Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

Jonathan Abram engages primarily in complex civil litigation and arbitration, focusing on disputes involving technological or economic issues in matters ranging from computer hardware and software litigation, to satellite use, to land use and major construction projects, to government regulation, to large energy matters. His work in the computer and high-tech fields has included representing the largest maker of personal computers in anti-gray marketing litigation and other commercial litigation matters and representing software firms in licensing and IP disputes. Jonathan was also lead counsel in the successful defense of a major media client sued in connection with the failure of an Intelsat satellite on launch in China.

Litigation arising from government regulation has been a staple of Jonathan's practice for years. He represented virtually all the nation's airlines in proceedings relating to the regulation of Los Angeles International Airport; handled Commerce Clause challenges to a variety of state and local regulations, ranging from food weight to solid waste; and represented clients and class plaintiffs challenging actions by agencies including the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Interior, Agriculture, Transportation, and Energy, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (now U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Jonathan has handled bidding disputes for clients ranging from major defense contractors to the nation’s largest disaster relief agency. He has also handled a variety of inverse condemnation matters for both property owners and quasi-governmental clients, including successfully representing owners of coal property in obtaining the largest inverse condemnation judgment in United States history.

Jonathan has also handled a variety of large litigation matters in the energy field, involving takings, electric restructuring, mergers, alleged price fixing, pipeline construction and use, and federal enforcement actions. Principal energy matters Jonathan has handled include proceedings concerning the construction of a major natural gas pipeline project in the Western United States, matters arising from restructuring the natural gas and electricity markets, disputes concerning risk of loss between electricity marketers, litigation including class actions relating to alleged market manipulation in energy trading, and defending one of the largest price-fixing conspiracy cases ever brought against the oil industry.

Jonathan also has broad experience litigating constitutional issues and complex commercial disputes. He has defended major media clients against defamation and other First Amendment litigation, including the successful defense of a major television network against defamation claims arising from a documentary about the U.S.S. Iowa explosion and its aftermath and the defense of a college charged with defamation in connection with the nationwide anthrax investigation. He has handled complex commercial litigation and arbitration matters across a wide range of industries, from manufacturing to media, and from real estate and construction to investment banking.

For some years, Jonathan served as Partner-in-charge of Hogan & Hartson's Community Services Department, a practice group established by the firm over 30 years ago and now widely recognized as one of the premier pro bono efforts in the country. His pro bono practice has covered many areas of public interest law, including civil rights, immigration reform, religious freedom, First Amendment rights, and representing death row and other inmates in Florida, Texas, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Along with two other Hogan partners (and myriad of others at the firm), Jonathan also represented the plaintiff class in the Denny's Restaurant public accommodation litigation, which led to the largest public accommodation settlement ever.

Before joining Hogan & Hartson, Jonathan served as a law clerk to The Honorable Thomas Reavley, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and to The Honorable Ben Krentzman, then Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Areas of Practice

• Litigation
• Technology
• Class Actions
• International Litigation and Arbitration

Bar Admissions

• Florida, 1981
• District of Columbia, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1984
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1983
• U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1985
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1985

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Hon. Ben Krentzman, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1981 - 1983 (Law Clerk)
• Hon. Thomas M. Reavley, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1983 - 1984 (Law Clerk)
• The District of Columbia Bar (Member)
• The Florida Bar (Member)

Past Employment Positions

• The Honorable Thomas Reavley, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Law Clerk
• The Honorable Ben Krentzman, then Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Law Clerk

Education

• Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina, 1981
  J.D.
  Honors: With Distinction, Order of the Coif
  
  Law Review: Duke Law Journal, Note and Comment Editor, 1980 - 1981
• University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1978
  B.A.
  Honors: With High Honors, Phi Beta Kappa

Address

555 Thirteenth Street, NorthWest
Washington, DC 20004

Phones

(202) 637-5681

Faxes

(202) 637-5910

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.hhlaw.com