London, England – The long-awaited trial of Mike Lynch, the founder of software company Autonomy, is set to begin in San Francisco, California. Lynch has spent the last decade vehemently denying any wrongdoing, and both he and Autonomy’s former CFO, Sushovan Hussain, have pleaded not guilty. Lynch argues that Autonomy’s value was destroyed by Hewlett-Packard’s (HP) dysfunctional management and changes in strategy, and that the blame has been unfairly placed on him.
The trial has been a lengthy process, with Lynch enlisting the services of attorney Reid Weingarten in 2013, shortly after HP wrote down almost all of Autonomy’s value. Investigations were launched by both the US Justice Department and the UK’s Serious Fraud Office, but only federal prosecutors in the US pursued charges against Lynch. It was not until late 2018 that he was formally charged.
In the years since he was charged, Lynch’s lawyer has been diligently representing him in California, often without Lynch himself being present. Initially, Lynch resisted the US Justice Department’s attempts to extradite him in 2019. However, he eventually traveled to California in May of the following year, where he was detained before posting a $50 million bail comprised of shares in the cybersecurity company Darktrace, which he chairs.
Since then, Lynch has resided in a luxurious house in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood, enjoying stunning views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. However, his movements have been highly restricted. For months, he was only permitted to leave for court dates, medical appointments, and visits from family. While Lynch’s bail conditions have since been relaxed, he still wears an ankle tag and is constantly monitored by armed guards from private security company Keelson Strategic, whom he pays for their services.
Throughout the proceedings, Reid Weingarten has represented Lynch at regular hearings, engaging in a friendly but often unsuccessful dialogue with federal judge Charles Breyer, who will preside over the trial. Weingarten has attempted to challenge the US case by disputing the admissibility of certain evidence and seeking to have the case dismissed on the basis that the US lacks jurisdiction over allegations involving a UK company. However, Judge Breyer, a former Watergate prosecutor and the brother of former Supreme Court judge Stephen Breyer, has largely rejected these requests.
As the trial commences, all eyes will be on the courtroom in San Francisco, eager to witness the culmination of a saga that has stretched on for years.