Adam Abelson_Bio
Download this bio as .pdf

Adam Abelson

Partner

Office
Baltimore
Tel.
+1 410.949.1148
Fax.
410.659.0436
Others
Send an Email
vCard
LinkedIn

Adam Abelson represents clients in complex civil litigation, white collar criminal defense, and government investigations. 

His criminal defense focus includes alleged complex financial, securities, and health care fraud, including under the False Claims Act. His civil litigation focus includes securities enforcement actions, complex commercial disputes, and antitrust and legal malpractice matters. He also represents health care providers and their patients in high-stakes disputes with health insurance companies.

Adam was a member of the Zuckerman trial team that successfully defended former White House Counsel Gregory Craig in a lengthy investigation and trial of charges based on allegations of false statements arising from a Foreign Agents Registration Act inquiry. The jury returned a not guilty verdict in September 2019. 

In 2020, Adam was named a Young Lawyer of the Year by The American Lawyer, one of only five nationwide.

He also maintains an active pro bono practice and is deeply involved in the community and legal profession. He is Chair of the American Bar Association’s Working Group on Building Public Trust in the American Justice System, for which he worked to develop the ABA’s Ten Guidelines on Court Fines and Fees, and chaired its development of the ABA’s Principles on Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Policies. He has served on the board of the Job Opportunities Task Force since 2017, including serving as the Vice Chair. 

Before joining Zuckerman Spaeder in 2012, he served as a law clerk to Judge Andre M. Davis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and Judge Catherine C. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

Education
  • New York University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2010
    • Order of the Coif
    • Ann Petluck Poses Memorial Prize
    • Managing Editor, NYU Journal of International Law and Politics
       
  • Princeton University, B.A., cum laude, 2005
Languages
  • Spanish
Bar admissions
  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia
Court admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
Clerkships
  • Hon. Andre M. Davis, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • Hon. Catherine C. Blake, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
Professional leadership
  • Chair, American Bar Association Working Group on Building Public Trust in the American Justice System
  • Chair, ABA Principles on Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Policies
  • Contributing author, ABA Ten Guidelines on Court Fines and Fees
Community involvement
  • Board Member (2017–present) and Vice Chair (2018–present), Job Opportunities Task Force
  • Lawyers’ Alliance, Public Justice Center, 2016-2021
  • Member, The Leadership, Baltimore, 2020–2021
  • Member, Next Up Program, Greater Baltimore Committee, 2017-2018
Representative matters
  • Zuckerman trial team that successfully defended former White House Counsel Gregory Craig in a lengthy investigation and trial of charges based on allegations of false statements arising from a Foreign Agents Registration Act inquiry. The jury returned a not guilty verdict in September 2019.
  • Defended former CFOs of a publicly traded company in SEC and DOJ investigations relating to the company’s accounting practices.
  • Represented a foreign national targeted in an insider trading investigation conducted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice. 
  • Represented a former employee of a now-defunct international law firm charged with participating in a complex scheme to defraud the firm’s lenders concerning the firm’s financial condition. 
  • Represents a health plan in a False Claims Act investigation alleging failure to disclose error made by government actuary that caused overstatement of past capitation rates, resulting in tens of millions of dollars of asserted overpayments. 
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a trade association regarding board governance and employment-related allegations. 
  • Represents a national law firm against allegations of malpractice. The matter involves the sale and licensing of patents. 
  • Represented a foreign manufacturer of electronic connectors in a U.S. litigation in support of a Swiss arbitration proceeding. 
  • Represented hospitals and trade associations in judicial challenges related to the 340B drug discount program.
  • Represented a former NFL player in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in a lawsuit against the National Football League’s pension plans over benefits for disabilities resulting from  brain damage during his NFL career. 
  • Represented a post-acute health care company in litigation involving allegations of unfair competition and breach of contract.
  • Represented a physician defending against allegations of improper prescribing practices.
  • Represented an animal rights organization at trial and on appeal in an Endangered Species Act citizen-suit to protect endangered and threatened species in the custody of a roadside zoo, obtaining an injunction permanently prohibiting a zoo from possessing any endangered or threatened species. 
  • Represents a pro bono client in litigation brought against a mobile home operator for alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act. 
  • Represented a pro bono client in five-day trial in Domestic Relations Branch of the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. The trial court granted our client legal custody, primary physical custody, and child support. 
  • Represented an international law firm and a regional law firm against allegations of legal malpractice in litigation in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. 
News
Recognitions
Adam Abelson_Bio

Adam Abelson

Partner

Office
Baltimore
Tel.
+1 410.949.1148
Fax.
410.659.0436
Others
Send an Email
vCard
LinkedIn