Rachel Cohen, who went viral for resigning from Skadden, is now spearheading legal challenges at Lowell and Associates.
Rachel Cohen, the associate who made waves with her viral LinkedIn resignation from Skadden, has announced she will join Lowell and Associates as their “Strategic & External Affairs Coordinator.” Cohen’s resignation came after Skadden pledged $100 million in free legal services to help shield the Trump administration from a hostile executive order. She took the bold step of sharing her resignation letter online, publicly denouncing the arrangement.
In a follow-up LinkedIn post, Cohen revealed she had been urged by many to start a firm with her fellow resignees. Instead, she is “doing one better” by joining the newly established Lowell and Associates, a firm poised to take on legal representation countering executive orders and actions. She expressed her excitement, saying, “There is an urgent need for lawyers to take on representation that runs counter to Executive wishes and actions. Some lawyers and law firms aren’t prepared to meet the current moment. We are, and I’m hopeful that firms like ours choosing to lead the way will bring others down the path with us.”
Embed from Getty ImagesJoining Forces to Challenge the Executive Order
Cohen will be joined by fellow Skadden resignee Brenna Trout Frey at Lowell and Associates. The new firm’s leadership will be headed by Abbe Lowell, a distinguished white-collar defence attorney known for representing high-profile figures such as Ivanka Trump and Hunter Biden. Lowell is leaving his role at Winston & Strawn to build a practice focused on challenging the actions of the current administration. Two additional Winston & Strawn lawyers will also be making the move to Lowell and Associates.
The firm has yet to launch a website, but its mission is clear: to represent individuals, including state and federal officials, who have been unlawfully targeted by the administration. The firm is also dedicated to pursuing litigation against improper revocations of grant funding by the Department of Government Efficiency and other federal bodies.
A Bold Career Move and Social Media Presence
Since resigning from Skadden, Cohen has remained highly visible on social media, especially LinkedIn and TikTok, where she has been vocal about her stance. She was instrumental in organizing an open letter that garnered nearly 2,000 anonymous signatures from associates condemning Trump’s executive orders. Cohen has also testified before the Democratic members of Congressional Judiciary Committees on the importance of upholding the rule of law. Recently, she was photographed protesting alone after the FBI arrested a Wisconsin judge.
Challenging Trump’s Legal Network
Cohen’s resignation is part of a broader trend of law firms facing pressure from the Trump administration. The president has amassed over £700 million in free legal services, with firms like A&O Shearman, Paul Weiss, and Kirkland & Ellis targeted by sanctions. Other firms such as WilmerHale, Jenner & Block, and Perkins Coie have faced restraining orders for opposing Trump’s executive orders in court. Microsoft recently dropped Simpson Thacher from a $69 billion matter, replacing them with Jenner & Block in response to political and legal concerns.
