Failure of Leadership: Former Pierce Bainbridge General Counsel
Goldstein & McClintock partner Carolynn K. Beck was General Counsel at the corrupt law firm hired by Rudy Giuliani
Firm founder John Pierce has taken lots of heat for the mess at Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP. In less than two years, the firm ran up a reported $65 million debt, has been sued over 10 times, allegedly stiffed several vendors, been accused of fraud on courts, had lawyers lying under oath, the list goes on and on. But what of the firm’s General Counsel Carolynn K. Beck?
What did Beck do? How did Beck lead? What did Beck say?
Beck apparently hasn’t said much.
In fact, she’s said next to nothing.
Beck’s been accused of deleting potential evidence.
Beck’s been accused of suborning perjury and spearheading a fraud on the court; a related sanctions motion is pending.
Beck’s been accused of being aware that John Pierce was raiding firm accounts back in October 2018, based on communications with the firm’s bookkeeper.
Beck appears to have never personally responded; on any of these points.
It’s unclear what dealings the firm’s General Counsel may have had with big name client Rudy Giuliani. Or if Beck has any thoughts on reports, weeks after Giuliani hired the firm, of federal subpoenas to unspecified parties related to his business dealings.
One wonders what Rudy would think of what can perhaps be viewed as Beck’s head-in-the-sand approach.
While such avoidance would not seem very Rudy, perhaps the corrupt environment at the firm where Beck was General Counsel is indeed suited to the former New York City Mayor.
Keep in mind that Beck was General Counsel through much of the activity in the video below.
Watch the video. It’s only 90 seconds. It speaks for itself.
Beck was also General Counsel when Pierce was the subject of a domestic violence restraining order. This was in July 2019. Beck remained with the firm for almost a year. A sample of the threatening text messages Pierce sent to the mother of his children is alarming.
Just a few months later, Pierce’s former spouse accused Pierce Bainbridge of assisting in stonewalling her subpoena for documents related to the proceedings. Beck was apparently General Counsel at the time.
There was also the Pierce misogynistic writings, which have been documented in court filings. A firm communication that is included in public court filings in below. Beck did nothing?
Whatever Beck’s deal may be, she wore the title and with the title comes responsibility.
Beck’s apparent silence does not change this.
A failure to lead?
Some may say that’s putting it too nicely.
Perhaps far too nicely.
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Update/Addendum: Apparent Culture of Dishonesty at Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP
- Ex-Pierce Bainbridge named-partner David Hecht was accused by a former associate in May of lying to a federal court. Hecht is now with Hecht Partners LLP, he denies lying.
- A federal judge in a written opinion found David Hecht acted “inconsistent” with the ethical Rule of Professional Conduct on “dishonesty and misrepresentation.” This was in April 2019 while Hecht was at Pierce Bainbridge.
- Ex-Pierce Bainbridge General Counsel and named-partner Carolynn K. Beck has been accused of suborning perjury and spearheading a fraud on a court; a motion is pending. Beck is now with Goldstein & McClintock LLLP.
- Ex-Pierce Bainbridge partner Christopher N. LaVigne also lied under oath in a sworn affidavit accompanying the Denver Edwards filing. LaVigne is now with Withers Bergman / Withersworldwide.
- A Los Angeles state court judge in a written opinion found another ex-Pierce Bainbridge partner violated the ethical Rules of Professional Conduct. This was in October 2019.
- Marc Mukasey of Mukasey Frenchman & Sklaroff LLP withdrew from representing Pierce Bainbridge in March 2020 citing, among other issues, ethical concerns with continued representation.
- Ex-Pierce Bainbridge named-partner James D. Bainbridge settled for $11 million with the Federal Trade Commission after being accused of spearheading an $80 million scheme on the public involving companies he controlled; there was no admission of liability. This was in the mid 1990's.
- Bainbridge’s friend Daniel A. Fingarette (per FTC, aka William Burke) was also a target of the FTC action. Fingarette, according to John Pierce and his confidante Lauren Schaefer-Green, had some level of involvement with Pierce Bainbridge finances. Fingarette was sued in federal court in around 2012 for allegedly impersonating a lawyer. The alleged credentials Fingarette conveyed are remarkably similar to the credentials on Jim Bainbridge’s firm bio.
