Amal Alamuddin in Greece for talks about the Elgin marbles

Silije, thanks for the link! Fava, I really appreciated this article. It is so true that the media is often skewed against women. As Mayer suggests in her article Amal has had a very successful career and now it's all about what she is wearing, how she looks, talks, acts because she is Clooney's wife. Her work can get easily lost in all the media circus. At the end of the article Mayer says she wants Amal back. Well, Amal is there and I think she is handling all of this circus atmosphere very well. But it will be important for her to manage this frenzy and keep all of this in perspective. And I think she will but this must be new territory for her to navigate.

I think the media covers her the way it does because that's the way they cover all women - how they look, what they wear - because that's what sells. As an accomplished international attorney she didn't have the glamour factor they want.  When she married George she gave them a fresh target - especially as she seems to have made an effort to change her look.

I don't think it's so much that she married George. Had she married any really high profile man she would have gotten the same kind of attention, though probably not the amount of coverage she's received.

Sevens wrote:New sighting of her today:
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Read the comments below, ... they are not good. You can't get anything done with such arrogance. 

Atalante wrote:

Sevens wrote:New sighting of her today:
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Read the comments below, ... they are not good. You can't get anything done with such arrogance. 

The comments are by just a few people who do not even know her.  I bet the Greeks are thrilled with the attention she is bringing to this issue.  If her colleagues had gone without her there would be very little media coverage, so she has accomplished somehing already.

Leaving Athens:


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What Greeks ? Some elite ? Maybe. The rest ? Not. Will the British Museum be impressed ? No. They haven't been impressed in the past and they are still not impressed. Legal grounds to give the marbles back ? Poor. So you guys tell me is she's going to win this case or not ?
As a matter of fact, ..., what case did she ever win ? Beats me. 

I like the new outfit, black skirt and checkered top. Seems like she is going home.

I read most of the article's on G and A in the Daily Mail and the comments are usually very critical. And I don't think the nutter is on that board. Still a lot of criticism. One of the reasons I think is the "overkill" from DM. 6 article or something in 2-3 days.

She's doing a catwalk three days in a row.  It's just unbelievable. Who's advising her or paying her for all those expensive clothes. :cameraflash:In one of the articles, posted here somewhere, a reporter said that the Britts are not impressed with the Clooney show.

If you look back at way before she met Our Hero, this is how she's always dressed for business. She doesn't need anybody to pay for her clothes. She buys them

The diamond earrings too ?

Oh, I think they were a George purchase, don't you?

Chanel suit 2012, Cream dress, Camillo Bona 2012 - thanks to the style website who finds these things out.

The outfit today she wore at a press conference in The Hague........

Amal obviously gets paid well for what she does, and can afford nice things. I'm sure George is a very generous husband so I don't think she wants for anything. I also think the earrings she has been wearing are lovely, I'm guessing a gift from hubby.

To echo what Annemarie said yes Amal gets paid very well. In case it has been forgotten she has two degrees, an academic award, been appointed to UN commissions, works for a prestigious law firm and has been involved in some high profile cases. She is going to make a substantial salary and that's why we have seen her in designer clothes even before she met George. She could afford the lifestyle she led even before him. She obviously loves clothes so more power to her. She doesn't need George's money to dress herself but I suspect now he wants to support her financially.

Atalante wrote:What Greeks ? Some elite ? Maybe. The rest ? Not. Will the British Museum be impressed ? No. They haven't been impressed in the past and they are still not impressed. Legal grounds to give the marbles back ? Poor. So you guys tell me is she's going to win this case or not ?
As a matter of fact, ..., what case did she ever win ? Beats me. 

The ones who are paying her bill.

Hard at work! Amal Clooney looks elegant during Acropolis museum visit in Greece... as she says it's 'not too late' for Britain to back down over Elgin marbles


By Nola Ojomu and Rebecca Davison for MailOnline and Jim Norton
Published: 10:27 GMT, 16 October 2014  |  Updated: 14:25 GMT, 16 October 2014  

She has been busy advising the Greek government on how they can get Britain to return the famous Elgin Marbles, which are currently housed in the British Museum. And Amal Clooney has claimed that there is no reason why both parties cannot come to an arrangement that will benefit everyone involved.


According to The Times, the newly married lawyer said: ‘In a world of intractable conflicts, here is one that can be solved in a way that can benefit both parties and humankind altogether. 
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Her words came after she was seen paying a visit to the Parthenon hall inside the Acropolis museum on Wednesday night.  The lawyer stood out in a red dress as she made her way around with her distinguished legal team. 



