'Baker McKenzie has worked for a range of clients in other capacities that are not required to be disclosed in lobbying or FARA disclosures.
'Those clients include Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky and fugitive Malaysian financier Jho Low' opensecrets.org/news/2021/10/p…
"Baker McKenzie is an architect and pillar of a shadow economy, often called ‘offshore,’ that benefits the wealthy at the expense of nations’ treasuries and ordinary citizens’ wallets." abajournal.com/news/article/p…
Baker McKenzie 'did work for sanctioned Russian banks and arms makers, as well as the kingpins behind some of the world’s largest alleged heists' justsecurity.org/78506/closing-…
'Baker & McKenzie CIS has represented at least six sanctioned companies owned by the Russian government, including Rostec and banking giant VTB.' icij.org/investigations…
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The 1680 Pueblo Revolt should absolutely be more widely remembered in the US—greatest anti-colonial victory on the eventual territory of the US until the American Revolution:
Bit on how the Lakota in particular quashed French dreams of continent-wide empire in North America:
NEW: The #PandoraPapers taught us plenty—especially about how South Dakota exploded into an offshore haven, and who’s behind some of the anonymous wealth that has flooded the state.
(Huge shoutout to @TheAtlantic’s art team—never thought I’d see a day when I could have “scrilla” in a piece on offshoring and dirty money.)
South Dakota trusts are the gold standard for anyone looking to hide money—forever. They can:
—List you as both settlor and beneficiary
—Last for centuries (or longer)
—Never reveal who’s behind them to other governments
—Never reveal who’s moving the money
‘The US emerges from the leak as a leading tax haven. The files suggest the state of South Dakota, in particular, is sheltering billions of dollars in wealth linked to individuals previously accused of serious financial crimes.’ theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/…
Want to know how the US transformed into the world’s biggest offshore haven? Or why Delaware, South Dakota, and other states became the go-to for anyone looking to hide dirty money?
‘The #PandoraPapers expose how foreign political and corporate leaders or their relatives moved money and other assets in recent years from international tax havens to even more secretive American trust companies, including those in South Dakota.’ washingtonpost.com/business/2021/…
This is nuts: Here’s former US VP Mike Pence shaking hands with Milorad Dodik, a figure directly sanctioned by the US for his ongoing efforts to break up Bosnia. ht @UrbanAchievr
This is either a monumental blunder by @VP45’s team—or a sign (or confirmation) that the GOP has completely given up on US policy in the Balkans. Either way, an awful, awful look.
NEW: For @TheAtlantic, I looked at how the US art and auction worlds have exploded into havens for dirty money—and why Hunter Biden is the worst thing to happen to the art world in years. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
The U.S. art and auction industries have become key vectors in trans-national money laundering networks—and dodged (most) money laundering regulations.
Instead, we're supposed to just take them at their word that they're on the lookout for dirty money.
(One of the most depressing bits of writing this piece: Remembering just how shady Jimmy Carter's family was, and how much they helped despotic regimes during Carter's presidency.)