DLA Piper

DLA London, 3 Noble Street

DLA Piper (known until 4 September 2006 as DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary) is the third largest law firm in the world by number of attorneys after Clifford Chance and Baker & McKenzie. (Financial figures for 2005 ranked the firm second to Clifford Chance in worldwide turnover with over $1.5 billion in revenue).^[1]

DLA Piper is a legal services organisation whose members and affiliates are separate and distinct legal entities.^[2] Together, the organization boasts more than 3,200 lawyers in over 24 countries and 63 cities throughout the world.

The firm runs a lobbying arm, formerly known as Global Government Relations.

DLA Piper was formed as a result of the 2005 merger of San Diego-based Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP, London-based DLA LLP (previously Dibb Lupton Alsop), and Piper Rudnick LLP (itself a 1999 merger of Baltimore-based Piper & Marbury and Chicago-based Rudnick & Wolfe).

Lobbying practice

Alongside PR and dedicated lobbying agencies, law firms also provide lobbying advice to their clients. The practice is commonplace in the US. While there are fewer players in the UK, those law firms that do give such advice, have influence. DLA Piper is one with a significant lobbying practice in Britain. Its areas of practice include the following:

Lobbying for PPP and PFI

DLA Piper claims to be specialist in delivering PFI and PPP projects for the private sector. It claims to 'understand... how to secure business for the private sector'.^[3]

Local lobbying practice

Winning local planning battles has long been a lucrative area for lobbying and PR companies. DLA Piper claims an enviable track record in delivering planning permission.

A 2010 brochure for its 'Property and Planning Communications' practice says:

'Communicating effectively with decision-makers and the communities they represent has never been more important for those operating in the property and development sectors. From proposing a supermarket extension, to a new town, to a major infrastructure project, landowners and developers have to balance the planning and legal arguments with the need to secure political support. This is in addition to the national and local requirements to engage and consult with a wide range of stakeholders.

GGR - the strategic communications and public affairs practice of DLA Piper - provides targeted and informed communications strategies to support private and public sector clients to deliver their development objectives.

Working closely with clients' in-house and consultant teams, GGR has an industry-leading track record in delivering planning permissions for major regeneration and infrastructure schemes, retail, residential and mixed use projects. This means maximising public and political buy-in, whilst minimising and managing potential opposition.'^[4]

DLA Piper Scotland

DLA Piper also offers lobbying services to clients in Scotland. According to a former employee, DLA Piper provides 'strategic communications and government affairs advice to the firm’s clients with interests in Scottish public policy', particularly in the areas of 'infrastructure planning, housing, supermarket retail, health and aspects of energy.'^[5]

DLA Piper Scotland has helped clients in the following sectors:

health sector, including major pharmaceutical and medical devices companies interested in Scottish health developments.
energy sector, including Scottish coal and renewable energy firms.
retail development sector, including lobbying for one of the largest retailers, and providing it with 'community engagement' services.^[6]

Refusal to join the Association of Professional Political Consultants

Following a committee inquiry chaired by Labour MP Tony Wright, it emerged that DLA Piper was one of three agencies refusing to join the APPC. Tim Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat spokesman on culture and sport in the House of Lords, is founder and chairman of the lobbying arm of the firm, Global Government Relations (GGR). This creates - in the eyes of the APPC - a conflict of interests, as members cannot employ sitting peers or MPs. GGR's then head of media Eben Black, instead of Clement-Jones, was due to appear before the committee.^[7]

Lobbying for Turkey

On 10 October 2007, the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs passed Resolution 106, which accuses the Turkish rulers in 1915 of genocide. There was an intensive on behalf of the Turkish government to sway the committee, described by Ali H. Aslan as follows:

Both the Turkish and the US governments strongly opposed the resolution and were joined by DLA Piper, the Livingstone Group, public relations company Fleishman-Hillard and other companies that officially conducted lobbying activities on behalf of Turkey as well as by big corporations that have sizable commercial deals with Turkey such as Boeing and BP.^[8]

Lobbying for the UAE

In a story published on 7 January 2016, DLA Piper was among the PR firms listed on by the Saudi Arabian government's Foreign Agent Registration Act filings as 'active foreign principals for Saudi Arabia', working to shape public opinion in the Kingdom's favour following the contrversial execution of Shiite cleric Sheik Nimr Baqr al-Nimr.

