National Law Journal Names Abbe Lowell a 2018 Winning Litigator

Partner Abbe Lowell is one of only 26 attorneys recognized as a 2018 NLJ Winning Litigator. The annual report highlights star litigators who scored significant victories on behalf of their clients in high-stakes matters and the attorney’s track record over her/his career.

In the profile, Abbe is recognized for his representation of Senator Bob Menendez in the first federal bribery trial of a sitting U.S. senator in more than a decade. Subsequent to the jury deadlock (reported to be 10 – 2 for acquittal), the trial judge declared a mistrial and acquitted the co-defendants of six of the collective eighteen federal charges against them based on arguments Abbe and co-counsel made. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Justice Department dropped its case against Mr. Menendez.

When offering trial tips that have been key to his success, Abbe notes:

1. Reinforce the government’s burden and project a shorter, compact defense case (if any), by planning the entire defense case within the prosecution’s witnesses and exhibits.
2. Apply Michelangelo’s sculpture quote—“Chip away what is not the art”—create [the] defense theme early and “chip away” witnesses and documents not “the art” instead of going through discovery to find that theme.

Co-chair of Winston’s White Collar, Regulatory Defense & Investigations practice group and one of the nation's leading white collar defense and trial lawyers, Abbe has tried civil and criminal cases before judges and juries in more than a dozen states, argued numerous appeals before courts that include the U.S. Supreme Court, led complex international investigations, and navigated clients through congressional and administrative proceedings.