Image of Adam Lurie

Adam Lurie

Head of the U.S. Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations Practice, Partner, Washington, D.C. and New York

“I represent clients in their most important cases, whether at trial, or in civil litigation, arbitration, white-collar defense or other crisis, with a focus on winning, persuasively telling their side of the story and on furthering their business goals.”

Overview

Education and qualifications

Overview

Adam Lurie, the Head of Linklaters' Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations Practice in the United States and the Americas, and Linklaters’ Washington, D.C. office, is regarded as one of the United States’ top trial lawyers and litigators. He serves as lead counsel to multinational companies, financial institutions, foreign governments and leaders in their most important cases, whether at trial, or in civil litigation, arbitration, white-collar defense or other major crisis. Adam draws on his prior experience in all three branches of the U.S. government, including a senior U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) official, DOJ white-collar prosecutor, and chief counsel for a committee in the U.S. Congress.

Adam has been recognized internationally as among the best in his field. For example:

  • Chambers USA states that “Adam is fantastic. He is extremely creative in terms of his solutions and arguments. He is extremely business-minded, client-focused and pragmatic."  It goes on to report that Adam is “measured and practical. He is a staunch advocate, confident, polite and effective."
  • The American Lawyer, in 2024, identified Adam two separate times in its “Litigator of the Week” column for his role as lead trial counsel to the Chief Information Officer of Viatris, the global pharmaceutical company, in both DOJ and SEC insider trading cases where Adam and a Linklaters team secured the complete dismissal of all criminal and then civil charges against their client.
  • The Legal 500 has repeatedly recognized him as a "recommended lawyer" for both commercial litigation and white-collar criminal defense. One client, the Board Chairman of a leading NYSE listed company, informed the Legal 500 that “Adam stands out as truly exceptional, a gifted trial lawyer and fierce advocate who makes the complicated sound simple, and puts people around him at ease. If the trial or other stakes are high, Adam should be on anybody’s short list for lead counsel.” Another client, the General Counsel of a major U.S. political entity, reported that “Adam is an incredible advocate, and exceptional strategist, and I would have him lead the charge in front of any judge or jury anywhere.”
  • FT’s prestigious Innovative Lawyers rankings recently recognized Adam’s defense of the Forge Group and ANZ Bank in multiple civil disputes as “highly commended” with top-marks for “originality,” “leadership,” and “impact.”
  • Who’s Who Legal recognizes Adam for white collar criminal defense, investigations and civil litigation, identifying Adam as "among the world’s leading litigation lawyers."
  • Acritas identifies Adam as a litigation “star” also finding that he is “very smart,” delivers “prompt legal advice,” and is even relied upon for “a confidential second opinion.” One client reported to Acritas that Adam is “very intelligent, has good litigation instincts, has the ability to explain them in a very common-sense way, and he comes up with creative solutions.”
  • Superlawyers recognizes Adam as one of Washington, DC’s best civil litigation and white-collar lawyers, and Adam is a member of the prestigious Edward Bennett Williams American Inn of Court in Washington, D.C., whose members include federal judges, top DOJ lawyers, and only the top defense lawyers in the Nation’s Capital.

In addition, Adam is a non-profit and community leader. For example, he is a board member, and member of the Legal Committee of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Adam is also a U.S. board member for Volcani International Partnerships, the prominent Israeli non-profit which brings leading Israeli agricultural technology to the developing world. Further, Adam takes on important pro bono matters, including representing AJC before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Courts of Appeals in precedent setting cases involving religious liberty, freedom of speech, Presidential power, and other critical issues.

Work highlights

White collar and regulatory cases – recent examples include:

  • Lead counsel to global manufacturing company achieving DOJ declination in FCPA investigation with no disgorgement.
  • Co-lead trial counsel to Exactech, Inc. in False Claims Act suit filed in Alabama federal court.
  • Lead outside counsel to the Inter-American Development Bank in significant corruption investigation and settlement with Odebrecht. 
  • Lead defense and trial counsel to CEO of a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company in DOJ and SEC securities fraud case.
  • Lead defense and trial counsel to CIO of Mylan Pharmaceuticals in DOJ and SEC insider trading case. 
  • Lead U.S. counsel to ICBC Standard Bank Plc achieving DOJ FCPA declination and SEC administrative resolution. 
  • Lead counsel to global financial institution achieving DOJ declination in global forex investigation, despite guilty plea of client’s former trader.  
  • Lead outside counsel to two Latin American multinational companies in Inter-American Development corruption investigations.
  • Lead U.S. counsel defending global accounting and professional services firm in DOJ and SEC securities fraud investigation.
  • Appointed lead independent monitor for global construction company in wake of DOJ and EPA Clean Air Act resolutions.  
  • Lead U.S. counsel to one of Russia’s top investment banks in a CFTC insider trading investigation regarding trading in oil futures.   
  • Lead counsel to clients in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russian interference investigation and 2023 Executive Branch classified document investigations.   
  • Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s campaign as lead counsel in “Bridgegate” matters, winning total dismissal of class action. 

