Who Are the Top Lawyers Sean “Diddy” Combs Hired For His Dream Defense Team?

On Monday, jurors in New York will be chosen for the sex trafficking and racketeering trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. A key question they’ll need to answer is this: Was the music mogul operating a criminal enterprise with his large staff over several decades, or is he simply a wealthy individual with a dedicated team and some distinctive habits? The prosecution appears to base their case on this point.

Based on reports from prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, it’s alleged that the incarcerated figure in the realm of rap and fashion repeatedly took advantage of and exploited women, using his business empire for such misconduct. Additionally, he is accused of committing other acts of violence and obstructing justice.

The trial, set to commence on May 12 with opening statements, is projected to run for eight consecutive weeks. During Monday’s jury selection process, Judge Arun Subramanian informed potential jurors of these details. Out of the twelve individuals chosen and thoroughly vetted, four will testify. At this moment, only one of these witnesses has been identified: Cassie Ventura, a former romantic partner of the defendant, who settled an out-of-court civil case last year. She is expected to be the first to give testimony; at present, the identities of the three subsequent witnesses remain unpublicized.

Combs claims innocence regarding the accusations made against him, stating he did not commit any crimes. In a recent court appearance, he disclosed that he turned down a plea bargain offering a lighter sentence. The renowned rapper shared this information towards the end of last week.

Four witnesses are ready to share their encounters with Combs, as the prosecution aims to demonstrate his alleged manipulation and control over women for sexual coercion. Additionally, they will show how staff members allegedly helped cover up his misdeeds, ensured victims stayed silent, and kept them in check. Subsequently, these witnesses will be subjected to cross-examination by a skillful group of lawyers, handpicked as some of the top defense attorneys money can secure. Here’s an overview of Combs’ defense team members.

Marc Agnifilo

This way of life, often referred to as ‘swinging’ or by other terms, is considered acceptable by some individuals. His acceptance of it stems from its widespread prevalence.

In this trial for Combs, a seasoned criminal defense attorney with a long-standing reputation for representing prominent clients is the lead defense counsel. This lawyer, a founding partner at Agnifilo Intrater LLP, served as the head of New Jersey’s Violent Crimes Unit as an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1998 to 2006. Over his career spanning three decades, he has argued in more than 200 cases and managed to secure not guilty verdicts in numerous complex trials concerning charges such as assault, international tax fraud, political corruption, and other serious crimes.

A significant achievement in Agnifilo’s professional journey was the dismissal of the rape case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a former head of the International Monetary Fund, who was accused of sexually assaulting a maid in a New York hotel in 2011. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation for confronting prosecutors directly and arguing that his clients are being unjustly targeted, a strategy he employed in the case of Turkish businessman Reza Zarrab, who was accused of bypassing U.S. sanctions on Iran through intricate financial dealings. He has also expressed similar views about the charges against Combs, referring to it as an “unfair prosecution.

Despite the fact that not every high-profile case has been a victory for his clients, Agnifilo has taken on some challenging cases, such as defending Keith Raniere, the founder of NXIVM. Unfortunately, Raniere was found guilty on several charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. As a result, he received a 120-year prison sentence following his conviction on seven felonies that were linked to what prosecutors referred to as a cult involving sexual exploitation, which was allegedly run by the organization Raniere co-founded.

Teny Geragos

“He’s fighting. He’s innocent, and he’s going to be able to show it.”

Teny Geragos, daughter of the high-profile L.A. attorney Mark Geragos, is a co-founder at Agnifilo Intrater LLP. She brings extensive knowledge to the table, particularly in handling and investigating claims of sexual misconduct. Her legal career includes defending cases related to sexual assault, securities fraud, wire fraud, public corruption, tax evasion, and narcotics trafficking.

This version maintains the original’s clarity while providing a more conversational tone, making it easier for readers to understand the information.

Teny’s expertise in defending against sexual misconduct allegations has been showcased on social media and News Nation’s Cuomo. During her appearance on the show, she spoke with host Chris Cuomo about her client, Diddy, who was facing charges despite three denied bails. Teny argued that Diddy’s lifestyle is not criminal in nature and pointed out that the question of consent had never been raised by prosecutors in relation to the alleged crimes. The defense strategy for the sex trafficking charges and explicit “freak off” parties thrown by Combs, according to Teny, relies heavily on the claim that all involved were adults who willingly consented to their actions. In her conversation with Cuomo in September, she emphasized that the prosecutors had never stated that the women did not consent to what occurred.

Teny similarly presented Diddy’s case on TikTok, utilizing a method of refuting accusations from a lawsuit filed against Combs. This was done by addressing the camera with multiple headlines, court documents, and relevant images displayed as background props.

