In the wake of the dismissals of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and CDC Director Susan Monarez, a notable trend has emerged.
Both Cook and Monarez have sought the legal counsel of renowned defense attorney Abbe Lowell, who has become a prominent figure in representing high-profile individuals targeted by the Trump administration's accountability measures.
According to RedState, Lowell's clientele in 2025 alone includes Lisa Cook, Susan Monarez, New York Attorney General Letitia James, former Trump official Miles Taylor, and whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid. All these individuals have been subject to investigations or actions by the Trump administration, suggesting that Lowell has become the go-to attorney for those in the administration's crosshairs.
Lowell's reputation as Washington's ultimate bipartisan defense attorney has been built over four decades. He served as chief minority counsel to Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives during Bill Clinton's impeachment, and also represented Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump during inquiries related to Russia in the first Trump administration.
His clientele has historically spanned both sides of the political aisle, including Democratic senators Bob Menendez and John Edwards, Republican Nevada governor Jim Gibbons, and even Trump family members during the Russia investigation.
In December 2022, Lowell joined Hunter Biden's legal team as President Biden's son faced multiple federal charges. His aggressive defense strategy included urging prosecutors to investigate John Paul Mac Isaac, who he accused of "unlawfully" accessing Biden's laptop data.
"Abbe is not cheap, and you don't bring in Abbe unless you want to go to war or prevent one," said a source familiar with Lowell's hiring. This representation put Lowell directly in Trump's line of fire during the 2024 campaign, with Trump and his allies repeatedly targeting both the former President's son and his legal team.
Upon Trump's re-election in 2025, it seemed inevitable that Lowell would face off against Trump on multiple fronts. In May 2025, Lowell left Winston & Strawn to establish Lowell & Associates, a firm dedicated to representing "those facing politicized investigations" and other legal actions from the Trump administration.
The firm's inaugural clients included New York Attorney General Letitia James, former Trump administration official Miles Taylor, and whistleblower lawyer Mark Zaid.
Among Lowell's current clients are Lisa Cook, who was accused of mortgage fraud by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte. In response, Lowell stated, "President Trump has no authority to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. His attempt to fire her, based solely on a referral letter, lacks any factual or legal basis."
Susan Monarez, the CDC director, was dismissed after just one month in office. Her lawyers, Mark Zaid and Abbe David Lowell, issued a statement claiming, "When CDC Director Susan Monarez refused to rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives and fire dedicated health experts, she chose protecting the public over serving a political agenda".
Lowell & Associates has made it clear from its inception that it intends to represent individuals targeted by the administration. Since its establishment, Lowell has been hired by Justice Department officials dismissed for their role in prosecuting or publicizing January 6 cases; a FEMA official fired after she approved funding to New York City to pay for hotel rooms for illegal immigrants; a California union leader arrested while protesting ICE raids in Los Angeles; and FBI officials dismissed after clashing with the White House.
The firm has also recruited attorneys who have resigned from prestigious practices in protest. Brenna Trout Frey and Rachel Cohen, both of whom publicly resigned from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP over what Trout Frey described as the firm's "capitulating to the Trump administration's demands for fealty and protection money", have joined Lowell at the new firm.
Lowell's rise as the leading anti-Trump lawyer reveals a shift in Trump's second term from traditional approaches to government accountability. While previous administrations typically focused on specific cases of alleged wrongdoing,
Trump appears to be adopting a broader approach to address what his supporters perceive as years of weaponized government against him. His supporters claim he is "draining the swamp."
However, Lowell is not merely playing defense; he has used media appearances to advocate for his clients in the court of public opinion and criticize the President and the Justice Department. This raises the question of whether Lowell's actions are driven by activism or sound business decisions.
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