The messy split of casino mogul Stephen Wynn Japanese gaming magnate Kazuo Okada has both sides relying on PR counsel amid the latest volley – a countersuit by Okada declaring Wynn Resorts Ltd. a “personal fiefdom.”
Amid accusations of bribes and questionable payoffs to government officials, the New York Times earlier this month called the break-up “one of the most rancorous public feuds the international gambling industry has ever seen.”
Sard Verbinnen & Co. is supporting Wynn resorts, which March 13 noted the “enormous length and scurrilous allegations” contained in Okada’s latest legal maneuver.
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is working with Universal Entertainment Corp., Okada’s company which operates as Aruze USA in the U.S. The firm issued a statement for Okada announcing the counterclaim March 12, accusing Wynn Resorts’ board of failing to rein in Wynn himself and blasting Wynn’s “unconscionable course of conduct .”
Okada’s legal volley followed accusations by Wynn in February that Okada made a questionable $135M donation to the University of Macau.
While Wynn has accused Okada of violating foreign bribery laws of the U.S., Okada says Wynn has run afoul of Nevada RICO statutes in running his company as a “personal fiefdom.”
Business reporters covering the melee regularly reference Wynn’s declaration during a 2008 earnings call that, “I love Kazuo Okada as much as any man that I’ve ever met in my life.”