DLA's Knowles: Obama will achieve a great deal in second term
DLA Piper’s co-chief executive Sir Nigel Knowles has spoken of his hope that Barack Obama will use his second term to build consensus among the American people.
President Obama, Nigel Knowles
Democratic candidate – and incumbent – Obama won the presidential race early this morning UK time, winning 303 electoral votes to Republican rival Mitt Romney’s 206.
Having met Obama at a cocktail party in Chicago - home of DLA Piper’s US headquarters – during the 2008 presidential campaign (20 October 2008), Knowles spoke at the time of how “charismatic and engaging” Obama was.
Today, when asked by The Lawyer, Knowles said that “on a personal level” he likes and rates Obama, adding: “President Obama was never going to be able to complete his agenda in one term, and the American people have given him a second term. I hope he also looks to bring the American people together and build some consensus.
“He’s a clever man, has emotional intelligence and can still achieve a great deal.”
DLA Piper had strong links with the first Obama administration, with partner and global board chairman emeritus George Mitchell serving as its Middle East peace envoy from January 2009 to May 2011 (22 January 2009).
Data from the Center for Responsive Politics shows that DLA Piper’s employees and political action committees (PACs) combined to become Obama’s 11th largest donor in the latest campaign, giving $393,102 (7 November 2012). DLA Piper was also the fifth largest lawyer/law firm contributor in terms of donations to both parties and outside spending groups for the 2012 elections, with employees and PACs giving $1,656,895.
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Readers' comments (23)
Andrew Benson | 7-Nov-2012 4:14 pm
Apparently Knowles also has a view on marmite if anyone is interested.
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Anonymous | 7-Nov-2012 4:50 pm
pal of the president, advising on the approach to a second term, whatever next!
bloody marvellous. well done NK. I hope this key insider influence can be put to good use. Perhaps arranging for a select group of clients to go on tours of the white house that kind of thing. Its only about $40 but that could be premium rated and maybe they could throw in a lunch at some georgetown hostelry. Of course that could add to the cost by a little but what price is that to pay when you have access to the purple.
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Anonymous | 7-Nov-2012 5:22 pm
Thank goodness for that. Now we know that Nigel is behind Obama, the free world can sleep safe tonight. God bless DLA, er, I mean America.
Slow news day is it chaps?
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Anonymous | 7-Nov-2012 5:37 pm
This is hilarious!
Can we have a weekly "View from the Mountain" blog by Nigel Knowles?
Looking forward to future insights:
* Assad doesn't have much emotional intelligence, but he will complete his agenda in 2013
* NK hopes the new Chinese leadership will bring the people of China closer together and build some consensus
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Mr Grumpy | 7-Nov-2012 5:47 pm
You have completely misunderstood this story.
Barack Obama is in fact having an audience with Sir Nigel and expressed the view that the Big N is the man to build a consensus between the various DLA factions.
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Anonymous | 7-Nov-2012 6:34 pm
What is he thinking, making comments like this. He has personally also "met" the Queen, does he claim to know her personally as well? He is quite out of control with serious delusions of grandeur and self importance. Someone should put him back in his box: why do his american partners sit back and let him comment on such affairs. Next we will find him on I am a celebrity, get me out of here!
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Anonymous | 7-Nov-2012 6:43 pm
Presumably, behind all this ridiculous and impertinent commentary from Knowles is a desire that people will say of him "he is a clever man with great emotional intelligence who will still achieve a great deal". However few who have worked closely with him would deliver this accolade or vote for him in anything other than he has the biggest ego in the world contest
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Anonymous | 7-Nov-2012 6:56 pm
Did Nigey meet Tony Rezko at the party?
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Anonymous | 7-Nov-2012 8:01 pm
Yeah, well I once met Blue Peter at Gatwick Airport and got Yvette Fielding's autograph and everything, so put that in your pipe and smoke it Nigel...see we can all name drop.
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Anonymous | 7-Nov-2012 9:02 pm
Having met him at a cocktail party.. as in having had a photo with him in exchange for a very expensive plate at a fundraiser?
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