In 2010 and 2011, Dean represented the Pentagon’s largest and most long-standing supplier of jet fuel for the Afghan war effort.
In the first phase of his engagement, Dean served as the client’s international counsel in regard to an investigation that was conducted by a US Congressional subcommittee. The subcommittee embarked on an extensive inquiry into allegations that the Department of Defense (DOD) contractor engaged in foreign corrupt practices in Kyrgyzstan. These allegations were put forward by a self appointed interim government that assumed power following a political revolution in 2010. A group of political elites controlled the interim government and forced the country’s former president into exile. They accused the contractor of corrupting the former president. The Congressional subcommittee ultimately cleared the contractor of all corruption allegations and the DOD consequently renewed the supplier’s contract.
In the second phase of his engagement, Dean worked intensively on the ground in Kyrgyzstan. His local work extended in two basic directions. Dean opposed the interim government’s persistent attempt to carry out a forced takeover of the supplier’s DOD contract and foreign investment in the country. At the same time, Dean resisted a relentless disinformation campaign that was orchestrated by the interim government and designed to destroy the contractor’s international reputation. The campaign generated adverse media coverage throughout Kyrgyzstan, the CIS, Europe and the United States.
Dean worked in Kyrgyzstan to defend the supplier in all political, legal and media circles. At the onset of the process, Dean quickly assembled a small team of local and international specialists- lawyers, political analysts and public relations consultants.
With the team’s support, Dean launched a public campaign in the Kyrgyzstan. He advocated on the supplier’s behalf in the Kyrgyz media, in private briefings with Kyrgyz parliamentarians and in Kyrgyz civil society. At the same time, Dean managed the team in a collective effort to stave off corporate raids and other forms of arbitrary state pressure. Ultimately, the contractor withstood the onslaught by the Kyrgyz authorities and fulfilled its DOD contract.