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Wise words: The lawyer has been busy advising the Greek government on how they can get Britain to return the famous Elgin Marbles, which are currently housed in the British Museum
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Earlier in the day, Amal was seen leaving the Maximos mansion after a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras.
Cutting a sharp figure in a cream two-piece and black court shoes, Amal is reportedly set to be in the country for a total of four days.
The lawyer was also pictured leaving her hotel on Tuesday ahead of a meeting with Greece's Minister of Culture and Sports, Konstantinos Tasoulas.
Fresh from her honeymoon with Hollywood heart-throb George Clooney last month, Amal has been talking to the authorities about how the Parthenon Marbles might be returned to Athens.
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Heading home? Amal later left Athens wearing a dog-tooth print dress complete with a red ballerina-style bag
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Saying farewell: She smiled and spoke to officials as she made her way into her vehicle 
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Working hard: Amal left the Maximos mansion after a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras about the Elgin Marbles in Athens, Greece earlier in the day
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Walking tall: Mrs Clooney was sharply dressed in a cream two-piece and smart shoes 
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Getting on with it: The new wife of George Clooney has been in Athens since Monday, after honeymooning with the Hollywood actor
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Short stay: Amal is reportedly set to be in the country for a total of four days
The day before, Clooney was flanked by a small team and appeared to be in high spirits as she left the venue, walking past a crowd of journalists and passers by. 
Dressed in a simple white cardigan and khaki trousers, the new Mrs Clooney was spotted chatting happily to British Airways staff at the check-in gates at London's Heathrow airport. 
She later landed in Athens to a flurry of media attention. 
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High-profile: Amal has landed in Athens to a flurry of media attention
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Busy lady: She appeared to be in high spirits as she continued to advise the authorities
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Magical time: The trip comes two weeks after Mrs Clooney married actor George Clooney in a lavish wedding in Venice, Italy, on September 27, which reportedly cost around £8million

 
Amal Clooney says Greece should re-unite the marbles



Amal and her boss, Geoffrey Robertson QC, of London’s Doughty Street chambers, will hold a series of meetings with government officials during their stay, relating to the return of the Parthenon sculptures. 
It comes two weeks after Mrs Clooney married actor George Clooney in a lavish wedding in Venice, Italy, on September 27, which reportedly cost around £8million.
Since the ceremony, the human rights laywer has changed her professional name to Amal Clooney - losing her maiden name - according to a listing on the website of Doughty Street chambers. 
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In awe: Amal stood open-mouthed as she took in some of Athens' most prized historical figures at the Acropolis museum later that day
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Enthralled: The lawyer appears to be passionate about Greece's treasured artefacts 
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A fan: She smiled as she surveyed the Kore statue while being shown around the iconic landmark
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New information: Flanked by officials, Amal discussed the various objects in front of her 

Amal Clooney meets Greek Prime Minister



It reads: 'Amal Clooney is a barrister specialising in international law, extradition and criminal law.' 
Mrs Clooney's choice of the Greece trip as her first official duty after her honeymoon was perhaps a wedding present to her husband who, earlier this year, waded into the centuries-old dispute over the Elgin Marbles, favouring the Greek side.
The 7th Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce, removed the Parthenon Marble sculptures from the Acropolis in Athens while serving as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803. 
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Back to work: Amal Clooney leaves her Athens hotel in Greece ahead of her meeting in which she will advise Greece on how to get Britain to return the Elgin Marbles

