Syriana (2005)

Peter Gerety: Leland Janus

Quotes 

• Bennett Holiday : Lawyers say, "Hey, if you can't trust a Big Five accounting firm", the accountant say "Hey, we're not lawyers". Legal didn't understand. Accounting didn't understand. Nobody understood anything. Regulatory bodies scratched their heads for a minute that nobody at Connex or Killen was at fault. But this merger is so balance-positive for American consumers that, ultimately, Justice wants it. Federal courts want it. Everybody wants it. Our real client, after all, is us, the American people. And we are increasing American access to oil in Kazakhstan. So all they ask is that we give them a little something meaningful, which we did. And they got out of our way.

  Leland Janus : Something besides Dalton?

  Bennett Holiday : Unfortunately, yes. And the best option seemed to be a secret deal for a excess Iranian pipeline capacity that I uncovered during the diligence. A little side deal benefiting the lead lawyer involved in the Connex-Killen merger approval process.

  Sydney Hewitt : What... do you think you're doing?

  Bennett Holiday : Of course, it's illegal for an American to control these rights.

  Sydney Hewitt : Stop right now!

  Leland Janus : Is there uh something that you wanna tell me, Syd?