Michael Sallah & Rob Berry The Miami Herald

October 4, 2009

Michael Sallah & Rob Berry
The Miami Herald
One Herald Plaza
Miami, Florida 33132-1693

RE: The Sandford Bank, Greenberg Traurig, money laundering, big business, big law firms, and who comes with clean hands to discuss this. Some comments on your Page 1 story about Caribbean shenanigans.

Sirs,

I am shocked, shocked to discover that you are shocked, shocked to discover that high powered clients hire high powered law firms to do high powered things.

I must disclose that I have broken bread, drunk some wine, and shared confidences with a former partner of Greenburg Traurig. Since he did not represent me I don’t have to reveal his name. Further, Antigua is one of my favorite spots on earth.

Speaking of high powered lawyers doing high powered things perhaps you should check the history of the Miami Herald in its Knight-Ridder days.

My Florida introduction to the nexus of high powered lawyers and high powered clients came about when K-R Chairman Alvah Chapman eulogized Clark Clifford, Esq. If ever one man fit the template for high powered lawyers it was Clark Clifford.

K-R once got its corporate dick caught in a legal wringer in Detroit. A Federal agency had the temerity to rule against K-R as they tried to do an end run around some prickly regulations. Chairman Chapman called his pal, Clark Clifford, who was able to get the first ruling overturned. Next he was able to get a new ruling that brought a contented smile to his client’s face.

That’s what high powered lawyers do.

If Greenburg Traurig were involved in a Caribbean scam it is a subject for a different forum. At least they had the good sense to avoid Detroit. The charms of Devil Night and hockey pale when compared to February in Antigua.




Kevin Smith