Former Winston & Strawn Partner Establishes Boutique Firm With Former Skadden Associates Who Quit Over Big Law’s Response To Trump
Former Winston & Strawn Partner Establishes Boutique Firm With Former Skadden Associates Who Quit Over Big Law’s Response To Trump
Two former Winston & Strawn associates have also been signed up alongside Rachel Cohen and Brenna Trout Frey, both of whom have made news for their protests at Skadden’s unwillingness to challenge Trump.
A former co-head of government investigations at Winston & Strawn has established a boutique firm with two former Skadden associates who resigned in protest at their firm’s unwillingness to speak out against President Donald Trump’s targeting of Big Law firms.
Clients facing investigations and litigation resulting from the Trump administration will be represented by Lowell & Associates, Abbe Lowell’s new firm. Two former Winston & Strawn associates have also been signed up alongside Rachel Cohen and Brenna Trout Frey, both of whom have made news for their protests at Skadden’s unwillingness to challenge Trump.
The firm said on LinkedIn that it would “provide strategic and principled legal representation across civil, criminal, compliance, congressional and regulatory matters.” It added that it would represent former public servants who had been “unlawfully and inappropriately targeted” and organisations suing the administration following sweeping cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and the federal government.
A former special assistant US attorney, Abbe Lowell has served as special assistant to both the deputy Attorney General and Attorney General at the US Department of Justice. He has served as counsel to the US House of Representatives, chief minority counsel during President Clinton’s impeachment, and special ethics counsel to the House Ethics Committee. In private practice, he has represented Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner and US senator Bob Menendez. More recently, he defended Hunter Biden, former president Joe Biden’s son, in his defence against criminal tax and gun ownership charges before he was pre-emptively pardoned by his father in December.
Lowell reportedly told US legal media: “This firm is prepared for today’s dynamic legal landscape, offering a leaner model than larger firms can provide. I started my private practice career in my firm and am excited to lead a small yet nimble team once again, ready to represent companies, non-profits and individuals needing our experience and dedication.”
After helping coordinate an open letter signed by hundreds of associates calling on the leadership of Big Law firms to take a stance against Trump’s first two executive orders against Covington & Burling and Perkins Coie, Cohen resigned in March. Cohen reportedly wrote on LinkedIn: “There is an urgent need for lawyers to take on representation that runs counter to the executive’s wishes and actions. Zealous representation is a foundational element of our legal system, and how we ensure the government doesn’t overstep its authority, no matter who is in charge.”
A Winston & Strawn spokesperson reportedly said: “Abbe Lowell is no longer at Winston. He left to form his own firm, allowing him to better balance his legal work, teaching, writing and charitable work.”
