According to The Times, Mr Harleston passed the New York State bar exam in 1986, but has not been licensed to practice law in the state where Al Jazeera America is headquartered, nor admitted to the bar in any other jurisdiction.
Reputational woes
Law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meaghre & Flom have been brought in by the broadcaster to investigate the allegations agains Mr Harleston. AJAM chief executive officer Al Anstey has assured that the company is taking the allegations very seriously, as it would 'any potential issue which could jeopardise the reputation and integrity of AJAM'. Mr Harleson's suspension is the latest in a series of reputational woes befalling AJAM, with the company currently also facing a lawsuit alleging sexism and anti-semitism. Former chief executive Ehab Al Shihabi was also dismissed earlier this year following an earlier Times report that criticised his leadership and accused him of fuelling a 'culture of fear' at the broadcaster.
Ivy League graduate
Prior to joining AJAM as general counsel and executive vice president of business and legal affairs, Mr Harleston served as GC for Al Gore's Current TV, as well as in various positions at Sony Music Entertainment, law firm Simpson Thacher and as president of record label Def Jam. According to a profile on AJAM's website, Mr Harleston is a cum laude graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School. While practicing law unlicensed is a criminal offence in New York State, non-lawyers providing in-house legal advice are rearely prosecuted for it.
Mr Harleston has as yet declined to comment on the allegations. Sources: The New York Times; USA Today
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