Her Law Office Handles Luigi Mangione and P Diddy Combs Defense
Ben Thomson, LawFuel contributing editor
From prosecuting high-profile cases to defending them, Karen Friedman Agnifilo has seen it all in her three-decade career. This UCLA graduate and Georgetown Law alum has become a go-to lawyer for complex criminal cases, with a dash of media savvy to boot and is now faced with the highest profile case of her career, defending Luigi Mangione, accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Agnifilo is married to law and life partner Marc Agnifilo who is representing Sean P Diddy Combs in his criminal trial, providing the small criminal law practice with perhaps the two highest profile criminal trials currently in the United States. (Celebrated attorney Tony Buzbee is also representing alleged victims of P Diddy).
A UCLA and Georgetown Law graduate, she represents a new generation of legal professionals who see the law not just as a set of rules, but as a dynamic tool for societal progress. With a track record of considerable success as both a prosecutor and now a successful defense attorney, she is one of the newer law stars on the legal scene.
She assumed leadership as Chief Assistant DA at the office when required, overseeing a massive operation of 1,500 professionals and a $120 million budget while juggling a whopping 80,000 cases annually. showing a strategic vision and earning her respect as a transformative leader who could navigate high-stakes legal environments.
As the Manhattan District Attorney’s Chief Assistant from 2014 to 2021, she wasn’t just an administrator—she was an architect of justice, strategically reshaping how complex legal challenges are approached.
She was instrumental in establishing specialized units that addressed emerging legal issues ranging from violent crime and cold cases to human trafficking and cybercrime to hate crimes and terrorism.
She didn’t just prosecute cases; she built frameworks that expanded the district attorney’s office’s capacity to protect vulnerable communities and received considerable kudos for doing so.
After leaving the DA’s office in 2021, Agnifilo didn’t rest on her laurels. She joined forces with her husband Marc to form Agnifilo Intrater LLP, where she now defends the very types of cases she once prosecuted.
Agnifilo also moonlights as a legal commentator, gracing CNN with her expertise and co-hosting a podcast that draws half a million listeners. She’s even the legal advisor for “Law & Order”.
Now, Agnifilo finds herself in the spotlight once again, taking on the defense of Luigi Mangione (pictured) in a high-profile murder case. With her track record of handling complex and sensitive cases, Mangione couldn’t have picked a more seasoned advocate.
Mangione was arrested following a nationwide manhunt after the Manhattan killing of the healthcare CEO.
