Greg Sheppard Explains himself
Greg Sheppard
"I am Greg Sheppard, the lawyer the subject of the allegations made in this website Notwithstanding what you have read on this website, I have not rendered a fee for the opinion to the Forest Minister for K5 million, or for any sum at all.
The suggestion that I have charged K5 million kina for a 7 page advice is simply not true. Considering that I have not been paid any money whatsoever for this matter, the allegation that I have split this fee with the Minister is also not true. I have decided to personally confront these slurs by setting out the facts of this issue and posting them on this website. In doing so, I do not intend to cower behind the anonymity of a hosted blog, or a handle, the way those making these allegations have done. Also I am happy to respond to bloggers’ polite queries about this issue if you want to email me on queries@ynw.com.pg.
These are the facts.
1. If you look carefully at the published Invoice, it makes reference to an “attached letter dated the 3rd of December 2009”.
2. In paragraphs 33 to 43 of the letter of 3rd December 2009, I provided my client with certain advice (as I was requested to do) estimating the costs of anticipated litigation which has been threatened against him, the State the Forest Authority and the Board.
3. The damages likely to be sought against the Defendants, including the State will be hundreds of millions.
4. I concluded that these legal costs would be substantial over a three or four year period of litigation taking into account Senior Counsels’ fees Junior counsel’s fees Solicitor’s costs travelling and accommodation forensic consultants etc.
5. I also recommended that urgent preliminary or preparatory steps be undertaken in the meantime to protect the Defendants’ position.
6. I have recently reviewed that advice and confirm that these estimates are reasonably accurate.
7. As is the usual practice of lawyers involved in litigation where substantial sums of money will be disbursed on behalf of the client for consultants, barristers etc, I require a substantial sum of money to be deposited into my trust account to cover such expenses.
8. In this case, the need to be covered for such outlays was apparently acute and urgent. Accordingly, at paragraph 43 I wrote, “Can we suggest that you put us in funds to the extent of say K5,000,000 so that we can immediately brief counsel and obtain their urgent advice. “
9. Again, as is the usual procedure, I enclosed a pro forma invoice in this sum for the purpose of bringing these funds into my trust account. Trust Accounts are operated by lawyers, but the money in them remains the property of the client.
10. Payments from most commercial organizations including my client can only be made on such documentation.
11. I reiterate this invoice was not a fee for the 7 page opinion; it was a pro forma invoice to facilitate a payment into my trust account to cover anticipated costs, fees outlays and other disbursement should I be engaged to conduct this litigation.
12. Since delivering my advice, I have been requested to attend meetings of the National Forests Board, and the National Executive Council to speak to and answer questions about my advice. Neither of those bodies were in any doubt about the true nature of my pro forma invoice.
13. Since attending a cabinet meeting in February or thereabouts, I have heard nothing further concerning this matter, although there was a relevant article in the press this morning.
14. As at the moment of writing this post, I have not received any payment whatsoever regarding this matter.
Finally, I have made copies of the supporting documents referred to in this blog to the Post Courier."
"I am Greg Sheppard, the lawyer the subject of the allegations made in this website Notwithstanding what you have read on this website, I have not rendered a fee for the opinion to the Forest Minister for K5 million, or for any sum at all.
The suggestion that I have charged K5 million kina for a 7 page advice is simply not true. Considering that I have not been paid any money whatsoever for this matter, the allegation that I have split this fee with the Minister is also not true. I have decided to personally confront these slurs by setting out the facts of this issue and posting them on this website. In doing so, I do not intend to cower behind the anonymity of a hosted blog, or a handle, the way those making these allegations have done. Also I am happy to respond to bloggers’ polite queries about this issue if you want to email me on queries@ynw.com.pg.
These are the facts.
1. If you look carefully at the published Invoice, it makes reference to an “attached letter dated the 3rd of December 2009”.
2. In paragraphs 33 to 43 of the letter of 3rd December 2009, I provided my client with certain advice (as I was requested to do) estimating the costs of anticipated litigation which has been threatened against him, the State the Forest Authority and the Board.
