Hogan & Hartson
jlabram@hhlaw.com

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Jonathan L. Abram
Partner, Washington, D.C.

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.

Representative Experience
International arbitration of aircraft construction dispute relating to one of the world’s largest aircraft programs.

Defense of class action filed against major automobile manufacturer relating to retiree health benefits.

Representation of the largest maker of personal computers in anti-gray marketing litigation and other commercial litigation matters, and representation of software firms in licensing and intellectual property disputes.

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.

Representation of virtually all of the nation's airlines in proceedings relating to regulation of Los Angeles International Airport.

Litigation of Commerce Clause challenges to a variety of state and local regulations affecting interstate commerce ranging from food weight to solid waste to the brokerage of commercial real estate.

Representation of clients and class plaintiffs challenging actions by various U.S. agencies, including the Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Representation of defendants in numerous nationwide class actions.

Advise clients on a variety of inverse condemnation matters for both property owners and quasi-governmental clients, including successfully representing owners of coal property in the largest inverse condemnation judgment in U.S. history.

Representation of clients on a variety of large litigation matters in the energy field, involving takings, electric restructuring, mergers, alleged price fixing, pipeline construction and use, federal enforcement actions, and nationwide class actions.

Representation of clients in proceedings concerning the construction of a major natural gas pipeline project in the Western United States, including matters arising from restructuring the natural gas and electricity markets, disputes concerning risk of loss between electricity marketers, and defending one of the largest price-fixing conspiracy cases ever brought against the oil industry.

PRACTICES/INDUSTRIES
Litigation
Technology
AREAS OF FOCUS
  • Complex Commercial Litigation
  • Constitutional Litigation
  • Energy Litigation
  • Administrative Litigation
EDUCATION
J.D., with distinction, Duke University School of Law, 1981 B.A., with high honors, University of Florida, 1978
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Board Member, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
BAR ADMISSIONS District of Columbia Florida