Subject: Re: Press Release
From: "Joshua Alcorn" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>, <[email-masked]>, "Eric Schwerin" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2015 08:59:19 -0400

Starkey just called. I sent him to VM. He asked for an update on the gov race and was "trying to track down a rumor that Beau would be withdrawing from the race soon." I'll ask around and see if anyone else is hearing that, or if this is Jon fishing. Regardless, I don't see the need to call him back unless you folks think it's worth it. 

/ja
302-598-1885 (cell)

Sent from my iPhone, which is responsible for any typos. 

> On Apr 29, 2015, at 1:20 PM, [email-masked] wrote:
> 
> Sorry, Late to the stream - For what it is worth.
> 
> I have consistently been skeptical about putting Beau out front on S&G press releases. On this one, not too concerned about explanations. It seems like a small risk to Beau and at the same time bails out S&G. 
> 
> Do not think we can make a really bad decision.
> 
> 
> Sent from Xfinity Connect Mobile App
> 
> ------ Original Message ------
> 
> From: Josh Alcorn
> To: Hunter Biden
> Cc: Alex Snyder-Mackler, Ted Kaufman, Eric Schwerin
> Sent: April 29, 2015 at 4:55 PM
> Subject: Re: Press Release
> Will do. 
> 
> /ja
> 302-598-1885 (cell)
> 
> Sent from my iPhone, which is responsible for any typos. 
> 
> On Apr 29, 2015, at 11:51 AM, Hunter Biden <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> Josh-
> I would have a discussion with Stuart about your concerns and see what he thinks. If he isn't bothered by it than just go with the flow. Again I'm not too worried about the idea we are "misleading" people.  
> 
> RHB
> 202.333.1880
> 
> On Apr 29, 2015, at 11:17 AM, Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> Well, I don't like how Jay changed this on us and gave us such a short time line. But that's just me. 
> 
> Yes, G&E can handle all inquiries. "Mr Biden is excited to continue fighting for consumers ... " but not available for comment.
> 
> Alex and I spoke and it seems his concern is that if some of what Beau's going through now comes to light, explaining the timing of the release would take some, well, explaining. 
> 
> If we're comfortable with that, I'm good letting the release go out as it reads below. We can always say that Beau agreed to this expanded role before he went to Jeff. 
> 
> You're right Hunter, this will allow us to add some value without doing anything more than putting our name on a press release. 
> 
> /ja
> 302-598-1885 (cell)
> 
> Sent from my iPhone, which is responsible for any typos. 
> 
> On Apr 29, 2015, at 11:05 AM, Hunter Biden <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> Is there a reason not to do this as they propose?
> G&E can handle response for Beau w/o Beau having to actually be on phone- right?
> Ideally we don't want to be generating any press right now, but it's also an easy way to be participating and adding value w/o having to do too much at the moment.
> In my opinion if this is something they really want I wouldn't push back unless I'm missing something.
> RHB
> 202.333.1880
> 
> On Apr 29, 2015, at 9:56 AM, Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> We fired Reuben, the director of the whistle blower group on Friday. Yesterday we fired someone else for asking clients to terminate their contracts with the firm and join him (and I believe Reuben) in a new firm. So it's partly a press thing and partly firm morale. 
> 
> /ja
> 302-598-1885 (cell)
> 
> Sent from my iPhone, which is responsible for any typos. 
> 
> On Apr 29, 2015, at 9:52 AM, [email-masked] wrote:
> 
> What's the timing hook? As in, why today (or this week)
> 
> 
> ASM
> 
> On Apr 29, 2015, at 9:46 AM, Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> Sorry - this hasn't gone out yet. They'd like to send it today. 
> 
> /ja
> 302-598-1885 (cell)
> 
> Sent from my iPhone, which is responsible for any typos. 
> 
> On Apr 29, 2015, at 9:14 AM, Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> Hi folks, attached see a press release from the firm. 
> Context: We fired the director who handled the whistleblower group. A few weeks ago Stuart asked Beau if, when we issued this release, it could say that he's "expanding his work with whistle blowers" but the focus of the release would be announcing the new directors. Beau agreed. 
> However, Jay changed his mind and the release has a different feel than what Beau and I initially agreed to. As you'll see below, the lede is Beau's expanded role. What do you think? I'm fine pushing back on Jay, since we agreed to something different with Stuart. I think we'll get inquiries regardless of how this is handled. I also think Stuart doesn't care what the lede is. 
> 
> /ja
> 302-598-1885 (cell)
> 
> Sent from my iPhone, which is responsible for any typos. 
