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Fact check: Who was Jeffrey Epstein's main lawyer?

Checked on July 30, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Jeffrey Epstein did not have a single "main lawyer" but rather employed a high-powered legal team consisting of multiple prominent attorneys. The key lawyers identified include:

  • Alan Dershowitz - described as "one of Jeffrey Epstein's former attorneys" [1] [2] and listed among his legal team [3]
  • Jay Lefkowitz - played a crucial role in negotiating the controversial non-prosecution agreement with Alexander Acosta [3] [4] [5]
  • Ken Starr - "joined Jeffrey Epstein's legal team" and was instrumental in securing a sweetheart deal for Epstein [6], conducting a "scorched-earth legal campaign to persuade federal prosecutors to drop a sex-trafficking case" [7]
  • Additional team members included Jack Goldberger, Roy Black, Guy Lewis, and Gerald Lefcourt [3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question assumes Epstein had one "main lawyer," but the evidence shows he assembled a dream team of elite attorneys from prestigious law firms. This strategic approach allowed Epstein to leverage multiple legal specialties and high-profile connections simultaneously.

Key missing context:

  • The collaborative nature of Epstein's legal strategy, where different attorneys played specialized roles
  • The timing and specific cases each lawyer handled - some may have been involved in different phases of his legal troubles
  • The institutional power these lawyers brought - Ken Starr was a former Solicitor General and independent counsel, while Dershowitz was a Harvard Law professor with Supreme Court experience
  • The financial resources Epstein deployed to assemble this unprecedented legal team, which likely cost millions of dollars

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself contains an implicit assumption that may not reflect reality. By asking for Epstein's "main lawyer," it suggests a single attorney led his defense, when the evidence clearly shows he employed a coordinated team approach [3].

This framing could minimize the scope of Epstein's legal strategy and the institutional connections he leveraged. Wealthy defendants like Epstein typically don't rely on a single attorney but instead assemble teams that can work multiple angles simultaneously - a reality that benefits high-end law firms and elite legal practitioners who can command premium fees for such coordinated efforts.

The question may also reflect a simplified media narrative that seeks to identify single responsible parties rather than examining the systemic advantages available to wealthy defendants in the American legal system.

Want to dive deeper?
What was Alan Dershowitz's role in Jeffrey Epstein's defense team?
How did Kenneth Starr's experience as a prosecutor influence his defense of Jeffrey Epstein?
What were the key arguments made by Jay Lefkowitz in Jeffrey Epstein's 2008 plea deal?
Who were the other notable lawyers involved in Jeffrey Epstein's cases?
How did Jeffrey Epstein's lawyers respond to allegations of sex trafficking?