Why Abbe Lowell has become the lawyer of choice for Trump’s biggest adversaries

Why Abbe Lowell has become the lawyer of choice for Trump’s biggest adversaries

When Washington’s legal battles intensify, Abbe Lowell often finds himself at the centre. The 73-year-old defence lawyer, long known for representing political heavyweights, is now taking on some of the most consequential cases of Donald Trump’s second term. His latest client is Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, who is fighting Trump’s attempt to fire her over allegations of mortgage fraud. The outcome could reshape the central bank’s independence and presidential power, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Building a practice to confront the White House

Earlier this year, Lowell left Winston & Strawn to open a boutique firm designed to focus on cases involving the Trump administration. He says a smaller practice allows him to be more nimble in defending clients facing White House pressure. Although he is working at discounted rates for some of Trump’s targets, he is leveraging visibility to attract full-fee clients. The firm has just five lawyers but is quickly establishing itself as a hub for cases tied to presidential overreach.

A roster of Trump’s adversaries

Beyond Lisa Cook, Lowell is representing New York Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully sued Trump for civil fraud before an appeals court narrowed her victory. He is also defending former Homeland Security official Miles Taylor, who lost his security clearance after writing an anonymous 2018 op-ed criticizing Trump, and whistleblower lawyer Mark Zaid, who represented an intelligence official in the Ukraine case that led to Trump’s first impeachment. In each case, Lowell argues the administration is weaponizing investigations as retribution.

A career spanning both sides of politics

Lowell is no stranger to high-stakes political defence. He served as House Democrats’ lead counsel during Bill Clinton’s impeachment, defended former Sen. Bob Menendez and vice-presidential nominee John Edwards against corruption charges, and most recently represented Hunter Biden in criminal and congressional cases. He has also worked with Republicans, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner during the Russia probe, giving him a reputation for crossing partisan lines when taking on clients.

Polarizing yet formidable

Lowell’s aggressive style has won him admiration and criticism alike. Allies describe him as relentless and effective, while some former colleagues see him as overly self-promotional and difficult to work with. His high-profile representation of Hunter Biden showed his willingness to take a combative approach, including suing the IRS for privacy violations. Though that case was later dropped, it signalled Lowell’s readiness to turn defence into offense.

Why his role matters now

As Trump presses ahead with attempts to remake the Federal Reserve, target political adversaries, and expand presidential influence, Lowell has emerged as one of the few lawyers willing to consistently challenge the administration head-on. He acknowledges that his firm will not solely focus on Trump cases, but he also admits demand is unlikely to fade. “As long as this man is in the White House,” Lowell said, “there will be no shortage of work.”