*Don Lewis said over a year ago that the law firm hired by Rudy Giuliani for the Ukraine fiasco was a “house of cards” that would “collapse.” The law firm is Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht LLP. Lewis was spot on.
The whistleblower and former partner alleged in a complaint dated May 15, 2019 that firm founder: “[John Mark] Pierce is a fraud and a con man, lying to his partners, lying to the press, lying to his clients and lying to investors; [the opening of PB’ books] would also very likely crater a firm built on smoke and mirrors.”
Since then Pierce Bainbridge has undergone a catastrophic implosion. Around 60 of 70 lawyers have exited, reports indicate a $70 million debt, and the firm is a defendant in at least seven legal actions. Just last week, a new court filing says the firm welched on a payment obligation of approximately $150,000 to vendor Transperfect Legal Solutions.
One of the lawsuits against Pierce Bainbridge, is brought by a Philadelphia lawyer who has sued the firm, as well as John Pierce, Jim Bainbridge, Carolynn Beck (now with Goldstein & McClintock), Maxim Price for tortious interference with contractual relations and unjust enrichment. Pravati Capital LLC – a former funder/lender for the firm – is also named as a defendant
In addition, Lewis says Pierce Bainbridge secured a $2.5 million “merchant cash advance” from a “payday” lender in Queens, New York on February 19, 2020. The agreement apparently called for daily remittance payments. More than three months later, Pierce Bainbridge appears to have not paid a dime and Pierce conceded that the lender is owed nearly $4 million, which includes interest.
Virage Capital Management reportedly funded Pierce Bainbridge from April 2019 through at least April 2020, when reports surfaced that the firm owed Virage an estimated $65 million. According to a leading legal journal, Virage is “chasing” ex-Pierce Bainbridge partners at their new firms to collect on the money owed. Some of the firms may potentially include Warren Terzian, BraunHagey & Borden, Withers Bergman and the newly formed Bradford Edwards & Varlack LLP (according to Patrick Bradford’s LinkedIn).
Pierce Bainbridge has now hired at least five law firms to deal with Lewis: Putney Twombly, Littler Mendelson, Mukasey Frenchmen & Sklaroff, Cohen Seglias, as well as the Tweed Law Firm located in London, Belfast and Dublin. Lewis says it is Pierce Bainbridge’s bread and butter to engage in intimidation and smear tactics.
According to Pierce’s LinkedIn postings, he is “good friends” with Giuliani and “clients pick PB because they have precisely the same DNA.” In addition to Giuliani, firm clients have included Michael Avenatti, Tulsi Gabbard, a Russian Oligarch, Carter Page, George Papadopoulos and even CNN’s Don Lemon.
Lewis, who was the only black Pierce Bainbridge attorney when he was put on leave, has alleged racial discrimination against Carolynn Beck, John Pierce and Jim Bainbridge.
The whistleblowing partner concluded, “the story of Pierce Bainbridge is one of big-time clients, big-time dishonesty and big-time financial issues.” He continues in his fight for justice.
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