Jeffrey Then Featured in Law360: “How A Child Of Immigrants Defends Abrego Garcia”

Jeffrey Then was profiled in Law360 for his role on the team defending Kilmar Abrego Garcia in one of the country’s most closely watched legal cases.

The feature highlights Jeffrey’s work alongside Hecker Fink colleagues Sean Hecker, Jenna Dabbs, David Patton, Derek Wikstrom, Thea Raymond-Sidel, Nicole Ng, and Aly Kersley in the criminal case, including the team’s effort to secure the dismissal of the human smuggling indictment against Mr. Abrego Garcia. The article details Jeffrey’s contributions to briefings, witness preparation, and the vindictive prosecution arguments, as well as Jeffrey’s role communicating with Mr. Abrego Garcia throughout the representation.

A native Spanish speaker, Jeffrey was able to explain developments directly to Mr. Abrego Garcia and hear his questions without an interpreter. “I came to trust him a great deal because we speak the same language,” Mr. Abrego Garcia told Law360.

The profile also discusses how Jeffrey’s upbringing in the Bronx as the son of Dominican immigrants shaped his approach to advocacy. Growing up, he helped customers at his father’s travel and money-transfer business understand English-language documents, including letters from landlords and notices from the Social Security Administration. That experience, along with helping his own family navigate language barriers, informs the way he approaches his work today.

“Wherever you are, whatever you do, you should make sure that you are also helping people,” Jeffrey told Law360.

Read the profile here.