Trump's Personal Lawyer Reportedly Part of Billionaire Gautam Adani's Criminal Defense Team

Boris Epshteyn, a personal lawyer and adviser to President Trump, has reportedly joined the legal defense for Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, who faces a 2024 US fraud case. The Adani family allegedly sought Epshteyn's help for his Trump administration connections after their official law firm, Sullivan & Cromwell, failed to have the Justice Department drop the case. Epshteyn's role is said to be behind the scenes.

Adani fraud case

• ▪The US Justice Department has a 2024 fraud case against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, founder of Adani Group
• ▪By spring 2025, senior DOJ officials had approved proceeding with the fraud case against Gautam Adani
• ▪Lawyers for Gautam Adani unsuccessfully urged the Justice Department in 2024 to drop the fraud case against him

Epshteyn involvement

• ▪The reporting on Boris Epshteyn's involvement is based on seven sources and records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal
• ▪Boris Epshteyn, President Trump's personal attorney, reportedly joined Gautam Adani's legal team in the spring of 2025
• ▪The Adani family was telling people as of summer 2025 that Boris Epshteyn was helping them with their legal case

Trump administration connections

• ▪The Adani family sought Boris Epshteyn's help due to his perceived ties to the Trump administration
• ▪In 2024, the Adani family made inquiries to determine if Boris Epshteyn was a genuine insider in the Trump administration
• ▪Boris Epshteyn serves as President Trump's adviser and legal coordinator

Legal representation strategy

• ▪The law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, which also represents Donald Trump, was hired by Gautam Adani in summer 2024 to handle his case
• ▪Boris Epshteyn's role in the Adani case was behind the scenes; he did not attend meetings with prosecutors or appear on legal papers