Amal Clooney advises Greece on repatriation of Parthenon Marbles



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Ready for action: The 36-year-old was flanked by her team as she made her way out of the venue 
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Busy: The human rights lawyer was met by a crowd of fans and journalists as she made her way outside 
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Back to it: Amal appeared to be happy and relaxed as she settled back into her day job
The relics, known as the Elgin Marbles, are sculptures mostly by Phidias and his assistants. 
In 1801, the Earl claimed to have obtained a permit from the Ottoman authorities to remove pieces from the Parthenon and his agents removed half of the surviving sculptures, as well as architectural members and sculpture from the Propylaea and Erechtheum.
They were shipped to Britain, but in Greece, the Scots aristocrat was accused of looting. They were bought by the British Government and are still on display in the British Museum.
Greece has sought their return from the British Museum through the years, to no avail. 
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All change: She recently changed her name to Amal Clooney following her wedding - for work purposes 
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Newlywed: The outing comes two weeks after Mrs Clooney married actor George Clooney in a lavish wedding in Venice, Italy, on September 27, which reportedly cost around £8million
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Amal Clooney is a barrister specialising in international law, extradition and criminal law
Greece says it is no longer an issue of ownership and that it would accept them back as a permanent loan, but the museum said the Greek government would first have to relinquish its claim to them.
The day before, Amal was pictured waiting to board a plane at Heathrow Airport in London, opting for a simpler look as she got ready to return to work.
Amal, who attracted the attention of passengers at the airport, caught a three and a half hour flight to Athens to advise the Greek government about the sculptures.
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Relaxed: She was pictured laughing as she arrived at the office of Kostas Tasoulas 
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Time to begin: The lawyer soon settled into work as she read through her files with the rest of the team
Doughty Street confirmed Mrs Clooney had travelled to Athens, where she will remain until Thursday, at the invitation of the Greek government ‘in connection with the Parthenon sculptures that are presently on display in the British museum’.
A statement said: ‘Mr Robertson and Mrs Clooney were first asked to provide legal advice to the Greek government on this matter in 2011.
‘They will be holding a series of meetings with government officials during their stay, including the Prime Minister, Mr Antonis Samaras, and the Minister of Culture, Mr Konstantinos Tasoulas.’

Amal Clooney in Greece to give advice on Elgin Marbles



Fluent in French and Arabic, Lebanese-born Mrs Clooney is a barrister specialising in international law, human rights, extradition and criminal law.
She has represented clients in cases before the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as in domestic courts in the UK and US. 
She wed her Academy Award-winning heart throb last month in a romantic ceremony in Venice.
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Culture: Elgin Marbles at the British Museum. The relics are sculptures mostly by Phidias and his assistants
More than 100 guests - including Hollywood stars Matt Damon and Sandra Bullock - flew to Venice to see her get married in a stunning custom-made Oscar de la Renta dress. 
They began arriving by chauffeur-driven taxi boats for the nuptials shortly before 6.30pm on the day, with Damon the first to arrive. 
Wave after wave of guests were ferried to the waterfront entrance of the exclusive hotel over a period of 20 mins, which culminated in Mr Clooney's arrival just before 7pm as the sun was setting. 
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History: It was the 7th Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce, who removed the Parthenon Marble sculptures from the Acropolis in Athens while serving as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803 
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Couple: The Clooneys arrive at a palace in Venice for a civil ceremony to make their wedding official last month

Newlyweds George and Amal show off their wedding bands

A LONG-RUNNING HISTORICAL DISPUTE: WHAT ARE THE ELGIN MARBLES?

The Elgin Marbles are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures, inscriptions and architectural members that were mostly created by Phidias and his assistants.
The 7th Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce, removed the Parthenon Marble pieces from the Acropolis in Athens while serving as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1799 to 1803.
In 1801, the Earl claimed to have obtained a permit from the Ottoman authorities to remove pieces from the Parthenon.
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On display: The Elgin Marbles (pictured at the British Museum) are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures, inscriptions and architectural members that were created by Phidias and his assistants
As the Acropolis was still an Ottoman military fort, Elgin required permission to enter the site. 
His agents subsequently removed half of the surviving sculptures, as well as architectural members and sculpture from the Propylaea and Erechtheum.
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Earl: The 7th Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce (pictured), removed the Parthenon Marble pieces from the Acropolis in Athens while serving as the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
The excavation and removal was completed in 1812 at a personal cost of around £70,000.
The scupltures were shipped to Britain, but in Greece, the Scots aristocrat was accused of looting and vandalism.
They were bought by the British Government in 1816 and placed in the British Museum.
They still stand on view in the purpose-built Duveen Gallery.
 Greece has sought their return from the British Museum through the years, to no avail.
In February, while attending the Berlin Film Festival to promote The Monuments Men, George Clooney was asked by a Greek journalist whether Britain should allow Greece to reclaim its historic art.
He replied: ‘You have a very good case. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing if they were returned. That is a good idea, a fair thing to do.’
Amal Alamuddin Clooney's law firm Doughty Street chambers yesterday confirmed that she had travelled to Athens, where she will remain until Thursday, at the invitation of the Greek government.
Her visit is ‘in connection with the Parthenon sculptures that are presently on display in the British museum’, it said.
The authenticity of Elgin's permit to remove the sculptures from the Parthenon has been widely disputed, especially as the original document has been lost. Many claim it was not legal.
However, others argue that since the Ottomans had controlled Athens since 1460, their claims to the artefacts were legal and recognizable. 

