UK court allows lawsuit over Indian hacking allegations
(Reuters) — A Missouri businessman can sue Dechert LLP over his claim that the international law firm helped mastermind the hack and leak of his emails, a British court ruled Friday.
The unusual lawsuit — which pits aviation mogul Farhad Azima against Philadelphia-based Dechert — centers on claims that the firm and its former London partner Neil Gerrard had Indian hackers steal and disseminate Mr. Azima's emails.
Mr. Gerrard has previously denied wrongdoing in relation to the case and declined comment on Friday's development. Dechert has previously declined comment but did not immediately return a message seeking a reaction.
Dechert and Mr. Gerrard — as well as executive James Buchanan and private investigator Stuart Page, who are also being sued — had initially resisted being added as defendants to pre-existing litigation against Dechert's client, the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority, a Gulf-based investment fund that Mr. Azima has long accused of hacking him.
Dechert, Mr. Gerrard, Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Page dropped their opposition at the last minute, a lawyer for Mr. Azima told the court.
“The additional defendants all now consent to joinder,” said Tim Lord of Brick Court Chambers, according to a transcript of the proceedings.
Messages seeking comment from Mr. Page and Mr. Buchanan were not immediately returned.
Allegations of hacking against law firms are highly unusual, an academic previously told Reuters. In court on Friday, Mr. Lord said the case “is getting more and more unique.”
The case may shed further light on the use of Indian mercenary hackers, which Reuters reported on last year.
Reuters has previously reported, citing former operatives, that Indian hackers were often contracted by Western private detectives working at the behest of law firms.
