Law firm DLA Piper says it is closely monitoring billeable hours and expenses claims from a former Sidley Austin partner who admitted faking $69,000 in cab receipts whilst head of Sidley’s Chicago office’s real estate practice group between 2007 and 2012. Lee Smolen, who was described as a workaholic, said that the fabricated taxi receipts ‘was a poorly conceived short cut around the firm’s expense reporting procedures in order to secure more  time to address his substantial and demanding commitments to the firm.’

High client development expenses

Sidleys found the discrepancy after concerns about the high client development expenses associated with Wells Fargo & Co who was Smolen’s major client. Mr Smolen also billed an average of 300 hours per month at Sidley. However, representatives from Wells Fargo said at a disciplinary hearing by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission that they would work with him again and praised his hard work and integrity.The Commission is seeking to suspend Mr Smolen’s law license for at least a year. Source: Chicagobusiness.com;