Trump Organization Names Two Ethics Lawyers

The Wall Street Journal

Peter Grant & Rebecca Ballhaus

January 25, 2017

Photo: Reuters

Republican Party attorney and longtime company lawyer to deal with potential conflicts of interest

The Trump Organization has tapped a Republican attorney and elevated a longtime company lawyer to ward off potential conflicts of interest between the family business and the Trump administration, a spokeswoman said Wednesday, drawing criticism from ethics experts who challenged the picks’ independence.

Trump Organization on Wednesday announced it had named Bobby Burchfield, a lawyer at King & Spalding, as an independent ethics adviser. Certain Trump Organization transactions “cannot be undertaken without” the adviser’s approval, according to a written statement released by the company.

In addition, George Sorial, who joined Trump Organization in 2007, will be the company’s chief compliance counsel. He will work with Mr. Burchfield and “will be responsible for ensuring that the company, at all times, remains compliant with the highest legal and ethical standards,” the company’s statement said.