Click on linked names to read about other key players, or see the full list.

Thanks to his client Monica Lewinsky Ginsburg's image was transformed in a matter of days from low-key Los Angeles-based medical malpractice lawyer to darling of the Sunday talk shows. Ginsburg represented the former White House intern during the critical first four months of the investigation of her relationship with the president. While Washington insiders said the California civil attorney mishandled negotiations with Starr, others said Lewinsky was well represented by Ginsburg, 54, and his low-key colleague, Washington-based Nathaniel Speights.

Ginsburg, a longtime friend of the Lewinsky family, at first described Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth Starr and his team as professional and labeled their relationship as cordial. Later, he was highly critical of Starr's tactics. In June, Lewinsky replaced Ginsburg with lawyers Plato Cacheris and Jacob Stein.

• Ginsburg: I Didn't Get 'Dumped' (June 4, 1998)
• Dropping Ginsburg, Lewinsky Hires Two New Lawyers (June 3, 1998)
• Ginsburg's 'Open Letter' to Starr (California Lawyer, June 1998)
• Ginsburg's Role Shrinks as Starr Nears Decision (May 24, 1998)
• Ginsburg Colleagues Air Doubts (Feb. 2, 1998)
• Taking the Fatherly Approach (Jan. 25, 1998)

(Updated October 2, 1998)