Attorney Abbe Lowell is excited to unveil a new law firm focused on assisting “individuals facing politically charged investigations” and other legal challenges stemming from the Trump presidency.
An experienced white-collar defense lawyer, Lowell serves clients from both political parties, including Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, and Hunter Biden.
This initiative follows Lowell’s departure from Winston and StrawnReport. He will be representing New York Attorney General Letitia James after being referred for a criminal investigation concerning alleged mortgage fraud.
“The firm is ready to navigate today’s evolving legal environment and provides a more streamlined model than larger firms can offer,” Lowell stated. “I am excited to embark on a private practice career with my own firm and lead a small, dynamic yet flexible team prepared to assist businesses, nonprofits, and individuals who require our expertise and commitment.”
The firm reported that it does not currently represent any other clients alongside James, but it has clients previously targeted by the Trump administration.
“Some of our clients include individuals, such as current and former state and federal officials who were unlawfully and improperly singled out by this administration. The firm also represents entities and organizations involved in lawsuits regarding governmental efficiency and the wrongful termination of federal grants,” the firm mentioned in a statement.
In founding his own firm, Lowell consulted numerous attorneys who left the firm amidst concerns about his response to various actions taken by the Trump administration against it.
Rachel Cohen, after submitting her conditional resignation from her former firm Skadden Arps, aims to join this new firm and is calling on leadership to create a “satisfactory response to our current situation.”
“Law firms must denounce these actions and highlight how much more severe they are, and I believe they are hesitant to do so for multiple reasons. The primary concerns are that large firms have significant collective action dilemmas,” Cohen remarked to Hill in March.
“It’s all imminent. Will the legal field remain silent while the president operates outside the legal framework, or will they not?” she further commented.
Skadden Arps was among 20 firms examined by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigating their diversity employment practices. It subsequently signed a contract with the Trump administration and agreed to perform $100 million in pro bono work. This mirrors arrangements made by other firms attempting to sidestep an executive order from Trump that restricts lawyers from government offices.
Former Skadden attorney Brenna Trout Frey has also joined the firm.
“Today, my previous executive partner at the firm forwarded me all the ‘updates’ aimed at persuading some of the brightest legal minds.LinkedIn Post last month.
“There is only one morally acceptable response from lawyers regarding the demands of the Trump administration. The rule of law is paramount. The rule of law is crucial. As a lawyer, if my employer cannot uphold the rule of law, I cannot ethically continue working for them.”
Other former Winston & Strawn lawyers, including David Kolanski and Isabella Oishi, are also participating.
