Abbe Lowell

Tell us about your biggest win from January 2019 through June 2020 and how you achieved the result for your client.

Abbe Lowell

WINSTON & STRAWN

Achieving final acquittal for former Puerto Rico State Sen. Hector Martinez after nine years, including two jury trials, three circuit appeals and a U.S. Supreme Court decision, followed a “fight-for-every-inch–of-the-battlefield” strategy. At each stop, the charges were whittled down—factually and legally—until only a single, unsupported charge remained. Negotiating a nonprosecution agreement and return of $53 million for Banco San Juan International and its directors, after a high-profile raid and seizure, resulted from a “full-court press” challenge to the warrant, exposing government misconduct, as well as pursuing collateral litigation and the opportunity to work with a new, professional and reform-minded U.S. attorney.

Share two trial tips that have been key to your success.

1) Write a basic closing argument, then work backward. Determining early on what you must prove for the jury to agree will dictate every witness and document you introduce. 2) Develop one primary theme that the jury will hear repeatedly and can embrace to guide them to your desired verdict.

Photo Credit: Marissa Rauch Photography

Mark MacDougall