9536/X-Corporation: New Clients

X-Corporation: New Clients
Date of Scene:	11 October 2019
Location:	Nelson and Murdock, Clinton
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Sunspot, Cannonball, Daredevil
Tinyplot:	X-Corporation

---

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto called ahead for this meeting a few weeks ago. Or rather, one of his assistants (minions) did. Planning ahead, because although no one has been sued or incarcerated yet, he is sure it is coming.

Already there are rumblings in the business world. Although it might be because DCI is stalking Trask Industries and that one might be of 'strategic importance' for the US government. That is the problem with trying several dangerous things at once. The first punch can come from a number of directions.

"So I heard Murdock is the first guy the Avengers and the Four F call when they get into legal troubles," he comments to Sam as he knocks at the door. "Odd he stays in Hell's Kitchen if he is that good." As usual when he is doing business, Roberto is wearing an expensive, perfectly tailored three-piece suit.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "I went and talked to She-hulk the one time Ah was looking into the lawyer thing for starting a group. Ah realized unless Ah had your type money was not a thing could really do publicly. We would have to get all kinds of weird insurance and stuff. Ah didn't think it was the time, was why Ah did not send ya the info then.

Daredevil has posed:
For lawyers of the reputation of Nelson and Murdock, their offices are very downscale, a small four room property on the second floor of a walk up with peeling paint and bad plumbing, it had been all they could afford when they got started but now that they had at least a little money they kept the old offices in order to make their usual clients, the people of Hell's Kitchen feel more comforable.

Today those clients have been rescheduled and Matt and his blonde haired office-assistant, are talking quietly by the desk in the reception area waiting for Roberto and Sam to arrive, the door to the office has been left open as an invitation and their modest conference room has already been set up with coffee for four.

Matt can hear the mutants and their conversation from where he stands by the desk and gives a gentle upnod to Karen to warn her they're on their way.

Sunspot has posed:
"She-Hulk would have been good, too," admits Roberto. Although the green-skinned power-house would give a completely different impression than a humble blind lawyer in the trials. But options are good, so he makes a mental note to attempt to reach Jennifer Walkers in the near future.

A conversation for later, as the door opens. "Mr. Murdock?" Greets Roberto. "Good afternoon. I am Roberto DaCosta," he has a faint Brazilian accent, barely noticeable. "My partner is Samuel Guthrie, we come representing the X-Corporation company."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie 's accent is a bit more noticeable and southern in nature. "Sir. Ma'am." He will start to extend his hand to the man and see the glasses and cane, and ums softly. he will move his hand up running through his hair "A pleasure to meet you."

Daredevil has posed:
A smile curls on Matt's lips as he hears the commentary on She-Hulk. Jen was a good friend though he wasn't going to complain if Nelson and Murdock got a bit of business that she didn't, Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg, & Holliway didn't lack for clients and cash.

When the two young mutants enter, Matt and Karen both turn and smile, Karen nudging Matt's arm in a show of letting him know someone had entered, the room.

Matt steps forward transfering his cane from one hand to another to allow him to hold out his right hand in the general direction of the pair.

"Mr. DaCosta, Mr. Guthrie, welcome to Nelson and Murdock, I'm Matt Murdock and this is my associate is Miss Page our office manager, if you don't mind she'll be sitting in on our meeting."

Sam's little slip up is noted through Matt's other senses but little in his body language gives it away except for a slight amused tilt to his smile.

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto nods at Karen, offering the woman a friendly smile, "Miss Page". He murmurs a second before shaking Matt's hand. "No objections, of course," replies the young man. Looking back to the blind lawyer.

"Mr. Murdock, I am not sure if you have heard of the X-Corporation or myself. I am one of the world's wealthiest men, and I also happen to be a mutant," he starts. His mutant-hood is no secret for anyone with decent research capabilities, so Roberto long ago decided not to try the 'secret identity' thing. "I have also been a... hmm, costumed crime-fighter. Well, it would be hard to find any news-report on me, I was a kid, strictly C-list. And it was great, but now I am directing a multi-billion company and my crime-fighting nowadays consist in trying to keep corporate branches within the law." He sighs.