@misstrialtrg
Diddy is being sued again — here’s what’s actually going on #diddy #lawyersoftiktok #news
♬ original sound – TRG

Brian Steel

“The more challenging the case is, the more likely I’ll take it.”

A relatively new member of the defense team, Brian Steel has garnered attention not just from a recent article in The New Yorker, but also due to his work defending a well-known rapper on RICO charges, similar to what happened with Combs. Prior to this, Steel was legal counsel for rapper Young Thug during the longest criminal trial ever held in Georgia.

In the Young Thug YSL RICO trial, Judge Steel was found in contempt of court following a dispute about a private meeting he had with a crucial state witness and prosecutors. Despite being ordered to disclose his source, Steel remained defiant and successfully overturned the contempt charge. This incident led to him being replaced from the trial. It’s no wonder that Agnifilo and his team were impressed by Steel’s actions; they recently hired him as part of their legal team.

Steel earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan followed by a Juris Doctor degree from Fordham Law in 1990. Following Young Thug’s plea deal and eventual acquittal during the 22-month trial, Drake dedicated a song to him.

Alexandra Shapiro

Previously working as a clerk for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Shapiro has earned a reputation for handling cases that stir up controversy. Her most recent high-profile client, currently incarcerated alongside Combs at the Brooklyn jail, is Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX. Interestingly, she was successful in overturning his appeal against a fraud conviction.

Shapiro’s accomplishments during her career involve refining federal fraud laws at the Supreme Court and presenting the initial insider trading case there. She is widely recognized for her expertise in appeals, white-collar defense, and civil litigation. Prior to establishing her own firm, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York and provided legal advice in the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, it’s worth noting that in 2022, Shapiro also wrote the critically acclaimed legal thriller, “Presumed Guilty“.

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Shapiro is not just known for her career; in 2022, she additionally published a highly praised legal thriller titled “Presumed Guilty“.

Xavier R. Donaldson

A fair society ensures that those who are accused have vigorous representation. In fact, it’s hard to envision a just society lacking criminal defense lawyers; I certainly can’t.

On May 1st, during a court hearing at a Manhattan federal court, Combs’ defense team was present, and it was noted that an unnamed legal addition had joined their distinguished group. Since then, court records have revealed that Xavier Donaldson, a former prosecutor from the Bronx who has been practicing law since 2023, has become part of the high-profile team. Interestingly, Donaldson is an alumnus of Howard University, just like Combs, whom he attended before chasing his dreams in the music industry.

Jason Driscoll

Jason Driscoll, a relatively new attorney, joined Shapiro Arato Bach in 2023, following his tenure at another firm where he represented both individual and corporate clients, gaining experience in both civil and criminal cases. Prior to his work in the private sector, Driscoll served as a clerk for a federal district judge in the Southern District of New York, the jurisdiction covering Combs’ trial, and also worked as a federal appellate judge in the Second Circuit.

Anna Estevao

Anna Estevano appears well-suited for Combs’ legal team due to her expertise in cases involving investigations, appeals, and white-collar crime – all relevant areas given the charges against Combs by federal prosecutors. According to her LinkedIn profile, she was made partner at Sher Tremonte LLP in New York in January, following seven years as counsel there. Estevao has been working with Combs’ team since last fall, joining shortly after his September arrest in Manhattan.

Mark Geragos

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but express my excitement about the latest developments in the high-profile case of a celebrated individual, involving Erik and Lyle Menendez. It’s been whispered that our esteemed defense attorney, who has made a name for himself with high-stakes cases, might take on a significant role in Coombs’ defense. This legal powerhouse has stood tall in some of the biggest trials, representing figures like Scott Peterson, Chris Brown, Jussie Smollett, and many others facing severe accusations. However, the specifics of his involvement in Combs’ case are yet to be revealed; as speculation has been building over the past three weeks since he was spotted in court with Team Diddy, Gereagos has tactfully dodged questions about his part in the proceedings entirely.

There remains a significant, long-lasting enigma concerning the Combs trial. In February, lawyer Anthony Ricco unexpectedly requested to withdraw from the case. To this day, no one has been able to explain why Ricco chose to leave his client’s representation. As he departed, he penned a letter to the court stating, ‘I cannot under any circumstances continue to effectively represent my client.’

Ricco, known for defending Osama bin Laden and Omar Rahman following the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, focuses his practice on cases in both state and federal courts. His work has spared numerous death row prisoners from execution. Moreover, he gained notoriety for representing Gescard Isnora, a police officer who fatally shot Sean Bell, an unarmed Black man, in 2006. Due to his history of taking on complex cases, his decision to step away from the Combs case has sparked much curiosity and intrigue, as many believe it could shed light on aspects of Combs’ lavish and sensual lifestyle that are yet to be revealed.

2025-05-05 21:00