Did Quinn Emanuel Urge Betrayal in Leon Black RICO Case?
A former model sued Leon Black, the founder of Apollo Global Management, alleging sexual assault. According to a brief filed last Monday, Wigdor, the firm that represents ex-model Guzel Ganieva, was approached with a deal to betray its client. Reuters chronicles that Black sued Wigdor and Ganieva in Manhattan federal court. Black asserts that the sexual assault accusation is part of a racketeering conspiracy to ruin his name. He also accuses an unidentified litigation funder. Wigdor, in turn, claimed that the racketeering accusation is improper and that the suit is a clear effort to retaliate against the firm representing Black’s accuser. Wigdor is demanding sanctions against Black and his counsel, Quinn Emanuel. The recent filing alleges that a partner at Quinn Emanuel, Michael Carlinsky, offered Wigdor’s counsel a chance to have the racketeering charge dropped in exchange for information on Josh Harris—believed by Black to be a co-conspirator. This deal, if accepted, would have required Wigdor to turn against its own client. Wigdor revealed details of the conversation with opposing counsel only after Black’s lawyers disclosed them first, in a brief opposing sanctions under Rule 11. Still, Carlinsky disputed the contents of the filing, saying the discussion was off the record—perhaps forgetting that off-the-record conversations are not immune from consequences if they involve illegal activity. Black is no longer represented by Quinn Emanuel in the suit against Wigdor and Ganieva. They did not offer a reason for this decision. A Wigdor representative asserted that the firm may be attempting to extricate itself from initial accusations against Wigdor for racketeering. Meanwhile, Josh Harris may be the mysterious unnamed funder of the sexual assault lawsuit. He is believed to have a grudge against Black after being passed over for promotion by his former mentor. Harris denies involvement and denies knowing Ganieva.