Is it just the clips we have, or did she do all the talking for the delegation? It seems odd to me that a junior member of the team would be their spokesperson, unless it was a cynical way to get more attention because of her new high profile. I would have thought her boss would have been the one to speak for the team.

I would hope that's not the case. But maybe she has a major role because she did all the legal legwork. Or maybe this is what she has to do to move along on the path to being a QC (the youngest, most beautiful, and first Lebanese one, naturally). Or the beauty of the marbles awestruck the senior guy into laryngitis.

PAN I moved your post here

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Way2Old - I wasn't implying that it was her choice. I just wondered if her chambers was using her high profile to get more attention for the case. But, you may be right. If she was the one who did all the legal background maybe she was the most qualified to speak. If that's the case, why are they paying the other members of the team?

I think Amal is a great woman of class, educated, intelligent, elegant, but that has nothing to do with George Clooney that I learned about in 20 years! I may be wrong? Surely it is possible.

LizzyNY wrote:Is it just the clips we have, or did she do all the talking for the delegation? It seems odd to me that a junior member of the team would be their spokesperson, unless it was a cynical way to get more attention because of her new high profile. I would have thought her boss would have been the one to speak for the team.

No there are other clips I saw where Geoffrey Robertson also spoke at this press conference.  I think most of the clips going around edited him out of it though and only included Amal's comments. So she wasn't acting as spokesperson, Geoffrey definitely spoke as well. I'll try to find that clip.

kat19, definitely others spoke at the press conference, but were edited out. Saw several newsreels, and at least one comment that Geoffrey Robinson was extremely happy with the coverage for the cause that Amal's presence generated.

Here is a great piece fom the Daily Beast which says it all, and inclludes Our Hero's contribution

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Love your avatar........

“I hope that even at this very early stage of the marriage, I’m wise enough to know that it’s up to my husband to decide which causes he chooses to support,” she said.   -   He'd better choose for human rights AND animal rights. The stones are doing fine ! 

I read your article PAN and it made me think of this article about her mother Baria. Baria is described as a tireless socialite and a  networking powerhouse.One of her former colleagues describe her as a juggernaut networker. 


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That may very well be the case, Silje, but it wouldn't be so if what she says and does isn't listened to, and encouraged, by others. Her knowledge must be valued if that is how she's peceived

Read: " empty lives " what's typical for the elite on this planet. Boring !

What I was thinking when I read your article PAN is that Amal was doing some serious networking with the deputy cultural minister of Greece, which reminded me of the article where her mother was described as a networking powerhouse.

And I think Amal is her mother's daughter. 

Of course both Baria and Amal are listened to and their opinion and knowledge are respected. But these are women of power and it is going to be interesting to see how George copes with that.

Talking to kings and celebrities to gain WHAT ?   Nothing. Those marbles are not returning to Greece. And G.C. isn't into high society, he's into basketball and monkeying around.   He doesn't give a shit about those marbles.

I think if she wasn't good at her job she wouldn't be there and her bosses wouldn't be there supporting her. They all seem to be on the same page as far as this case goes. As for George I believe he does very much care about the marbles he has spoken on it.

Can't wait to hear the final end results of her trip. But seriously doubt if the Elgin marbles will be returned.

LOL British are funny hehe



Tell you what Mrs Clooney. If Greece repays its $240 billion EU loan, we’ll return the Marbles

Hollywood has a reputation for creating trite storylines in which either a lawyer is cast as the hero or England as the villain.
Its latest epic has both, and this one is reality. Little more than a week after her marriage to George Clooney, the world’s most photographed barrister, Amal Alamuddin -Clooney, has flown off to advise the Greek government on how to force the removal of the Elgin Marbles from the British Museum.
Given the rioting, economic meltdown and general chaos of recent years, it would be easy to think that Greece had more immediate worries than the whereabouts of a set of decorative stones rescued in the early 19th century — with permission from authorities in Athens — to save them from being chiselled away by peasants for -quicklime.
But that misses the point. What would Greek politicians do if the marbles were returned? No longer would they have a patriotic issue to beat their chests about in order to distract from their failures.

