The bankruptcy court has released Bernie Madoff’s full client list, which comes in at a whopping 162 pages. Among the new names are Larry King, John Malkovich, and weirdest of all, Madoff’s own lawyer, Ira Lee Sorkin, which makes his representation of him, we’re pretty sure, a clear conflict of interest. There’s no indication of how much money Sorkin lost, but it would only be natural if, like Madoff’s other investors, his gut feeling is that he wants the old bugger to rot in jail or worse. And per the American Bar Association’s Center for Professional Responsibility:
A lawyer shall not enter into a business transaction with a client or knowingly acquire an ownership, possessory, security or other pecuniary interest adverse to a client.
(We love Damages.)
Of course, that can be overruled by a client. But still, what is with this? Did losing his savings inspire Sorkin to make a major life change and become like a born-again Christian with a strong emphasis on turning the other cheek? More likely, we think, it’s that the massive retainer that Madoff would have paid Sorkin in advance, which can’t be seized by the government, more than makes up for his losses, and he thinks he’ll be able to score sympathy points by being a victim himself. Ugh. Everyone’s gross.
UPDATE: According to the Post, Sorkin says he didn’t actually invest with Madoff, his name was on the list “only because he had received mail for a relative who was an investor.” Which is not sketchy at all.
Bernie Madoff’s Clients: The Official List [Clusterstock]
Model Rules of Professional Conduct [ABA]
