Overview
Law360 and The National Law Journal covered a September 3 decision from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that will allow a former Republican fundraiser’s lawsuit against a public relations firm to continue. In its decision, the three-judge panel ruled that US-based lobbyists and public relations consultants accused of participating in a foreign-state-sponsored scheme to hack into Elliott Broidy’s business servers and personal email accounts and distribute his stolen confidential materials to the media are not entitled to common law foreign sovereign immunity based on their contractual relationships with the State of Qatar.
Shannen Coffin, who argued Broidy’s case before the DC Circuit, tells Law360 that he’s gratified by the unanimous decision from an "ideologically diverse" appeals panel.
The Steptoe team also included partners Fil Agusti and Michael Baratz, of counsel Linda Bailey, and associate Mark Savignac. Steptoe previously represented Broidy in the lawsuit in both district court and the Court of Appeals.
Full coverage can be read in Law360 and The National Law Journal (subscriptions required).
