In Al Gosaibi saga, a punchline with the joke on creditors - The National

Eric Lewis can tell a good gag. A partner with the New York firm Lewis Baach, he knows it's all about timing.

Mr Lewis has been working for the Al Gosaibi family of Saudi Arabia ever since their world collapsed in a maelstrom of fraud allegations, international legal actions and billions of dollars worth of debt in May 2009.

The family, one of the kingdom's most venerable merchant dynasties, pointed the finger at (now) estranged family member Maan Al Sanea, whom they accused of stealing the family fortune and running up the mind-boggling debts.

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