By Kashmir Hill | Above the Law
Some of our DC-based readers may have spotted this anti-DLA Piper (a law firm) ad making its way around town via taxi. A reader sent us this photo, saying: :I saw this cab on Connecticut Ave. in front of the Mayflower yesterday and it caught my attention. Strange.”
Our first response was, “Bad PR for DLA Piper, but doesn’t everybody already know that blood money is the currency of Biglaw?” Our second response was to find out about this legislation and reach out to the firm.
The American Lawyer wrote in 2008 about the Piper’s playing the flute for the Ethiopian government. Partners Dick Armey, a former House majority leader, and Gary Klein lobbied on Capitol Hill on behalf of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who angered human rights advocates in 2005 with violent crackdowns on protesters during the elections there. The American Lawyer reports that the Piper was playing to the tune of over $50,000 a month. That’s a whole lot of injera.
The taxi ad refers to a bill, {www:S.3457}, introduced by Senators Feingold and Leahy “to reaffirm United States objectives in Ethiopia and encourage critical democratic and humanitarian principles and practices.” Or, in other words, a bill to encourage Ethiopia not to inflict violent crackdowns on its citizens. DLA Piper’s lobbying efforts may have paid off. The bill has been languishing with the Committee on Foreign Relations since 2008.
DLA Piper’s spokesman told us that the firm’s representation of the Ethiopian government actually ended in November. A statement from the firm refers indirectly to the protesting taxi driver (and other DLA Piper opponents): “There are some very vocal elements of the Ethiopian Diaspora, particularly in the Washington area, who are opponents of the current administration in Ethiopia and go to great lengths to try to embarrass or demean those who are associated with it.”
See the full statement, after the jump. DLA Piper may no longer have Ethiopia as a client, but the firm is actively helping to churn out new lawyers over in Addis Ababa.
DLA Piper says its representation of the Ethiopians ceased in November, though it’s still involved in pro bono initiative sending its lawyers to Addis Ababa to teach law school to aspiring Ethiopian esquires.
STATEMENT FROM DLA PIPER
For several years, DLA Piper provided advice and counsel to the democratically elected government of Ethiopia on a wide range of public policy, regulatory, legislative and legal matters. Our work focused on strengthening bilateral relations with the US, including humanitarian, economic and development assistance, trade and investment opportunities, and enhancing relationships with Congress and the Administration. In the past, the firm also provided legal support to the Government of Ethiopia at the International Court of Justice at the Hague on the Ethiopia-Eritrean border dispute. Our government affairs teams have worked with them in London and Brussels as well as Washington, DC.
This representation has ended, but we are continuing to assist Ethiopia on pro bono initiatives. In conjunction with the Northwestern University Law School, DLA Piper lawyers are teaching classes for the next generation of aspiring legal professionals at the law school in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. This is in addition to a number of major pro bono projects we are working on across Africa, including a new project to document systematic sexual violence by the Mugabe government against politically active women in Zimbabwe.
Ethiopia is an emerging democracy and an important ally of the United States in a troubled region of the world. The country has made remarkable progress in the last two decades, moving from dictatorship to a system of free elections, and a commitment to prosperity and greater inclusiveness. There are some very vocal elements of the Ethiopian Diaspora, particularly in the Washington area, who are opponents of the current administration in Ethiopia and go to great lengths to try to embarrass or demean those who are associated with it. While we disagree with these individuals and do not believe their views reflect the majority of Ethiopian Americans, we fully support their right to voice their opinions on this matter.
Source: DLA Piper Pleads Ethiopia’s Case Against Human Rights Sanctions [American Lawyer]
12 thoughts on “Ethiopians in Washington DC take on DLA Piper”
I think the Ethiopian people deserve apology from DLA Piper or DLA pimp. It is offensive for them to write like, “democratically elected government of Ethiopia” there has never been a democratically elected government in Ethiopia for the last thousand years and I wonder if there will be one. Anyway, one day DLA piper will be brought to justice for denying millions of Ethiopians the food they eat. It is shame to be paid 50 thousand dollars when more than eight million people are starving. I understand blood diamond but the action of Piper is more atrocious than that. Keep the pressure brave Ethiopian diaspora. make your voice heard!
“Democratically elected” government? Where do lawyers at DLA Pipers obtained their degrees from? And these “lawyers” who cannot even distinguish a tyrannt from a “democratically-elected” are teaching our sons and daughters “laws”? Which laws are they teaching them – must be that of the jungle their infamous client (Woyanne) uses.
Gud eko new!!! Who are these lawyers who are advising the blood-thirsty dictator? shame on them! The blood of innocent Ethiopians spilled on the road will judge you one day.
Not what democratic elected means, some one who stays in power for almost 2 decayed???????? unbelievable, not sure every one like to see Ethiopian people to succeed? What more do we need, High school graduate stayed at home for almost 20 years with out any jobs??????
The DLA statement is offensive, ugly and trash. That is a clear evidence that shows how they intentionaly turned a blind eye to the plight of Ethiopians. This is a criminal firm. They committed double athrocity: Exploited the resorces of poor people and empowered an illigitimate, illegal and evil dictatorial government that oppressed and literally destroying a nation.
That means all your effort failed because Woyane was killing yesterday and doing the same today. Woyane tricks are not easy to understand for you ferenjis having 10 or 20 parties does not mean necessarily democracy. It is no secret that Ethiopia is ruled by TPLF and a group of 15/16 intermarried looters.
that was a brilliant idea, good initiative as per Ethiopians in DC; i was impressed by your creativity, keep it up, dig all venues to fight tplf.
what the hell these lawyers are talking about? They are very selfish, greedy. They don’t know what democratically elected means or they are boneheaded.
Is that possible to expand this action across Washington DC, so that it will catch the attention of more people in DC? I know many Patriotic Ethiopians are willing to display that on their cab. It is a great idea. The law Firm will get embarassed and dump meles zenawi as their dirt soon.
“Democratically elected Government”? In Ethiopia there is a saying: “a dog barks at a place it is fed”
I admire S. Legesse Taxi Company for taking such heroic action in the country of the Free. This is eye catcher and best anti weyane campaign in the US capital. If more ethiopains do similar, it can change the US public opinion against the TPLF regime. Infact Ethiopains can also pay taxi drivers to carry t´such solgans! Why dont Kinjit Groups pay for similar slogans to be displayed on taxis and other places?
To talk about Democracy in the same sentence with the Ethiopian Ethno-centric fascist state under the psychopath Meles Zenawi is loosing one’s humanity and any moral restraint that distinguishes us from animal species, even by DLA Piper that generates profit by providing false testimonies on behalf of war criminals and what have you.
The most disturbing phenomenon is for such trends like DLA Pipers’ extra ordinary arrogance of presenting the Tigrai mafia (TPLF) group as democratically elected government. I have seen much more common sense from God Fathers family lawyers than this one. Such practice is a disgrace to any profession. In fact, this is no different from those barbaric middle men during the days of the slave trade. The tragedy of our time is, in an attempt to get rid of false shame, we killed real shame with it.