Barry Pollack stepping in to defend Nicolás Maduro feels like watching a legal heavyweight enter the ring against the US government once again—having masterminded Julian Assange's freedom after that marathon extradition fight, he's proven he can take on the toughest cases involving free speech, sovereignty, and powerful adversaries. Now, the Harris St. Laurent & Wechsler partner is representing the former Venezuelan president facing life sentences on allegations of running a massive cocaine trafficking network.

Pollack's track record is impressive: acquitting a Swiss banker in tax evasion, handling Russian firms in sanctions probes, and navigating Assange's plea deal that finally brought him home. For Maduro, the strategy will likely focus on questioning US jurisdiction over foreign leaders and the legality of the dramatic overseas capture operation.

As someone who followed the Assange saga closely, it's fascinating seeing Pollack use similar arguments—challenging extraterritorial reach and political motivations behind prosecutions. Maduro's case is historic, the first deposed foreign leader tried in US courts since Noriega. The courtroom battles ahead could set precedents on international law and US power projection. Pollack's calm, meticulous style might turn this high-stakes drama into a landmark challenge. Whatever one's view on Maduro, having a defender of Pollack's calibre ensures the case gets serious scrutiny.