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.
Readers' comments (23)
Andrew Benson | 7-Nov-2012 4:14 pm
Apparently Knowles also has a view on marmite if anyone is interested.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
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.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
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?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
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
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
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.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
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!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
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
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 7-Nov-2012 6:56 pm
Did Nigey meet Tony Rezko at the party?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
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.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
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?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Obama Vest | 7-Nov-2012 10:13 pm
Is this a spoof story? The photo looks suspect, I think I have that App too.
Is the Pres an investor in Law Vest. If not, what does he think of the concept?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Nov-2012 9:31 am
Doesn't Private Eye run a column about how companies unashamedly use news stories to plug their own agenda?
We have a similar situation in Newcastle where the local paper runs a "my 2 cents" article on any topic of his choice, which always comes back to what his firm can offer....
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Nov-2012 9:37 am
Apparently Obama has received focus group feed back that he needs to appear more self-deluded so he has reached out to Sir N. He is also consulting Tony Angel for tips on people skills.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Hilary Clinton-Cards | 8-Nov-2012 11:59 am
This is outstanding reportage of the highest quality. What will the noble knight be having for lunch and please may we have an article about that too?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Important Message! | 8-Nov-2012 1:02 pm
@Hilary Clinton-Cards
Please let the press know I will mainly be eating spinach for lunch today.
Yours faithfully
The Nige
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Nov-2012 2:36 pm
On a serious note, does Sir Nigel know the whereabouts of Lord Lucan or, more importantly, Shergar?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 8-Nov-2012 3:03 pm
News item: Nigel has dinner with Richard III, Albert Einstein, Gandhi and Elvis. Nigel insists they came back to earth in response to his gracious invitation.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Bronco Bama | 8-Nov-2012 3:05 pm
Next week:
'When Nigel met Tiger''
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Barack Obama | 8-Nov-2012 3:37 pm
Sorry, Nigel Knowles...at a cocktail party was it?....sorry, no recollection whatsoever I am afraid. Who is he?
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Heaven Knowles | 8-Nov-2012 7:54 pm
I'm pitching a new game on Dragons' Den called 'Who else does Sir Nigel Know(les)?' It's going to be a game changer this Christmas
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Ginandtonic | 9-Nov-2012 8:24 am
It makes one ask what the rest of you have achieved in your illustrious careers. I dont see many law firms that have grown 40x in 20 years and still know where they are going.. It is easy to carp!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Nov-2012 9:28 am
Ginandtonic (aka DLA)-- there is a difference between carping about a firm and puncturing a level of pomposity that makes Captain Mainwaring look modest. Sir Knowemall and Angel-- as they say, the egos have landed.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Anonymous | 9-Nov-2012 12:22 pm
A true testament to Obama that he came across as "charismatic and engaging" despite the fact that he was simulatenously backing out of the room as fast as his legs could carry him.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment