Steve Bannon (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images for SiriusXM) Stephen K. Bannon
Looks like “Sloppy Steve” is lawyering up. As first reported by The Daily Beast, Steve Bannon is turning to William Burck, the superstar Quinn Emanuel partner, to help him prep for his interview with the House Intelligence Committee, currently scheduled for next week.
If you’ve been diligently following along with all of the moves in the national saga broadly referred to as the “Russia Probe,” Burck’s name probably sounds familiar. (And most Biglaw junkies know, at least by reputation, this prominent white-collar defense lawyer and co-managing partner of Quinn’s D.C. office.) That’s because Burck also represents White House Counsel Don McGahn and Reince Priebus. It’s being reported that Burck’s representation extends only to preparations for Bannon’s House Committee interview and his time on the presidential campaign — not to Robert Mueller’s investigation or to Bannon’s time at the White House or the transition team.
What Even Is AI ‘Competence’? It Depends.
Takeaways from a Legalweek panel on evolving malpractice risks.
As the Daily Beast notes, Burck’s… familiarity with the Russia probe could be held against his clients by the government:
“In general, prosecutors don’t like it when the same attorney represents multiple people who are subjects—or more—because it looks like they’re controlling the story,” said Ken White, a former federal prosecutor who specializes in First Amendment issues, speaking of investigators’ targets.
And, of course, having separate counsel makes it easier for the government to flip targets. Not that anyone associated with the Trump campaign would know anything about that.
Earlier:
Legal Is Changing. And NeoSummit Is Where The Future Is Being Built.
Legal and operational leaders are gathering May 6–7 in Fort Lauderdale to confront the questions the industry hasn't answered—with a keynote from Amanda Knox setting the tone.
- Don McGahn And Reince Priebus Turn To Biglaw Giant As They Lawyer Up
- Breaking: Michael Flynn Charged By Special Counsel
- Former Trump Foreign Policy Adviser Pleads Guilty To Lying To The FBI
- Prominent Supreme Court Lawyer Jumps From Kirkland & Ellis To Quinn Emanuel
Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).