A week after accepting the resignation of Steve Wynn (pictured) as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wynn Resorts Limited has now reportedly hired an outside law firm to investigate the alleged sexual misconduct charges recently levied against the billionaire casino magnate.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal newspaper, Wynn Resorts Limited, which is responsible for numerous luxury casinos in the United States and Macau including the Wynn Las Vegas and the Wynn Macau, has instructed Los Angeles-headquartered practice Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP to conduct an ‘expanded and comprehensive review’ into its internal policies so as to ensure that all employees experience ‘a safe and respectful workplace’.
Wynn reportedly stepped down from the Las Vegas-based company he helped to establish last Tuesday due to what he referred to as ‘an avalanche of negative publicity’ surrounding the sexual misconduct allegations first published via a January 27 story from The Wall Street Journal. Despite standing aside, the 76-year-old has continually maintained his innocence while calling accusations that he may have pressured workers into performing sexual acts ‘preposterous’.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP is to be the second law firm Wynn Resorts Limited has tasked with investigating the allegations against Wynn after February 2 saw it hire fellow Californian practice O’Melveny and Myers LLP only to cut these ties a few days later.
The newspaper moreover explained that the latest investigation may face conflict of interest accusations with Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP reportedly holding ‘deep ties’ to Wynn Resorts Limited including being active in its ongoing litigation involving ousted board members Elaine Wynn and Kazuo Okada. The law firm has additionally purportedly represented Wynn Resorts Limited in business deals as well as in front of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice while one of its former partners, Kim Sinatra, now serves as the casino operator’s General Counsel.
Finally, The Wall Street Journal reported that Wynn Resorts Limited recently responded to accusations that its board of directors had been weak while holding ‘close ties’ to Wynn by vowing to add additional executives that would ‘strengthen the composition, skills and experience’ of the body.