In the name of European harmony, we would like to propose a compromise: we will return the Elgin Marbles once Greece has repaid the €240 billion of emergency loans made by EU states during the crisis, and honoured all its government bonds.
Until then, we suggest Greece recognises the role Lord Elgin played in rescuing its deteriorating heritage and accepts that the British Museum has done an excellent job in preserving the marbles and displaying them to scholars and the public alike.
To have a little bit of the glory of ancient Athens in London hardly seems out of line with the spirit of shared European culture.


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Hear, hear.

Another appointment, Athens


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Well now -- 240 billion loan maybe they can get that money from AA-C to repay their loan. If not guess the marbles are staying put.

More facts are emerging about the trip:

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Moreover, the Mrs Clooney parade proved rather expensive: according to a government document, where it is evident that the Greek prime minister called the shots, a sum in excess of US $13,000 was spent on airplane tickets and the hiring of a chauffeur-driven private car just for the legal team.
That corresponds to what an experienced Greek archaeologist makes in a year. There is no mention in the document of the team's other expenses, such as a visit to an acclaimed seaside restaurant, in the presence of the respective culture and tourism ministers and their entourage. So was this but a photo opportunity for government representatives and their cronies?

What transpired proved to already have been set out in a press release published by her firm, days ahead of her arrival: "Geoffrey Robertson QCand Amal Clooney will be conducting a visit to Athens on 13-16 October 2014 at the invitation of the Greek government in connection with the Parthenon sculptures that are presently on display in the British museum ... They will be holding a series of meetings with government officials during their stay, including the Prime Minister."

Daily Express today:

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To those who think Amal is a publicity hog - The press releases in advance of her trip came from Doughty Chambers and the Greek government - NOT from Amal or George or Stan!

I think the cost for transportation, hotels, etc. would have been picked up by the client (the Greek government in this case) no matter who was on the legal team. They were paid for their time and expenses while working on he case.

Well there's a way to get a citytrip paid. 

Oh my god, I don't know if someone posted this already but I just saw a clip of Amal walking out of a building (on the day she gave the press conference) and this insane person comes up to her... and you just have to see it.

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Wow, a woman runs up to her and embraces her, thanking her for trying to bring the marbles back. Amal just laughs it off.

Lucky this woman was thanking Amal because the security there was asleep!

not good, Amal handled it well though and walked away quickly but a bit unsettling

Let us hope lessons will be learned from that
"Close encounter of the Unwanted kind" for
George's wife.
It could have been such a different encounter.

Gio should have been there to protect the Mrs. Amal did handle it well but she did seem to be taken aback a bit.

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Amal Clooney: Her Surprising Private Side


Amal Alamuddin

KARWAI TANG/WIREIMAGE
BY MICHELLE TAUBER @michelletauber 10/19/2014 AT 09:00 AM EDT

Amal Clooney gets things done.

A little more than two weeks after her Sept. 27 wedding to a certain Oscar-winning actor, she was back to business, matter-of-factly using her brand-new last name.

Arriving in Athens on Oct. 13, the jet-setting international attorney was set to meet with Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras in an effort to mediate one of the world's biggest cultural-property disputes.

While her other half, George Clooney, also returned to work, promoting his upcoming sci-fi adventure Tomorrowland at New York Comic Con on Oct. 9, Amal was tackling a complex legal case involving priceless Greek sculptures dating back more than 2,000 years and a centuries-old fight between Britain and Greece over ownership.

In other words, just another day at the office for the fiercely smart and ambitious newlywed, who coolly navigated princess-level pandemonium when she touched down in Greece.

"She is calm, highly intelligent and extremely dedicated," a colleague tells PEOPLE.

"This case shows she is going to be her own woman. Her career is continuing as it was before this minor interruption."

Katiedot wrote:Wow, a woman runs up to her and embraces her, thanking her for trying to bring the marbles back. Amal just laughs it off.

Lucky this woman was thanking Amal because the security there was asleep!

Lucky it's a woman....if there's a random man coming up to her then trying to hug her...George must do something about this chaos upon his wife.

Given George's past, a random woman might be more dangerous!

The Greek government should have had security there. Amal is a lawyer not a celebrity her having a body guard would have caused even worse criticism of her.

You're right Annemarie. Boy she would have been criticized for having security. She is in a public position and this may happen again. She handled it well last week. I don't know about government security though. It certainly looks better if you are accessable in these public situations. There probably wasn't any anticipation that there was going to be a rowdy crowd which could have caused a threatening situation.

Considering her high profile at the moment and how much her visit was hyped in the press, I think security would have been a no-brainer for the people hosting the meeting. Imagine the outcry if something had happened to her.