"But that is not why I am here. I came to find a lawyer to be on retainer for the X-Corporation. A just founded company that is going to try to integrate super-powered people, mostly mutants, in the workforce in a way they can use their abilities," he explains. "I think many, perhaps most of the mutant unique abilities can be used to earn a living. So X-Corps aims to offer specialized training and job opportunities, as well to finance mutant-created business ventures."

Daredevil has posed:
Karen smiles back and shows the men into the waiting conference room while Matt replies to Roberto's remarks.

The lawyer nods, "I've looked up your record Mr. DaCosta and I'm definitely impressed with the mission of the X-Corporation and as it happens it lines up with my partner's and I's thoughts for the future of Nelson and Murdock. We've been looking at expanding to include a branch in Mutant Town to help ensure that the people there have access to good and affordable legal counsel."

Matt finds a seat in the conference room and sits down, "As for coming on as your counsel," Matt offers a wry smile. "I don't imagine my partner will need much convincing there, and neither will I. What sort of work do you see us doing for you? We're primarialy criminal lawyers but we've had to become a full service firm out of necessity so we're comfortable with just about anything as long as it's ethical."

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto nods. Then remembers Matt can't see it, so he ponders for a few seconds and then speaks. "Criminal cases might come. But what I expect a fair deal of legal trouble relating to super-human abilities. Some people are going to feel very threatened when the mutants start taking jobs that traditionally would require large teams of people, or very expensive technology, or are outright impossible deeds according to modern science."

He shrugs, then adds, "I also expect some degree of malfeasance, and attempts to renegade contracts on discriminatory basis which will require swift legal action. Even if you have little experience in those cases, I hope you can still give us advice and point us to expert lawyers willing to work for mutants."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "And there will probably be some type of insurance the employer or employ has to have special for using powers on the job. Ah don't know of any insurance companies doing it yet, but Ah am sure, when ya get someone who can fly through walls, delivering your pizza, insurance companies will demand you have this new insurance or not cover you.

Daredevil has posed:
Leaning back in his chair Matt nods, "Agreed there's going to be a lot of push-back as the X-Corporation's mission moves forward, legal and otherwise but I think Nelson and Murdock is up for the challenge there's likely going to be a lot of work to go around so we can draw up a list of firms that might be good to have on board as allies to help when the shit really hits the fan."

Sam's remark is met with a turn of Matt's head and the lawyer nods there as well. "You've hit the nail on the head, what we're doing here is going to open up a whole lot of new ground in insurance and liability as well as a number of other areas. Depending on what sort of resources we're working with here, and how big you want to make things, we may want to focus our early efforts on making mutants a protected class under the civil rights act, which means either lobbying congress, or championing a case all the way to the Supreme Court and winning there, both will be expensive but in either case could lead to the sort of widespread changes we'll need to make X-Corp's goals a reality without fighting a million little legal battles everytime something new comes up."

Sunspot has posed:
"I have the resources," replies Roberto. Except perhaps for the lobbying in Washington. But he can ask Xavier for that. Or even (shudder) Emma Frost. Lobbying in Brazil is much easier, since some days it feels his father had half the politicians of the country in his pocket.

"We might also try the UN, I suppose," he suggests. Not that the US is good at following international laws in regards people rights, but anything helps.

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie hmms and says "Do, you really think with enough lobbying we could actually get it to put mutants into protected citizen catagory, and if so, would we need to make sure it covers all people with powers. And if so, would it be intentional created powers as well, as accidental?

Daredevil has posed:
Turning to where his assitant is sitting Matt says, "Karen, can you get some of this down," he asks her politely before turning his face towards the voices of the other two.

"I guess the place to start Mr. DaCosta is what do you see as the vision of X-Corp, are you looking to get mutants working in America or across the globe? Both are do-able but take very different strategies and will need different people to help us run them."

As for Sam's question, that draws Matt's interest, "I believe it can and should be done," he says of the civil rights laws, "We just need either an understanding congress, or the right case to take the Supreme Court. As for the content of the law, I agree it should be all peoples with powers, metahumans, aliens and so on, though your point about powers through accident or experimentation, that will be a little bit more tricky, especially the latter, when it was someone's choice to give themselves powers rather than something they're born with or had happen to them. In general though, I think everyone regardless of the source of their abilities should be protected by the changes to the law."

