Founder of Manatt law firm dies at 72

Harold Brady, the attorney who in 2009 was approached by members of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to engage the services of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, has expressed sorrow at the death of Charles 'Chuck' Manatt, the founder of the United States-based law firm.

Manatt, the founder of one of Los Angeles' largest and most politically influential law firms, died on Friday at 72 after ailing for sometime.

Brady described Manatt, the lawyer, businessman and political giant in the United States for many years, as a great friend of Jamaica.

"I truly regret his passing," said Brady, a former executive secretary of the International Democrat Union (IDU). "I personally found him extremely helpful - both in international relations at the IDU, as well as in international legal practice."

It was this friendship that prompted the JLP leadership to solicit Brady to approach the influential Manatt to assist the party in the ill-fated Christopher Coke extradition issue.

Loss of a stalwart

Brady said the Democratic Party, of which Manatt was chairman, has lost a stalwart.

"I know that this was a particularly hard time for his family, he disclosed. "It was difficult for him and his daughter because he had been suffering for some time."

The Associated Press reported yesterday that Manatt was a long-time California Democrat, who was credited as chairman with building his party's finances, modernising it through computerisation, direct mail and other initiatives, and building a new party headquarters in Washington.

On the eve of the 1984 Democratic convention in San Francisco, presidential nominee-in-waiting Walter Mondale tried to replace Manatt with Carter administration official, Bert Lance. Mondale backed off after an outcry within the party, triggered in part by Manatt's positive reputation in the ranks and Lance's ties to a banking scandal for which he had been tried and acquitted. Ronald Reagan cruised to an easy victory over Mondale for a second term.

Manatt and the party fared better in 1992, when he was co-chairman of Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. Clinton later appointed Manatt as US ambassador to the Dominican Republic, where he served from 1999-2001.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Chuck Manatt," Clinton said in a statement released by Manatt's law firm. "We were friends for 30 years, and I saw first-hand how he used his energy, intellect and common sense to help restore the Democratic Party after 1980, to make America more prosperous and just and to make friends for our nation around the world."

Harold Brady said yesterday he had maintained an excellent relationship with Manatt since he first met him more than 30 years ago.

- G.S.