We’ve stumbled into a genuinely unprecedented chapter in our nation’s history, as a former president grapples with an array of legal entanglements while endeavoring to reclaim the presidency. Consider the events of the last week: One of the four criminal cases against Donald Trump surged forward, flying past dismissal motions and forcing his lawyers to confront the looming reality of an impending trial next month in New York. Simultaneously, the Supreme Court found itself considering whether to pause yet another imminent trial. Meanwhile, a riveting hearing unfolded in Georgia, in which the local D.A. was forced to take the witness stand to explain a potentially problematic romantic relationship that could disqualify her from prosecuting the case. And then, on Friday, a judge delivered a staggering blow to Trump’s financial empire: a $354 million (plus interest!) civil fraud verdict. 

In light of all this activity, I connected with Ted Boutrous, a legal luminary renowned for his breadth of expertise. A partner at Gibson Dunn and based in Los Angeles, Boutrous boasts a formidable appellate track record, having represented corporate titans like Walmart and Ford Motor Co., while also prevailing in landmark cases concerning gay marriage. Boutrous is also a stalwart advocate for First Amendment rights, having championed media access in myriad legal battles. It should come as no surprise, given his stature, that he’s been involved in two of the four criminal cases against Trump—representing Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg in a skirmish with House Republicans, and also representing leading news organizations pining for video access to the upcoming D.C. election subversion trial.