Conflict Of Interest? MLB Upset By Law Firm Repping Clemens

MLB Upset With Breuer's (r) Representation Of Clemens At Congressional Hearing

DC-based Covington & Burling, which reps MLB, "agreed to represent [free agent P Roger] Clemens in the congressional steroids inquiry without getting [MLB's] sign-off -- a potential blunder in the high-stakes world of sports league representation," according to Andrew Longstreth of LAW.com. A source said that Covington repping Clemens "annoyed the league" and that a "meeting between the two is imminent." When the announcement of a Congressional hearing into the Mitchell Report findings was made, Clemens' attorney, Rusty Hardin, turned to Covington partner Lanny Breuer, who "has plenty of experience on [Capitol] Hill." The firm is mostly known for its work on behalf of the NFL, but "has also done some work in baseball" including repping the league last year" in connection with the launch of an MLB channel." Covington Partner Mitchell Dolin and MLB VP/PR Pat Courtney declined to comment on the issue (LAW.com, 2/11).