The law firm of Haynes & Boone has announced a new specialty division:

Haynes and Boone, LLP, an international corporate law firm, recently announced the formation of its Iraq Transactions and Claims Practice Group, built to assist clients in securing business opportunities in the risky and uncertain markets emerging in Iraq. The firm will leverage its attorneys' expertise in working with countries in transition, its excellent governmental contacts, and the firm's extensive knowledge and experience of establishing a viable business presence in the international arena.

Now just who would those 'excellent governmental contacts' be? Well, President George W. Bush would be one. Haynes & Boone contributed $52,600 to Bush's 2000 presidential campaign by 'bundling' contributions supposedly from employees. Co-founder Michael M. Boone has been a long time Bush supporter having also personally contributed to Bush's earlier Texas Gubernatorial campaigns. Boone is also one of the 'Pioneers' each of who raised at least $100,000 for Bush's Presidential Campaign.

Boone and Bush go back a bit. In 1990, Haynes & Boone advised Harken Energy on Bush's pending stock sale and whether it would represent a conflict of interest.

From Cooperative Research: On June 22 1990, George W. Bush sold 212,140 of his 317,152 shares in Harken Energy in an allegedly prearranged stock trade for a total of $848,560; 41 days before Iraq invaded Kuwait and 8 days prior to the end of the second quarter during which it had become apparent that Harken would have to restate its 1989 earnings (major loss) in addition to other operating losses it had incurred that quarter. He managed to sell his stock near its high at $4/share. He made a 200% profit on the trade. This insider trade was not disclosed to the SEC until some 8 months later.

Haynes & Boone issued a 9 page memo to Bush outlining their point of view on the pending sale. The memo was with held from the SEC until one day after their inquiry into the sale had ended.

Harken Energy executive's claimed client-attorney privilege for withholding the Haynes and Boone memo from the SEC. It should come as no surprise that Vice President Dick Cheney is claiming executive priviledge for why he will not release his notes on energy meetings to the GAO.