Law Firm Responds to “Panama Papers” Hack

Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonesca has said the 11.5 million documents taken from them in a staggering hack, then distributed by German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, was a “limited” cyberattack. Mossack’s director Ramon Fonseca also denied any wrongdoing, and said the firm had fallen victim to “an international campaign against privacy.” Documents from the hack have detailed the steps that wealthy people take to protect their fortunes by moving money into off-shore accounts. Fonseca said the firm is not responsible for the activities of the companies it incorporates. “We’re dedicated to making legal structures which we sell to intermediaries such as banks, lawyers, accountants and trusts, and they have their end-customers that we don’t know,” Fonseca said.