Ex-Akin Gump Lawyer 'Blindsided' by Allegations She Used Client Funds For Personal Reasons
"The allegations made in the complaint are not an accurate characterization of the work I performed for this client under the supervision of the team," Heidi Liss said in a statement.
December 20, 2019 at 06:46 PM
3 minute read
Akin Gump's offices at 2001 K Street, NW, in Washington, D.C. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM
The former Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld lawyer who allegedly used tens of thousands of dollars of a client's funds for personal reasons said she was "blindsided by the allegations" in the $25 million legal malpractice lawsuit that was filed Thursday in New York state court against her former firm.
In a statement to The American Lawyer on Friday, Heidi Liss defended her conduct while representing Thunayan Al-Ghanim, the CEO of Future Media Architects, an internet domain name company, contending that her actions, which included "taking approved business trips with the client and entertaining the client while he was in NY," were done "always with the knowledge and approval of the firm including the partners with whom I worked."
"Prior to leaving the firm in 2015, I worked successfully for Akin Gump for over 18 years with senior partners and leadership on sensitive matters for high value clients as part of the private client group," Liss continued in her statement. "The allegations made in the complaint are not an accurate characterization of the work I performed for this client under the supervision of the team."
According to the lawsuit FMA filed against Akin Gump, Liss allegedly used FMA's funds to pay for thousands of dollars' worth of credit card charges, including nearly $3,000 worth of tickets to see "Book of Mormon" and "Kinky Boots" on Broadway. She also took a trip to the Cayman Islands under the pretenses of doing work for FMA, but FMA alleges it was actually a family vacation.
Akin Gump is the sole defendant in FMA's legal malpractice lawsuit.
Liss was fired from Akin Gump after the firm discovered Liss "had engaged in highly unethical and improper conduct in connection with the representation of FMA," a firm spokesman said Thursday. The spokesperson described the event as "painful for all at the firm who work to uphold our commitment to excellence and integrity."
"The firm immediately conducted an investigation, disclosed the results to FMA, terminated Ms. Liss, made appropriate reimbursements, and asked FMA to consent to the firm's reporting her to disciplinary authorities," the Akin Gump statement said. "FMA declined, which prevented the firm under applicable disciplinary rules from reporting the misconduct. We have made—and will continue to make—every effort to remediate any remaining harm FMA has suffered."
In the lawsuit, FMA faulted Akin Gump for not referring Liss and her supervising attorney, Lawrence Lamade, to state disciplinary authorities. Unlike Liss, the firm determined Lamade, now a lawyer at Furey, Doolan & Abell in Bethesda, Maryland, did not violate any rules of professional conduct.
Liss said she is now working "in a limited capacity doing some advisory work."
Adam Richards, a partner at Moses Ziegelman Richards & Notaro who is representing FMA, declined to comment on Liss' statement Friday.
A spokesman for Akin Gump, reached Friday evening, referred back to the firm's Thursday statement and declined to comment further.
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