Short Answer
Epstein assembled a succession of prominent criminal defense attorneys including Harvard’s Alan Dershowitz, Miami defense specialist Roy Black, Boston’s Martin Weinberg, former Whitewater independent counsel Ken Starr, and briefly in 2019, Jose Baez. Kirkland & Ellis coordinated portions of the defense in the 2008 case.
In Detail
Jeffrey Epstein’s ability to retain some of the country’s most prominent defense attorneys was itself a demonstration of his wealth and connections. His legal representation evolved significantly across the decades and cases.
The 2008 Florida Defense
The team assembled to negotiate and execute the 2008 non-prosecution agreement was a remarkable collection of legal talent:
- Alan Dershowitz: Harvard Law School professor emeritus and celebrity criminal defense attorney, known for representing O.J. Simpson, Claus von Bülow, and others. Dershowitz helped negotiate the NPA terms and has been credited (or blamed) for its extraordinarily favorable terms.
- Roy Black: Prominent Miami defense attorney known for high-profile acquittals, including William Kennedy Smith’s rape case. He was central to the Florida state portion of the defense.
- Martin Weinberg: Boston-based federal defense attorney with a reputation for technical mastery of complex federal criminal cases.
- Jay Lefkowitz: Kirkland & Ellis partner and former Bush administration official who was part of the defense team and coordinated aspects of the NPA negotiation.
- Ken Starr: Former independent counsel in the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky investigation who joined the Epstein defense, bringing institutional credibility and political connections.
The 2019 Defense
Following his July 2019 arrest:
- Martin Weinberg: Returned as lead defense counsel.
- Jose Baez: The Florida-based attorney known for successfully defending Casey Anthony joined briefly in summer 2019 but withdrew months before Epstein’s death.
After Death
Epstein’s estate retained counsel for the ongoing civil proceedings, with different attorneys representing estate interests versus the interests of co-executors.