An Extraordinary Lawyer’s Subspace - Chapter 176



Only Noblemtl

【Episode 176 – Daran, Omar Ill and Kaiser Dutton】

The ‘Omar case’ that Vice President Al Zawawi mentioned was a criminal case involving sexual harassment in the workplace.

We couldn’t readily agree to take on the case because it wasn’t something we specialized in.

Fortunately, I was able to talk to Andrew (Madi) a bit more on the flight back to the US.

“You’re so good at handling birds, considering you learned falconry from YouTube.”

“Animals love me. By the way, Andy, that ‘Omar thing’ that the Vice President mentioned.”

“Oh, don’t worry too much about that. It seems like you really like it.”

“It’s not that we don’t want to take on the job, but honestly, we don’t have much experience with criminal cases. We recently handled another case involving the Economic Espionage Prevention Act, but that was done with the help of Allen & Paul.”

“Yeah, I know. As I said before, I already left it to the experts.”

“You said ?”

“Yes. I’m not in charge of this, so I don’t know the details of how far along it is, but I understand that the Aramco US representative has already met with Kaiser Dutton’s lawyer. I understand that there are no major issues.”

“That would be fortunate…”

However, I was cautious about whether it was right to reject something that the vice president had directly mentioned in that way.

“What do you mean? You mean it has nothing to do with the project I brought. You mean the proposal from MG?”

“Yes, that would be true. I don’t know the details. I just know that the work Omar Sayed was in charge of was related to lobbying politicians.”

“Politician lobbying?”

“You don’t think that the businesses we run in the United States can be run without any help from the U.S. government, do you?”

“Are you saying that this guy Omar Sayed was the one lobbying for those who were providing such ‘help’?”

“If I were to put it simply, it would be like that, but if I were to put it in a more complex way, I would say it is one of those ‘windows’?”

At times, I wanted to know more in detail, but at the same time, I felt like I was getting too deeply involved in the client’s internal affairs.

It felt like I was facing a new ‘door’.

“But Andy, if you don’t mind, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go back and meet him once to figure out the situation. Since you mentioned it yourself.”

“I have no reason to object.”

“So, can you put me in touch with your attorney? Marcus Hornby, right?”

“Yes, Marcus Hornby of the Kaiser Dutton Hill litigation team.”

Until then, I never imagined that I would end up having a bad relationship with that friend.

-*-

When I returned to Boston, the first thing I did was call Attorney Choi.

“Attorney, this is Han Beom-sang.”

-Oh, Han Byun, did you have a good trip? How was Saudi Arabia?

After briefly sharing the conversation I had at Aramco headquarters regarding the acquisition of the Torrance refinery, I brought up the ‘Omar thing.’

-Are you saying that the Aramco vice president personally asked you to do it?

“yes.”

-If it were Korea, I wouldn’t know, but criminal cases are a bit burdensome…

In fact, most large domestic law firms do not have a team that handles general individual criminal cases.

Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any lawyers who specialize in criminal litigation.

There are lawyers who specialize in economic crimes or tax-related crimes.

This characteristic is also true of large law firms in New York.

Except for a few exceptions, he does not take on criminal cases.

Among international law firms that aren’t based in New York, it’s extremely rare to find a firm with a criminal litigation department in their New York offices.

“Should I have just said I couldn’t do it?”

-hmm···

Choi Jae-min thinks about it.

Aramco is an important client.

Especially at this point in time.

-No. Since has been appointed anyway, I think he is asking Han Byun to do some follow-up work. Vice President, you know that Han Byun can’t handle or defend the case yourself, right?

“I explained to you about my status as an international student, but I’m not sure if you understood it clearly.”

-That’s an inevitable part, so even if it’s not now, someone will explain it. Even so, I’m in favor of meeting with attorney once. At least it’s good to go that far.

“Okay, I already asked Andy to do that. I’ll meet him and discuss how much of an involvement he’ll have.”

-okay.

“Did you spend a good time with your family, lawyer?”

-Yeah, I had a good time. I went to Boston too.

“Oh, really?”

– It was nice of you to guide me around the Dobyeon School.

First of all, Attorney Choi had the same thoughts as me.

-*-

Myths do not exist only in Kim & Kang.

In Britain there is the “Magic Circle,” in Canada there is the “Seven Sisters,” and in the United States there are “White Shoe Firms.”

The Magic Circle is a nickname for five international law firms headquartered in London.

The Seven Sisters are seven large law firms that dominate the Canadian legal market.

White-shoe firms are the names given to Wall Street law firms staffed by Ivy League lawyers.

“The White Shoe Law Firms”

A nickname derived from the white deerskin derby shoes favored by Ivy League students.