Sunspot has posed:
"Everywhere," states Roberto firmly. "I am starting in New York and Rio, in Brazil. But it should be everywhere because mutants are everywhere. And I believe they should integrate in human society. There is Genosha... but that kind of racial separation is not going to end up well."

Of course it is outright impossible in some areas. Some countries do not even admit they have mutants within their borders. "But that is a long term project. For now... America. If the US take this step many other countries will follow."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods his head a bit to this and says "So, should we start on the state level, and then move to country level? Ah hate to say it but we may have more issues in the southern part of the country there are a lot of good people there but also a lot of stubborn folks who are set in their ways.

Daredevil has posed:
Karen makes sure to underline 'everywhere' in her notes, as Matt's face notes his understanding of just how passionate Roberto is about this goal.

"Agreed, Genosha is a bandaid and not a solution, if I am hearing you all correctly, the end goal is powered people working alongside everyone else free to use their abilities, or not, in their working life as they see fit, free of discrimination. Is that about the long and short of it?" Matt asks turning his head between the two men.

"I think New York and Rio are good places to start, if you've got a legal team in Rio, I'd love to coordinate with them see if we can craft a coherent message, as for the nationwide plan, I think working on New York state as a first move would be good, while we hunt for some cases we can take to challenge and expand the current civil rights laws on the national level." Sam's comments about the south get a nod. "Lots of stubborn people everywhere, but I like to think with the right message we can reach them and make them see this isn't about rights for powered people, it's about rights for all people, and that giving rights to people who don't have them doesn't take away theirs," he smiles with wry understanding. "It's going to be a long fight, but my dad's a boxer, and he taught me a thing or two about going the distance."

Sunspot has posed:
Roberto tosses an amused glance to Sam when he mentions 'stubborn people'. Instead of diehard racists. "It is a needed change. Even within baseline humankind there are a large number of metahumans now. And we have aliens living among us. As humankind enters the space age I expect many aliens will visit, maybe settle on Earth. Admittedly it is going to take decades, maybe centuries. But what if we get shapeshifting Skrulls wanting to become American citizens? Or weather-controlling Asgardians?"

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "We will probably need to have some type of certification for people have passed some type of test or something with their powers before they are allowed in the work place. I will admit the is a possible problem I can see from this. Some people with powers could see this as trying to license or register them.

Daredevil has posed:
There is a hint of amusement in Matt's expression as he remarks, "Sort of crazy talking about humanity exploring the stars and opening the world to aliens and it being an actual possibility," he gives his head a shake. "But you're right, things are going to change rapidly in the next hundred years or so, and it's going to keep lawyers and lawmakers busy for a long time to come, but I think if we do our job right on bringing powered people into society now, we'll be laying the groundwork for all the rest of the changes to come."

"Certification will be tricky, like you say Sam, if I can call you Sam, a lot of people are going to balk at it and, really I don't blame them, on the other hand, some powers are dangerous, so I could see how some people would want something, anything, to make that feel safer, more under control, even if that control is an illusion."

Sunspot has posed:
"Yes, no. No registration for powers," states Roberto, tensing. "We have to fight that, it is too easy for it to become a discriminatory policy. Certifications for skills, yes. But not for inborn abilities."

Control is an illusion, indeed. The world will change so much in the next few decades it won't be recognizable. Just the technology will take care of it. Roberto has been in Asgard and the Shi'ar planets. He knows some of the strangeness that is coming. And he knows the resistance will be intense. But ameliorate that problem is not his main task. "Lets focus in the first steps, please. Right now there are legal holes I am quite sure you can sense much more clearly than I do, Mr. Murdock."

Cannonball has posed:
Samuel Guthrie nods his head, and says "And if we want to have a specific business as a role model. Club Evolution is a subsidiary of X-corp. Ah am manager for the club, and we already hire quite a few mutants there. With this Ah think it will be have to be a thing where it can be are you a mutant on forms, but choose not to answer.

Daredevil has posed:
Karen notes the no on registration as well, and Matt himself seems visibily releieved. "Good then, as for the legal holes I think we can put something together to discuss what we might run into in the next say 90 days and go from there," he says. There's a nod about the club. "Heard of it and it's a good example of what we're shooting for, I'd like to discuss finding some mutant interns for here and some mutant associate lawyers for the Mutant Town branch of N&M but we can discuss that in a bit, so, shall we pour the coffee and work out where we're going next?"