Biglaw

Biglaw Firm Hired For Andrew Cuomo Impeachment Investigation

Of course a Biglaw firm is leading the investigation, but which one got the nod?

By  
on

(Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

When the New York state Assembly hired a law firm to investigate the allegations swirling around Governor Andrew Cuomo, it was always going to be an elite firm. Maybe a top-flight boutique, but probably a ginormous Biglaw firm able to wield the legal know-how and brute force necessary to handle such a high-profile investigation.

Biglaw firm Davis Polk got the nod for this assignment. Today, Speaker Carl Heastie and Judiciary Committee Chair Charles D. Lavine made the announcement:

“Since Thursday, Chairman Lavine led a vigorous search for a top-flight firm to assist with the investigation. I have the utmost faith that Assemblymember Lavine and our Judiciary Committee will conduct a full and fair investigation,” Speaker Heastie said. “Hiring Davis Polk will give the Committee the experience, independence and resources needed to handle this important investigation in a thorough and expeditious manner.”

“The addition of Davis Polk will allow my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee and me to fully and fairly investigate the allegations,” Assemblymember Lavine said. “These are serious allegations, and they will be treated with fairness, due process and discretion.”

The matter will be led by partners Angela Burgess, Greg Andres, and Martine Beamon, and “[t]hey are authorized to vigorously pursue all the evidence to determine the extent to which violations of the law have occurred.” We’re all waiting to see what they turn up.

But not everyone is optimistic about DPW’s involvement. Debra Katz, attorney for one of the former Cuomo aides alleging sexual harassment, points to Davis Polk’s connection to one of Cuomo’s political allies, New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. DiFiore is married to Dennis Glazer, a former partner at the firm:

“Political independence is fundamental to the integrity of the investigation. We were alarmed to learn that Speaker Heastie has hired Davis Polk to assist with the investigation, given the connection between Dennis Glazer, who spent more than 30 years as a partner at Davis Polk, and the Governor. This is an unacceptable conflict of interest,” the attorney for [former aide Charlotte] Bennett said in a Wednesday morning statement. “The impeachment investigation must operate free of political influence and must be transparent, detailing for the public the steps being taken to protect the integrity of their impeachment investigation. We already know the extent to which Governor Cuomo has surrounded himself with people in the Executive Chamber who enabled his behavior and swept evidence of sexual harassment under the rug. If there is even a hint of political influence in the impeachment investigation, it will taint the entire proceedings.”

“While Ms. Bennett is committed to cooperating with all appropriate governmental inquiries, including the impeachment investigation, the involvement of Davis Polk gives her pause. I suspect it will have the same effect on other women who were sexually harassed by the governor,” Katz added.

Sponsored

But remember, this isn’t the only investigation Cuomo is facing. Employment lawyer Anne L. Clark of Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, P.C. and Joon Kim of Cleary Gottlieb are investigating the governor on behalf of NY Attorney General Tish James.

headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. 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).

Sponsored

Topics

, , ,