Vadim – Here is further background on the person we recommend Burisma agree to engage immediately as a lobbyist to help me with work communicating with the U.S. government:

 

David Leiter, ML Strategies: http://mlstrategies.com/professionals/david-leiter.htm. David was Secretary of State Kerry’s Chief of Staff when Kerry was in the U.S. Senate and was a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Energy during the Clinton Administration.  He understands the energy sector, is well versed on Ukraine and Russia in relation to energy issues, and is close to Secretary Kerry and his staff.  He is also very close to people in other US government agencies (Commerce, Treasury, etc.) as well as Congress, and will assist us if we find it helpful to engage with those officials as well - this is the kind of process that tends to evolve based on what we learn as we proceed with meetings and test the waters.  He is also married to Hillary Clinton’s former Chief of Staff, and that is how I know him so well. He is a smart, trust-worthy and discrete person.

 

David bills on a monthly, flat fee basis.  He will charge Burisma $30,000.00 for the initial month (this is a discount because he wants to work with me).  After that, his rate is likely to go down as low as $15,000.00 per month, but that depends entirely on the amount of work we will need him to do.  In the U.S., there are anti-corruption laws that require someone to be registered as an official lobbyist in order to officially advocate to the U.S. government on behalf of a client.  David is registered.  I will work with him and accompanying to meetings, but I will be there strictly as your lawyer (I am not registered to lobby). 

 

For the initial month, I need his assistance doing the following:

 

·         Communicating with key members of Congress who are going to Ukraine to observe the elections on May 25, including Senators Cruz, Levin and Portman.

·         Communications with the Bureau of Energy and Ukraine Desk officials at the State Department to introduce them to Burisma and explain Burisma’s current situation.  That will include everyone from Secretary Kerry to the staff at a low level who do all the work to brief the top officials.  It will also include outreach to Carlos Pascual, the  top US energy diplomat.  Pascual is key.  His actual title is Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at State.  He was formerly US Ambassador to Ukraine (’00-03) and later to Mexico (09-12), among other key foreign policy positions.  Hillary and Bill Clinton hold him in high regard, as does Secretary Kerry. He was recently in Ukraine and then on Capitol Hill briefing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee privately about Ukraine and the challenges it faces, with a focus on the importance of market competition in the oil/gas industry.

·         In addition, please note that it was very helpful that you mentioned your key customer ArcelorMittal.  David Leiter is good friends with the person who runs ArcelorMittal USA’s Washington, DC office, Tom Dower.  We should consider whether or not to call Tom and let him know that David and I/my firm are involved in representing you, and explore whether Tom/ArcelorMittal would be open to being involved with some of our meetings with the US government.  The U.S. government always pays more attention and is more apt to help when there is a U.S. company aspect to a problem and they are, therefore, advocating for direct U.S. interests. 

 

 

Heather King, Esq.

Partner

BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP
5301 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20015
202-274-1129 (Phone)
202-237-6131 (Fax)

hking@bsfllp.com

 

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