Attorney allegedly bilked firm out of about $120,000 in expense scam
The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission alleged that Lee Smolen fabricated taxi receipts averaging about $80 each to steal the approximately $69,000 from 2007 to 2012.
A former partner at a global law firm based in Chicago is accused of fraudulently billing the firm for at least $119,000 in cab rides, country club dinners and tickets to sports events.
Lee Smolen billed Sidley Austin LLP nearly $70,000 over five years for more than 800 cab rides he never took, according to a complaint made public against him this week by the state agency that disciplines lawyers.
The Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission alleged that Smolen fabricated taxi receipts averaging about $80 each to steal the approximately $69,000 from 2007 to 2012.
Smolen also fraudulently submitted expenses for $35,000 for sporting events, $13,000 in restaurant gift cards and $2,000 for meals at his country club on Mother's Day and other holidays that were unrelated to firm business, according to the complaint.
Smolen played a key role at Sidley Austin as the partner in charge of its Chicago real estate practice group, a member of the firm's executive committee and global coordinator of its real estate practice group.
He left Sidley Austin and is now a partner at the law firm of DLA Piper in its real estate practice in Chicago.
Smolen allegedly overbilled a Sidley Austin account containing fees paid by one of its largest clients — described in the complaint only as a "major financial institution." The money belonged to Sidley Austin but could be used for various expenses, the complaint said.
A Sidley Austin spokesman did not respond to repeated inquiries from the Tribune on Tuesday.
DLA Piper said in a statement that it was aware of the alleged fraudulent billing when it hired Smolen, who according to his biography on the firm's website is a 1985 University of Chicago Law School graduate as well as a certified public accountant.
"After our own due diligence and a thorough review of the facts, the firm decided to give great weight to the total body of Lee's work over his 25-plus years as a lawyer and to extend to him the opportunity to continue his career at DLA Piper," the statement said. "Lee is a well-respected attorney who has learned from his experience and taken all the necessary steps to move forward as a productive member of our team."
sschmadeke@tribune.com
A former partner at a global law firm based in Chicago is accused of fraudulently billing the firm for at least $119,000 in cab rides, country club dinners and tickets to sports events.
Lee Smolen billed Sidley Austin LLP nearly $70,000 over five years for more than 800 cab rides he never took, according to a complaint made public against him this week by the state agency that disciplines lawyers.
Smolen also fraudulently submitted expenses for $35,000 for sporting events, $13,000 in restaurant gift cards and $2,000 for meals at his country club on Mother's Day and other holidays that were unrelated to firm business, according to the complaint.
Smolen played a key role at Sidley Austin as the partner in charge of its Chicago real estate practice group, a member of the firm's executive committee and global coordinator of its real estate practice group.
He left Sidley Austin and is now a partner at the law firm of DLA Piper in its real estate practice in Chicago.
Smolen allegedly overbilled a Sidley Austin account containing fees paid by one of its largest clients — described in the complaint only as a "major financial institution." The money belonged to Sidley Austin but could be used for various expenses, the complaint said.
A Sidley Austin spokesman did not respond to repeated inquiries from the Tribune on Tuesday.
DLA Piper said in a statement that it was aware of the alleged fraudulent billing when it hired Smolen, who according to his biography on the firm's website is a 1985 University of Chicago Law School graduate as well as a certified public accountant.
"After our own due diligence and a thorough review of the facts, the firm decided to give great weight to the total body of Lee's work over his 25-plus years as a lawyer and to extend to him the opportunity to continue his career at DLA Piper," the statement said. "Lee is a well-respected attorney who has learned from his experience and taken all the necessary steps to move forward as a productive member of our team."
sschmadeke@tribune.com
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