High-stakes and complex civil cases – recent examples include:

  • State Street bank as lead defense counsel in federal antitrust and market-manipulation class and related actions.  
  • Natwest bank as co-lead defense counsel in federal antitrust class action involving the credit default swap market. 
  • Nestlé Nespresso as lead defense counsel in winning dismissal of class action alleging deceptive trade practices involving product warranties.
  • AES subsidiary, Alto Maipo, as lead counsel in winning right to draw $90M letter of credit before trial court, First Department and NY Court of Appeals.  
  • Corebridge Financial as lead defense counsel in multiple data breach class actions consolidated as MDL in federal court in Boston.
  • Sibanye-Stillwater as co-lead trial counsel, winning a Delaware shareholder appraisal trial following acquisition of Stillwater mining. 
  • Sibanye-Stillwater as co-lead defense counsel in winning complete dismissal of federal securities class action.
  • Metro Bank plc as lead defense counsel in winning complete dismissal of federal securities class action. 
  • New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo as lead defense counsel in winning total dismissal of civil rights and False Claims Act suit.
  • ANZ Bank as lead defense counsel in civil actions, including precedent-setting dismissal of 28 U.S.C. § 1782 action.
  • GENFIT, as lead plaintiff’s counsel, in federal and California trade secret action against key competitor and winning emergency injunctive relief.
  • TDK Electronics, as co-lead defense counsel, in suit alleging misappropriation of competitor confidential information.  
  • Forge Group’s estate as lead trial counsel in winning complete dismissal of California federal litigation, defeating request for injunction, and obtaining Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in California federal court.
  • Microsoft as lead trial counsel in a patent infringement suit involving online advertising technology.

Commercial and investment arbitrations – recent examples include:

  • Leading global infrastructure company as lead U.S. defense counsel in winning ICC arbitration involving $3 billion energy project, and in rare award, winning all costs and fees. 
  • Leading global infrastructure company as co-lead U.S. counsel in Emergency and ICC arbitrations involving energy project in Chile.
  • Leading European energy company as lead U.S. counsel in $500 million ICSID arbitration against Latin-American country concerning major energy infrastructure project.
  • Government of Gabon and Gabon Instrumentality as lead counsel in successfully defeating request to confirm arbitration award in U.S. court.
  • Holtec International as lead defense counsel in federal suit and successfully compelling arbitration of defamation and tortious interference claims, and in related LCIA arbitration.
  • Forge Group, the Australian power company, in successful dismissal of numerous U.S. civil proceedings and in related LCIA arbitration.   
  • Top software company as lead arbitration counsel in winning fraud and breach of contract claims.
  • Fortune 50 technology company as lead counsel in trade secret, breach of contract and fraud-related arbitration.
  • Top global insurance company as co-counsel in Latin-American arbitration proceedings involving breach of contract claims resulting in complete dismissal of proceedings. 
  • Leading Brazil based infrastructure company in multiple arbitration proceedings.

Education and qualifications

Adam obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Mary Washington in 1996 and holds a Juris Doctor from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University in 2000. Adam was previously a DOJ white-collar prosecutor and senior official and a top lawyer for the U.S. Congress. At the DOJ, Adam was Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division where he advised DOJ leadership on litigation strategy and policy involving white-collar enforcement, including concerning the FCPA, securities fraud, money laundering, the Bank Secrecy Act and health care fraud. Adam was also a DOJ Assistant United States Attorney in the District of New Jersey, where he specialized in prosecuting securities fraud, public corruption, health-care fraud, money laundering and other white-collar cases. In addition, Adam was Chief Counsel for Investigations on the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee.

Adam also worked as a law clerk from 2000-2002 for District Judge Clarence C. Newcomer, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.