It is the origin of the modern large law firm model around the world.

Among them, was the first law firm to introduce a system in which it selected only the best from among the Ivy League graduates, educated them in its own way, created an internal competitive structure called “Up or Out” where those who failed to become partners had to resign, and provided clear financial compensation to the lawyers who survived.

It is no exaggeration to say that this method, also known as the ‘Kaiser System’, is currently being followed by large law firms around the world.

Now, with law firms from the UK and Canada opening offices in New York and New York law firms expanding overseas, their significance may have been diluted, but their pride is still high.

Very high.

“Attorney Honbi?”

Kaiser Dutton Hill,

The room of Litigation Team Partner Marcus Hornby.

Attorney Asso, who came into the open door, called his name twice, but Marcus Hornby did not hear.

I’m lost in thought.

I’m thinking about the colleague I met last week.

“Attorney Honbi?”

I heard you don’t have a boyfriend…

I heard you have a boyfriend.

A man who works in the same office.

“Marcus!”

“What!”

As he was thinking about Do Ha-young, he only now realized that Attorney Aso had entered his room.

“I got a call from Samuel Jones of Aramco US.”

“Why? What did you say? Did you say things were going well?”

“Yes, I did it···.”

“I did it, but what?”

“Mr. Jones said that the vice president of Aramco headquarters has a lawyer he trusts, and he asked me to consult with him before proceeding with this case…”

“A lawyer trusted by the head office vice president? An in-house lawyer?”

“no.”

“then?”

“He said he was a lawyer from another law firm.”

‘You want me to consult with a lawyer from another law firm and then proceed with the work?’

Marcus Hornby frowned.

Do Ha-young, who had filled his mind just a moment ago, disappeared.

“Say no.”

“Should I just refuse?”

“I don’t do that kind of work. If you want to leave it to that lawyer, tell him to take it now. I don’t have to do it.”

“Ah… Really… Can I say that and refuse? It’s Aramco…”

“I guess I’ll come to my senses if I fail the lawsuit and things get complicated. Even better, I’ll make more money.”

“Ah… I understand.”

I was confident.

I know that even if Aramco resolves this case well, they won’t give other cases to Kaiser Dutton.

It was something special, so I asked you to do it for me.

Marcus Hornby stopped an outgoing associate and asked who the other lawyer was from the other firm.

“Oh, so where is that other law firm?”

I wondered who it was that dared to train me.

however···

“I heard it’s a law firm called Kim & Kang.”

“!”

“I looked it up because it was unfamiliar, and it turned out to be a Korean law firm. I think they opened an office in New York last fall. They opened an office on 6th Avenue, but I don’t think they have even 10 lawyers yet. The Aramco work is at the Torrance refinery…”

I already know it well.

This is the law firm that Vanessa works for.

“Who is Kim & Kang?”

“yes?”

“Who’s that? The lawyer I asked you to consult with?”

“His name was ‘Beomsaeng’ or something like that, and his name was ‘Han’.”

Marcus Hornby’s eyes sparkled.

I changed my mind.

“Tell him you’ll meet up.”

“yes?”

“Tell Samuel that I will meet that friend.”

I plan to meet Han Beom-sang.

Weight class difference

New York, Manhattan,

11th floor, 1300 Avenue of America.

Kim & Kang’s New York office.

“How was the meeting?”

After a meeting at the Kaiser Dutton Hill office, the general manager found a new office.

Jaemin welcomed him.

“yes.”

“There’s nothing special.”

“Yes. Well, I said, ‘Please take care of me. You don’t have to worry about me. I didn’t want to meddle in the lawsuit.’”

“Well done.”

“It’s not like I can take charge of it myself. I have my own opinions, but I think you should tell Andy about them.”

“That’s a smart idea. I agree.”

Jaemin likes Beomsang’s behavior.

There is no benefit in clashing with lawyers on the same side, let alone the opposing party’s lawyers.

If you have different opinions, just convey them directly to the client and make your choice.

That’s what a lawyer should do when asked for a ‘second opinion’.

“So, how about Kaiser Dutton Hill’s office? The building next to Madison Square Garden?”

“Yes, it’s really nice. It’s smaller than the White & Chase office, but it’s much more stylish inside. It’s also a great place for associates to work.”

“It’s a historic law firm. The old building isn’t there, but the lawyers there are said to have a strong sense of pride. It’s the firm with the highest sales per lawyer.”

“I think so.”

“Why? When I went there, you were straining your neck?”

“No. You’re just relaxing your neck too much.”

“Hahaha – you were leaning back so far that your nostrils were visible.”

“I can see the inside of my nose clearly.”

After a brief meeting with Jae-min about the ongoing cases, Beom-sang headed to Boston.