Atty. Robert D. Luskin

Atty. Robert D. Luskin

Robert Luskin is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. He is one of the best known and most highly-regarded litigators in Washington, D.C., concentrating in complex criminal litigation at both the trial court and appellate level.

Call (202) 551-1700 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Robert D. Luskin at a glance

Robert D. Luskin is a criminal defense and white collar attorney based in Washington, District of Columbia, practicing at Paul Hastings LLP. Educated at Harvard University (J.D., 1979). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026). Serands clients in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Robert Luskin is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice at Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office
  • He is one of the best known and most highly-regarded litigators in Washington, D.C., concentrating in complex criminal litigation at both the trial court and appellate level
  • Beginning his career in government service, and having later transitioned into private practice, Mr. Luskin has represented clients in virtually every high-profile matter in Washington, D.C. over the last three decades
  • Mr. Luskin has special experience in cases involving allegations of official corruption
  • While at the U.S
  • Department of Justice (DOJ), he helped supervise the ABSCAM investigation, which resulted in the conviction of several members of Congress, and thereafter represented the DOJ in hearings before Congress concerning the investigation
  • Since entering private practice, he has represented a Cabinet Officer and senior White House officials of both parties in criminal investigations by Independent Counsels and the DOJ, the senior staff of a U.S
  • Senator in the Keating Five Senate Ethics Investigation, and Members of Congress from both parties in criminal investigations
  • Mr. Luskin successfully represented a sitting U.S
  • District Judge in a criminal trial and appeal, securing the reversal of his client’s conviction before the U.S
  • Supreme Court and the en banc U.S
  • Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • More recently, he successfully represented Karl Rove in the Special Counsel investigation of a leak of the identity of a CIA officer and a member of Congress in the investigations arising out of the prosecution of lobbyist Jack Abramoff
  • Mr. Luskin also represented the U.S
  • Ambassador to the EU in recent impeachment proceedings before Congress
  • Mr. Luskin has devoted his attention recently to the particular challenges posed by the representation of foreign corporations and financial institutions in multi-jurisdictional, cross-border criminal investigations and has reached path-breaking agreements in these areas with the DOJ
  • He has special expertise in civil and criminal investigations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and has represented foreign corporations in three of the five largest FCPA investigations ever resolved with the DOJ and the Securities and Exchange Commission
  • According to the Global Investigations Review, since 2008, Mr. Luskin has served as lead counsel in the second most substantial FCPA resolutions
  • Most recently, his role as lead counsel includes the three-country resolution for Airbus, the largest global anti-corruption resolution ever, as well as TechnipFMC, Braskem, SBM, and Alstom
  • From 1980 to 1982, he was Special Counsel to the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section of the U.S
  • Department of Justice, where he was responsible for legal and policy issues concerning the Organized Crime Strike Forces, as well as supervision and review of complex undercover operations
  • Mr. Luskin is a past Chairman of the Committee on RICO, Forfeitures and Alternative Remedies of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section, a former President of the Harvard Law School Association of the District of Columbia, and has been a member of the D.C
  • Circuit Judicial Conference
  • For two decades, he was a Lecturer at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he taught courses in advanced criminal law and labor racketeering, and is currently a member of the faculty of the Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches a course in Global Anti-Corruption
  • He has lectured at Harvard Law School, the Sorbonne, and other universities

Practice Areas Explained

Robert D. Luskin's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Robert D. Luskin handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Criminal Defense

A criminal defense attorney protects your rights from arrest through trial. Find experienced lawyers handling DUI, drug, federal, theft, and violent-crime charges.

Robert D. Luskin is one of 214,270 criminal defense attorneys indexed nationally. Browse criminal defense attorneys in District of Columbia →

White Collar Crimes

Robert D. Luskin is one of 20,025 white collar attorneys indexed nationally. Browse white collar attorneys in District of Columbia →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in District of Columbia

Practicing law in District of Columbia. Legal matters in District of Columbia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Washington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate District of Columbia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in District of Columbia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in District of Columbia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional District of Columbia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Washington or all attorneys in District of Columbia.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Robert D. Luskin

Where is Robert D. Luskin's law office located?
Robert D. Luskin's law practice is located in Washington, District of Columbia. The firm is Paul Hastings LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Robert D. Luskin handle?
Robert D. Luskin focuses on criminal defense, white collar. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in District of Columbia.
Where did Robert D. Luskin go to law school?
Robert D. Luskin earned their education at (J.D., 1979).
How can I contact Robert D. Luskin for a consultation?
You can contact Robert D. Luskin directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Robert D. Luskin received?
Robert D. Luskin's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar.

Education

J.D.
Harvard University
- 1979

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- 2026

Reviews

These reviews belong to platform users; they do not constitute advertisement or promotion for the attorney. Opinions are published for informational purposes only.

No reviews yet.