Lynne Abraham, a Partner in Archer’s Philadelphia Office, focuses her practice on government relations, mediation, litigation and trial strategy and tactics, as well as appellate advocacy.
Ms. Abraham joined Archer following a distinguished career in public service that began shortly after she graduated from Temple Law School in 1965. Since 1991, Ms. Abraham has served as Philadelphia District Attorney, the first woman to hold the position. Originally appointed by Philadelphia judges in May 1991, she won election in November 1991 to an unexpired term and was re-elected to four, four-year terms before announcing she would not seek re-election. Her 18-year tenure as district attorney is the longest in modern city history.
As leader of the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania and one of the largest in the nation, employing approximately 600 and handling more than 75,000 cases a year, Ms. Abraham forged a reputation as a tough and effective yet compassionate protector of public safety for more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia. Among her myriad accomplishments, Ms. Abraham was one of the first district attorneys in the country to form a non-profit foundation operating in a district attorney’s office when she founded Urban Genesis Inc. to promote community leadership and provide grants to fund projects to improve neighborhoods and help the needy.
Before becoming District Attorney, Ms. Abraham served as executive director of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (1972-73); legislative consultant for Philadelphia City Council (1974-76); Philadelphia Municipal Court judge (1976-80); and Philadelphia Common Pleas judge (1980-91).
Ms. Abraham will continue to work in the private sector to promote legislative initiatives aimed at preventing gun violence and curbing the activities of Internet sexual predators.