AS SOON as it was revealed that the Filipino advisers of boxing star Manny Pacquiao – lawyer Ging Gacal and confidant Wakee Salud – were being sued by American handlers Shelly Finkel and lawyers Nicholas Khan and Keith Davidson, a helping hand was already being extended to them.
Criminal lawyer David Chesnoff, whose law firm partner is Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman, was eyed to represent Salud and Gacal and, according to an associate of Pacquiao in Los Angeles, Chesnoff has been notified about the lawsuit and is reportedly reviewing the case.
“Chesnoff is a good friend of mine and he happens to be one of the best lawyers in the US,” said Salud, who was named in the lawsuit filed by Finkel, Khan and Davidson on May 30 in Los Angeles. The Americans alleged that Gacal and Salud were behind in Pacquiao’s decision to hook up with ABS-CBN to co-promote the Filipino southpaw’s July 2 bout with Oscar Larios of Mexico.
The well-connected Chesnoff had previously worked for Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, pop star Britney Spears, Celine Dion’s husband Rene Angelil and was once involved with ex-world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
Chesnoff, 51, and long-time friend and law firm partner Goodman, have been described in the US as a “lawyers’ lawyer.”
“He (Chesnoff) has also done some boxing (legal) matters before,” said the Pacquiao associate.
Chessnoff, however, is one of several lawyers being considered to take the cudgels for Salud and Gacal in their legal battle with Pacquiao’s US management.
“I received a call from Solar Sports assuring me of their support in trying to get a lawyer for the two of us in the States,” revealed Salud from his homebase in Cebu City.
Salud bared that even Brian Viloria’s chief handler Gary Gittelsohn is oferring to help him get a topnotch legal counsel in America if the case goes to court.
“I still think we have the winning cards,” said Salud.
“I am deeply touched by their show of concern,” added Salud, who was notified about the lawsuit on the day he and Gacal were slated to get back to Manila.
Pacquiao’s contract with Finkel, Khan and Davidson will expire on Jan. 31, 2007, and they allegedly want a contract extension right away.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach was dismayed when told about the lawsuit and described the move by Finkel as untimely as Pacquiao is still in the middle of training.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s US handlers have expressed their desire to settle the matter “sooner rather than later,” Khan told the Bulletin.
“We are making sure that all is well outside of the fight to ensure that Manny is 100% focused inside the ring,” said Khan.
