Drew Findling
Drew Findling | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 21, 1959 |
| Education | Oglethorpe University (BA) Emory University (JD) |
| Spouse | Beth Kaplan Findling |
| Children | 3 |
Drew Findling (born December 21, 1959)[1][2][3] is an American criminal defense lawyer known for trying cases in state and federal courts across the country[4] ranging from complex white-collar crimes to serious violent felonies,[4] representing clients who are hip hop musicians, NBA and NFL stars, Grammy Award winners, and elected officials,[4][5] as well as other well-known clients, including Donald Trump.[6][7] Based in Atlanta, he is the founding partner of The Findling Law Firm, P.C.
Early life and education
Findling grew up in the blue–collar hamlet of Coram, New York, raised by a single mother who was a grocery store cashier.[8] He was awarded a track scholarship to study at Oglethorpe University, earning a BA degree in 1981.[8][9] He then earned a JD degree from the Emory University School of Law in 1984.[10]
Career
Findling was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1984 and spent the first three years of his career as a Fulton County public defender during which time he was the first attorney in the nation to successfully present a battered woman syndrome defense, including on 27 felony counts, based only on verbal abuse.[4] He was awarded the Indigent Defense Award by Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL).[4][5]
In 2018, Findling was a featured speaker at the Aspen Ideas Festival, participating in a one-on-one interview with journalist Joshua Johnson on "Hip Hop Collision: Music, Race and The Law."[11][12]
During 2018–2019, Findling was president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). In 2023, he was appointed as a trustee of the NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice, and appointed to Board of Advisors for the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law.[4]
In 2022, former U.S. President Donald Trump hired Findling to represent him in the ongoing criminal investigation into election interference in Georgia.[6][7] In 2023, Findling was replaced by Steven Sadow.[13]
Findling doesn't "...choose cases or not take cases because of the race of our client, the ethnicity of our client, the sexual orientation of our client, the substantive charge of the client, the political views of the client.”[8]
Awards
- In 2018, The Hollywood Reporter named Findling one of "Hollywood's Top 20 Troubleshooters".[14]
- In 2018, he was recognized as one of Billboard's "R&B and Hip-hop 100 Power Players".[14][15]
- In 2018, he was the recipient of the NACDL's Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award, presented each year to only one criminal defense attorney in the country.[4]
- In 2024, Forbes named Findling to its inaugural list of the Top 200 Lawyers in America.[4][16]
- Findling was presented the NAACP’s Civil and Human Rights Award.[5]
- He was awarded a commendation by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.[5]
Personal life
Findling is married to Beth Kaplan Findling,[17][1] and they have three children, calling himself and them “a family of left-wing liberals.”[5][1] He has been given the nickname #BillionDollarLawyer, originally conferred by client Young Dolph.[12][8][1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Atlanta's #BillionDollarLawyer once attacked Trump, now defends him". ajc.com. The Atlanta Journal–Constitution. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ "Many thanks for the birthday wishes". instagram.com/drewfindling. Drew Findling. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ "Drew Findling: Trump's new lawyer once called him 'racist, cruel'". bbc.com. BBC. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "NACDL - Drew Findling". NACDL - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Drew Findling". aspenideas.org. Aspen Institute. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ a b Hallerman, Tamar; Rankin, Bill. "Trump attorneys: Special grand jury probe 'a clown show'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ a b Marwan, Samar (August 17, 2022). "Who is Drew Findling? #BillionDollarLawyer defends Trump in Georgia election probe". Fast Company. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d Smith, Chris. "From Cardi B to Donald Trump: Meet the High-Flying, Liberal Lawyer Defending the Former President in Georgia". vanityfair.com. Vanity Fair. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ "Alumni in the News". Oglethorpe University Newsletter. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ "Emory University School of Law's Post". facebook.com. Emory University School of Law. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ Kay, Christin (June 28, 2018). "Aspen Ideas Festival 2018: Hip Hop Collision: Music, Race And The Law". Aspen Public Radio. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021.
- ^ a b Coscarelli, Joe (February 8, 2018). "Atlanta's #BillionDollarLawyer Is Looking Out for Your Favorite Rappers". New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022.
- ^ Holmes, Kristen; Murray, Sara (August 24, 2023). "Trump replaces top Georgia lawyer ahead of surrender". CNN. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ a b Cullins, Ashley (December 6, 2018). "Hollywood's Troubleshooters: Top 20 Lawyers for Divorces, Plea Deals and Death Plans". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022.
- ^ Billboard Staff (September 27, 2018). "Billboard's 2018 R&B/Hip-Hop 100 Power Players Revealed". Billboard. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022.
- ^ Jackson, Liane. "America's Top 200 Lawyers 2024". Forbes. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ Jaffe, Marcia Caller. "Chai Style Homes: Elegant Gwinnett Expanse". atlantajewishtimes.com. The Atlanta Jewish Times. Retrieved 23 February 2025.