Aviation Executive Farhad Azima Reaches Settlement with Law Firm Dechert Over Hacking Allegations, Reports Reuters

By Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON – Farhad Azima, an aviation executive based in Missouri, announced on Thursday that he has reached a settlement with the law firm Dechert and two of its former senior attorneys regarding allegations of involvement in a scheme to hack his emails and use the information in court to undermine his business.

The use of hackers by lawyers to sway case outcomes has garnered significant attention. A 2022 investigation revealed that a group of mercenary hackers targeted over 1,000 attorneys employed by more than 100 law firms worldwide.

In a statement, Azima expressed that he was "extremely pleased" to share the news of the settlement in the New York lawsuit against Dechert and its former attorneys Neil Gerrard and David Hughes. The specifics of the settlement were not disclosed, and Azima’s lawyer refrained from providing further details.

Dechert stated that the claim, which they denied, was settled "without admission of liability." Gerrard and Hughes did not respond promptly to requests for comments.

This settlement represents yet another legal victory for Azima, who successfully had British judgments against him, totaling over $4 million, overturned earlier this year after a court determined that Dechert’s client, the Gulf emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, concealed the use of hackers in prosecuting the case.

In February, Dechert revealed it would pay Azima £3 million (approximately $3.8 million) along with additional unspecified costs to conclude a separate legal matter in Britain. The firm emphasized that this too was done "without any admission of liability."

Last year, Dechert settled with another victim of hacking, journalist Jay Solomon, who accused the firm of employing hackers to steal his communications.

In his statement, Azima indicated that he is continuing to pursue legal action against other individuals alleged to have participated in the hacking, including Israeli private investigator Amit Forlit, who is currently contesting extradition to the United States on hacking-related charges. Forlit’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.