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Elise Martin <[email-masked]>
> Date: April 29, 2015 at 9:00:12 AM EDT
> To: Joshua Alcorn <[email-masked]>
> Subject: Press Release
> 
> Josh –
>  
> The release is attached and below.
>  
> Thanks,
> Elise
>  
>  
> 
> 
> From:  Elise Martin 302-622-7004 [email-masked]
> Allan Ripp 212-262-7477 [email-masked]
> 
> Beau Biden expands work with Whistleblowers
>  
> Grant & Eisenhofer Also Announces Firm directors Sabella and Thomas will co-chair the Firm’s false claims litigation practice group, responsible for continued growth and oversight of the practice group.
>  
> NEW YORK/WILMINGTON, DE (April XX, 2015) – Leading whistleblower firm Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. today announced that Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III, of counsel to G&E and former Delaware Attorney General, will expand his work on behalf of the Firm’s whistleblower clients.  As Attorney General, Mr. Biden’s work on behalf of homeowners led to more than $185 million in financial benefits Delaware consumers and government agencies and, under his leadership, the Delaware Department of Justice participated in settlements with three of the nation’s largest banks, making Delaware one of only four states to do so. 
>  
> “This is a natural extension of what Beau does best,” said G&E co-founder and managing director Stuart Grant.   “With Beau, whistleblower clients know they have an advocate who is willing to fight for them and put their best interest at heart.”
>  
> Additionally, the Firm announced that it has named directors James J. Sabella and Mary S. Thomas as co-heads of G&E’s whistleblower/Qui-Tam litigation practice. 
>  
> “Collectively, Jim and Mary have a significant track record of experience and successful results in representing the Firm’s clients in whistleblower cases,” Grant added.  “Their expertise in working with the Department of Justice, numerous state attorneys general and other government entities is a great benefit to our qui-tam litigation group and, more importantly, the clients we represent.”
>  
> Mr. Sabella, who has been with G&E since 2004, has over thirty-five years of experience in complex civil litigation involving trial and appellate work in state and federal courts.  Mr. Sabella has represented whistleblowers in major cases that have resulted in large recoveries, including: a $95 million recovery involving fraudulent mortgage assignments resolved as part of the government’s $25 billion settlement with five of the world’s largest banks.  Mr. Sabella is a 1976 graduate of Columbia Law School, where he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbia Law Review.  He received a B.A. summa cum laude from Columbia College in 1972 and a B.S. in 1973 from the Columbia School of Engineering where he was valedictorian.
>  
> Ms. Thomas, who joined G&E in 2006, has twenty years of experience in complex civil litigation.  Ms. Thomas investigates qui tam related claims and represents whistleblowers in false claims act cases.  She currently represents the relator in a Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act case concerning unclaimed gift card balances.  Ms. Thomas graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1994 and magna cum laude from the University of Delaware in 1991.
>  
> Over the past several years, G&E’s false claims litigation practice has had unprecedented success representing whistleblowers in the government’s $1.6 billion settlement with Abbott (2012); its $1.04 billion settlement with GlaxoSmithKline (2012); its $257 million settlement with Pfizer (Wyeth) (2013); its $97 million settlement with Community Health Systems (2014); and its $24.9 million dollar settlement with Amgen (2013).  The Firm currently represents relators in a number of ongoing cases.
> ###
> 
> About Grant & Eisenhofer
> 
> Grant & Eisenhofer is one of the nation’s leading litigation firms, with a highly successful track record representing plaintiffs in complex litigation and arbitration matters.  The firm has offices in Wilmington, New York, Washington DC and Chicago, and an international docket of high-profile cases. G&E’s clients include institutional investors, whistleblowers and other stakeholders in securities class actions, derivative lawsuits, consumer class actions, antitrust suits, bankruptcy litigation and whistleblower cases involving the False Claims Act.  The firm has recovered more than $28 billion in the last 10 years and has twice been cited by RiskMetrics for securing the highest average investor recovery in securities class actions. G&E has been named one of the country’s top plaintiffs’ law firms by The National Law Journal for the past ten years, and was named one of the nation’s “Most Feared Plaintiffs Firms” by Law360.  For more information, visit www.gelaw.com.
> 
>  
> <WB Release_Final Draft 042915 v2.docx