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The international law firm McDermott Will & Emery announced today that renowned white-collar defense attorney and trial lawyer Abbe D. Lowell is joining the Firm as a partner and will head the white-collar criminal defense practice in McDermott’s Washington, D.C. office.

Lowell is one of the premier white-collar defense lawyers in the United States and has successfully represented clients in investigations and trials all across the country.  He is widely recognized as one of the top lawyers in America and has been named one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers" in America by The National Law Journal, one of the top white-collar litigators by Best Lawyers in America, one of the "Top Ten White Collar Defense Attorneys" by Legal Times, as one of Washington's best attorneys numerous times by The Washingtonian magazine, one of the "most winning" trial attorneys by The National Law Journal, and "one of the people you have on your rolodex" by Roll Call, the newspaper covering Capitol Hill.

His clients have included dozens of high-profile public officials, CEOs and directors of publicly traded companies and financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies and government institutions.  His clients, both current and previous, include Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons; former CEO of ImClone Sam Waksal; former CEO of Healthsouth Richard Scrushy; former D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff; Mississippi mayor Henry Espy; former Congressmen Bill Boner, Harold Ford, Austin Murphy, Joe McDade and Gary Condit; the actor Steven Seagal and lobbyists of the American Israel Policy Affairs Committee (AIPAC).  In addition, Lowell served as Chief Counsel to the Minority in Congress for the Impeachment of President Clinton, previously served as Special Counsel to the House of Representatives Ethics Committee, and was appointed to be Special Counselor to the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights in Geneva.  Prior to entering private practice, Lowell served in numerous posts in the U.S. Department of Justice, including as a Trial Attorney in the Criminal Division, a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and a Special Assistant to the Attorney General.

In announcing the addition of Lowell to the Firm, Harvey W. Freishtat, chairman of McDermott, said:  "We are very pleased that Abbe has joined McDermott.  He is a superb lawyer and has earned an international reputation for his white-collar defense and special litigation work.  He will play an important role in our ability to represent our clients in their most difficult matters."

Jeffrey E. Stone, head of the 275-lawyer Trial Department, stated:  "We are excited that Abbe has chosen to join us over the many firms who would have loved to count him among their ranks.  His decision to join us validates and contributes to our growing reputation as one of the world’s pre-eminent trial firms.  He will work closely with our existing team and will add to our already very deep pool of talent in our national white-collar defense practice."

Lowell, who will be leaving the New York-based law firm of Chadbourne & Parke, said:  "This was a very difficult decision to make because Chadbourne is a wonderful firm and place to work.  But the chance to be part of an international white-collar and special litigation practice with so many offices where I have cases and clients, with as many colleagues who have government and defense trial experience, and with as many clients for whom I can be part of the representation is truly an irreplaceable opportunity.  McDermott is a cutting-edge law firm, and I could not pass up the chance to be part of its future."

Bobby R. Burchfield, co-head of McDermott’s D.C. office added:  "We are delighted to have Abbe as a partner.  As one of the most respected and well-known lawyers in the country, he adds immediate profile and depth to our litigation, trial and congressional investigation practices."

In addition to his practice, Lowell will continue to teach criminal law and evidence as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law Center and Columbia Law School, and he will continue to write on legal issues for national and legal periodicals.

Also joining McDermott will be Pamela Marple, who will be a partner in the Washington, D.C. office.  Before private practice, Marple served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, as Minority Chief Counsel to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and as Minority Deputy Chief Counsel during the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee's special investigation into campaign finance activities in 1996 and 1997.  She is an experienced attorney with deep knowledge of internal investigations, white-collar cases, federal regulatory actions, civil litigation and congressional inquiries.