The firm receives a fee of $50,000 a month for services including '[contacting] Members of Congress, congressional staff and Executive Branch officials in connection with strengthening the ability of the United States and Saudi Arabia to advance mutual national security interests.'^[9]

People^[10]

Global

Co-Chairmen

Tony Angel, United Kingdom. Former managing partner at Linklaters, 1998–2007, executive managing director and head of EMEA at Standard & Poor's, where he was a member of the global operating committee and helped guide the credit rating agency through the intense scrutiny that accompanied the global credit crisis.
Lee Miller, United States. Former chairman of Rudnick & Wolfe before its merge with Piper & Marbury in 1999.^[11]

Joint Co-CEOs

Sir Nigel Knowles, United Kingdom. Started working at Broomheads as a trainee in 1978 and graduated to managing partner in 1996. Through various mergers, Broomheads became DLA which then merged with Piper Rudnick and Gray Cary in 2005.
Terence O'Malley, United States. Was chairman and CEO of Gray Cary when it merged with Piper Rudnick and DLA in 2005.

Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific

Co-Managing Directors, Groups and Sectors

Simon Levine, United Kingdom
Juan Picón, Spain

General Counsel, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific=

Amber Matthews, United Kingdom

Americas

Co-Chairmen

Roger Meltzer, United States
Cameron Jay Rains, United States

Co-Managing Partners

Michael Poulos, United States
Stasia Kelly, United States

Chairmen Emeritus

Francis Burch Jr., United States. Former chairman of Piper & Marbury before its merge with Rudnick & Wolfe in 1999.^[11]
George Mitchell, United States. Chaired the peace negotiations which led to the 1998 Belfast Peace Agreement and former US special envoy for Middle East Peace from January 2009 to May 2011 and US senator 1980-1989.

Chief Operating Officer

Bob Bratt, United States

General Counsel

Peter Pantaleo, United States

UK Staff

Revolving Door

Lord Tim Clement-Jones, London managing partner and chairman of the China desk. ^[13]

Former Staff

Jennifer Dunn. In 2007 it was reported Dunne was to be a member of the Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN)^[14]
Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, former partner. She is married to the UK Coalition's deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. Is now a partner at Dechert.
Lord Norman Warner, DLA Piper claim his job was involved "deepening client relationships" and "introducing new contacts"^[15], whether or not these contacts were government related was raised. Warner claims he advised DLA Piper on "public services, public sector infrastructure and health regulation".^[15]
Baroness Patience Wheatcroft, former paid adviser ^[16]
Baroness Elizabeth Symons , former international consultant to DLA Piper.^[17]

Affiliations

Defence Manufacturers Association, member
Nuclear Industry Association -has been a member since at least 2005 when it was DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary^[18]
International Nuclear Services (INS)

International Financial Services London - DLA Piper UK LLP is a member
Atlantic Legal Foundation

Francis B. Burch, Jr. Co-Chairman, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP, Baltimore
Frank H. Menaker Partner DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary, Senior VP & General Counsel
Arthur F. Fergenson Partner, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP Baltimore, MD

Heartland Institute - Paul Fisher - Piper, Marbury, Rudnick & Wolfe
William Cohen The Cohen Group has a strategic alliance with Piper Rudnick
European Institute (USA) - DLA, Piper Rudnick Gray Cary LLP
Bioindustry Association, member
National Business Coalition on E-Commerce and Privacy - DLA Piper represents this business group that includes companies like Experian, Fidelity Investments, the Investment Company Institute, Charles Schwab & Co., Deere & Co, JPMorgan Chase, General Motors, Vanguard Group, Fiserv, Bank of America and Visa.

MP hospitality

On 24 November 2010, DLA held a breakfast meeting with the then Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Sassoon.^[19]

On 4 December 2013 , DLA had dinner with Lord Deighton, the Commercial Secretary. ^[20]

Affiliations

member of D Group

Resources, References and Contact

London address:

Edinburgh address: Collins House, Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2AA

