anyone asking David Pfeiffer a God Damn Thing.

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I mean, here’s this foreign attorney asking for a little bit of help, someone responds with an offer of assistance, and this is Pfeiffer’s contribution to the discussion? What a jerk.

What an idiot jerk. Another listserve participant replied to — and corrected — David Pfeiffer:

I believe [Redacted] made it clear that they were the largest “regional” MEA office, as it is a MEA firm not foreign firm established there

UPDATE: From the comments, here’s another possible (and perhaps better) interpretation of the email from the Al Tamimi & Company lawyer that set off Pfeiffer:

I read “I currently work for the banking & finance division at Al Tamimi & Company in Dubai. We are the largest regional office and have offices in UAE, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar” to mean that AT&C’s Dubai regional office is its largest office, but AT&C also has regional offices in UAE, Jordan… It’s not a question of “foreign” firm vs. “MEA” firm.

This doesn’t make the partner at Denton any less of a moron.

It’s one thing when law students behave like douchebags on listservs. But you’d think Biglaw partners would have a little more sense.

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