By William K. Black
(Cross posted at Benzinga.com)
Overview and Background
The New York Times’ “Deal Book” continues its ethics-free treatment of the ethical collapse of the leaders of many of our most elite firms related to finance. Matthew Goldstein’s* March 6, 2014 article is entitled “4 Accused in Law Firm Fraud Ignored a Maxim: Don’t Email.”
The article is about the indictment charging the leaders of one of finance’s leading law firms – Dewey & LeBoeuf – with securities fraud and larceny.
“The indictment paints a portrait of a law firm being run like a criminal enterprise. Mr. Vance said his office had already secured guilty pleas from seven other people who once worked for Dewey.”
Deal Book refuses to recognize control fraud even when the indictment describes a control fraud. The indictment does not “paint a portrait of a law firm being run like a criminal enterprise.” The indictment describes a criminal enterprise led by the partners controlling Dewey & LeBouef. Deal Book still can’t bend its mind around the fact that seemingly legitimate firms make the best “weapons” for fraud.