References

↑ Lorraine Cushnie, DLA Piper challenges the global giants as revenues soar to £850m, The Lawyer, 13 February 2006, accessed 9 June 2011
↑ [1], DLA Piper website
↑ PPP and PFI, DLA Piper website, accessed September 2015
↑ DLA Piper, Global Government Relations, ‘Property and planning communications’ brochure, October 2010
↑ Jason Wassell, Linkedin profile, accessed September 2015
↑ Jason Wassell, Linkedin profile, accessed September 2015
↑ Staff writers, "Lobbying inquiry zooms in on APPC non-members", PR Week UK, 21.02.08, accessed 10.09.10
↑ Ali H. Aslan, How did last-minute hopes turn into disappointment?, Zaman, 10 October 2007.
↑ Eli Clifton, Washington's Multi-million dollar Saudi PR Machine, Rightweb.IRC, accessed 19 January 2016
↑ Firm Leadership DLA Piper, undated, accessed 9 October 2014
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 Sean Somerville Piper, Rudnick join ranks of largest U.S. law firms Baltimore Sun, 2 November 1999, accessed 9 October 2014
↑ UK People DLA Piper, undated, accessed 10 October 2014
↑ Lord Tim Clement-Jones DLA Piper, undated, 9 October 2014
↑ Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations Advisory Committee Lists Accessed 21st January 2008
↑ ^15.0 ^15.1 Rt Hon Lord Warner, Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP and MR Stephen Haddrill Parliament Publications, 8 May 2008, 9 October 2014
↑ Melanie Newman House of Bankers: 16% of Lords are paid by City firms The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, 10 July 2012, accessed 9 October 2014
↑ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean profile Parliament UK, undated, 9 October 2014
↑ Nuclear Industry Association, Our Members, undated, accessed 5 September 2012
↑ HM Treasury 1 October - 31 December 2010 Gov.uk, accessed 13 October 2014
↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/357545/ministerial_transparency_Oct-Dec_2013_amended_5_Sept_2014.pdf HM Treasury Ministers Quarterly Information: 1 October – 31 December 2013] Gov.uk, accessed12 October 2014

[1] Lorraine Cushnie, DLA Piper challenges the global giants as revenues soar to £850m, The Lawyer, 13 February 2006, accessed 9 June 2011

[2] [1], DLA Piper website

[3] PPP and PFI, DLA Piper website, accessed September 2015

[4] DLA Piper, Global Government Relations, ‘Property and planning communications’ brochure, October 2010

[5] Jason Wassell, Linkedin profile, accessed September 2015

[6] Jason Wassell, Linkedin profile, accessed September 2015

[7] Staff writers, "Lobbying inquiry zooms in on APPC non-members", PR Week UK, 21.02.08, accessed 10.09.10

[8] Ali H. Aslan, How did last-minute hopes turn into disappointment?, Zaman, 10 October 2007.

[9] Eli Clifton, Washington's Multi-million dollar Saudi PR Machine, Rightweb.IRC, accessed 19 January 2016

[10] Firm Leadership DLA Piper, undated, accessed 9 October 2014

[MP-11] 11.0 ^11.1 Sean Somerville Piper, Rudnick join ranks of largest U.S. law firms Baltimore Sun, 2 November 1999, accessed 9 October 2014

[12] UK People DLA Piper, undated, accessed 10 October 2014

[13] Lord Tim Clement-Jones DLA Piper, undated, 9 October 2014

[14] Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations Advisory Committee Lists Accessed 21st January 2008

[MQ-15] 15.0 ^15.1 Rt Hon Lord Warner, Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP and MR Stephen Haddrill Parliament Publications, 8 May 2008, 9 October 2014

[16] Melanie Newman House of Bankers: 16% of Lords are paid by City firms The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, 10 July 2012, accessed 9 October 2014

[17] Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean profile Parliament UK, undated, 9 October 2014

[18] Nuclear Industry Association, Our Members, undated, accessed 5 September 2012

[19] HM Treasury 1 October - 31 December 2010 Gov.uk, accessed 13 October 2014

[20] ttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/357545/ministerial_transparency_Oct-Dec_2013_amended_5_Sept_2014.pdf HM Treasury Ministers Quarterly Information: 1 October – 31 December 2013] Gov.uk, accessed12 October 2014

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DLA Piper

Contents

Lobbying practice

Lobbying for PPP and PFI

Local lobbying practice

DLA Piper Scotland

Refusal to join the Association of Professional Political Consultants

Lobbying for Turkey

Lobbying for the UAE

People[10]

Global

Co-Chairmen

Joint Co-CEOs

Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific

Co-Managing Directors, Groups and Sectors

Managing Director, Europe and Africa

Managing Director, Europe and Middle East

Chief Operating Officer

General Counsel, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific=

Americas

Co-Chairmen

Co-Managing Partners

Chairmen Emeritus

Chief Operating Officer

General Counsel

UK Staff

Revolving Door

Former Staff

Affiliations

MP hospitality

Affiliations

See also

Resources, References and Contact

References

Navigation menu

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People^[10]