"Make It Ugly"

Sporidis had lunch with Eugene Patrone, the Washington Group's chief operating officer, say court documents. That day, Lorraine Thelian, a Ketchum executive in New York, e-mailed another Ketchum executive, noting, "Eugene took him to lunch today and was very clear that Ketchum was not going to let him walk with his clients, would make it ugly and ultimately endanger his chance of having a real job at the law firm."

Law.com, April 2008

"I Thought I Was Happy For Him"

Sporidis' departure from the lobbying firm was initially amicable. Susan Molinari, who oversees Washington Group and Ketchum Public Affairs, said in a deposition that when informed by Sporidis of his new job, she told him that "If he thought this was a better fit for him, I thought I was happy for him."

Speaking on background, a DC-based public affairs executive and lobbyist from a competing agency said the lawsuit was an unusual case because lobbyists typically don't sign non-compete agreements, particularly electronically after joining a firm.

-- PR Week, April 21, 2008