3. The damages likely to be sought against the Defendants, including the State will be hundreds of millions.
4. I concluded that these legal costs would be substantial over a three or four year period of litigation taking into account Senior Counsels’ fees Junior counsel’s fees Solicitor’s costs travelling and accommodation forensic consultants etc.
5. I also recommended that urgent preliminary or preparatory steps be undertaken in the meantime to protect the Defendants’ position.
6. I have recently reviewed that advice and confirm that these estimates are reasonably accurate.
7. As is the usual practice of lawyers involved in litigation where substantial sums of money will be disbursed on behalf of the client for consultants, barristers etc, I require a substantial sum of money to be deposited into my trust account to cover such expenses.
8. In this case, the need to be covered for such outlays was apparently acute and urgent. Accordingly, at paragraph 43 I wrote, “Can we suggest that you put us in funds to the extent of say K5,000,000 so that we can immediately brief counsel and obtain their urgent advice. “
9. Again, as is the usual procedure, I enclosed a pro forma invoice in this sum for the purpose of bringing these funds into my trust account. Trust Accounts are operated by lawyers, but the money in them remains the property of the client.
10. Payments from most commercial organizations including my client can only be made on such documentation.
11. I reiterate this invoice was not a fee for the 7 page opinion; it was a pro forma invoice to facilitate a payment into my trust account to cover anticipated costs, fees outlays and other disbursement should I be engaged to conduct this litigation.
12. Since delivering my advice, I have been requested to attend meetings of the National Forests Board, and the National Executive Council to speak to and answer questions about my advice. Neither of those bodies were in any doubt about the true nature of my pro forma invoice.
13. Since attending a cabinet meeting in February or thereabouts, I have heard nothing further concerning this matter, although there was a relevant article in the press this morning.
14. As at the moment of writing this post, I have not received any payment whatsoever regarding this matter.
Finally, I have made copies of the supporting documents referred to in this blog to the Post Courier."
KANGE NGA KONA (http://pngemmiyet.blogspot.com/2010/03/corrupt-lawyers-colluding-with-minister.html) is still publishing your story. Please get it off or have it updated as well.
ReplyDeleteAlvin,
ReplyDeleteThats not my post, I think its from the original post over at Crimeandcorruption, I dont run his blog, he has his own reasons in posting what he wants to post as he see's fit.
I read what Mr. Sheppard had to say today and thus I have taken off the posts here only after reading what he had to say, for the records I e-mailed his firm asking for his comments but there were not comments coming so I posted the two briefs. He finally had a say here in the forum and for the the benefit of all PNGeans I posted this.
Comments are welcome as always...
Hi Paul
ReplyDeleteNow that we have broken the ice, I hope you will forgive me for making a few more points in response to your comments on my post.
You say that you are not out to slur me, but when you described me on the world wide web as a “corrupt lawyer”, I pretty much took that to be, well… a slur.
And when you stated that “the K5 million was then split between Mr. Sheppard and the Minister” which is essentially an allegation that I pay bribes, I thought that was also a slur.
It was also a slur, as I understand the meaning of the word, to suggest as you did that I “charged the people of Papua New Guinea K5 million for a 6 page advice.”
I hope you can now see from my explanation that these slurs are not true and without any basis in fact.
Now here’s the thing. I am a lawyer and without my reputation I am nothing. So, I was just wondering if you might consider publishing retractions of the allegations you made against me, and possibly find it within your heart to apologize for making them in the first place. It would go a long way to salvaging some of the damage caused to my reputation in the eyes of the millions of people around the world who saw your blog. It would restore some of my faith in your basic decency.
Greg Sheppard
We have not receive any e-mail from anybody regarding the issue. Can you send another copy on the suggested e-mail address as per Mr. Sheppard particular queries@ynw.com.pg
ReplyDeleteAbout your response to Alvin April 1, 2010 2:11 PM saying its not my post and all, I can understand that you can not edit it because it not yours. Don't get me wrong but I hate corruption as well, but people fighting corruption must also give effort to fix the problem when it causes an innocent some farm. If we are committed to the topic as you said, then we should help the one's affect by wrong accusation as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd what's up with that disappearing anonymous post... let them post as they want it will be healthier for all.
ReplyDelete