The Man to See by Evan Thomas

If you’re a lobbyist in trouble, a wealthy white-collar criminal or a politician with cops and reporters at your door, you may want Abbe David Lowell on speed dial. His clients have included Jack Abramoff, former California Rep. Gary Condit and former New Jersey Sen. Robert Torricelli. He’s a partner at Chadbourne & Parke in Washington, D.C.

“I was lucky enough to see Edward Bennett Williams in court; he truly was as good as his reputation. All of us trial attorneys fashion ourselves in one way or another, but in many ways he started it all for us. He made the practice of criminal-defense law respectable in the 20th century. And while you read about his great law and trial moments, you also read about the traits that make attorneys more important to their clients than just their legal training.”

(Photo courtesy of Simon & Schuster)