Honestly, the legal world hasn't seen anything quite like this. For decades, there was a sort of "gentleman's agreement" in Washington. You hire a lawyer, they fight your case, and everyone moves on to the next one. But when Trump attacks law firms, that old-school playbook doesn't just get tossed out—it gets shredded.
The shift started hitting hard in early 2025. Suddenly, some of the biggest names in "Big Law"—firms like Perkins Coie and WilmerHale—weren't just arguing cases in court. They were the targets of Executive Orders.
Why Trump Attacks Law Firms and Why It Matters
It’s not just about winning or losing a specific case. This is about power. Basically, the administration started aiming for the jugular: the ability of these firms to even function.
Take the case of Perkins Coie. In March 2025, an Executive Order labeled the firm’s activity "dishonest and dangerous." The government didn't just stop there. They moved to suspend security clearances for the firm's employees and suggested agencies should cut their contracts. Think about that for a second. If you're a massive law firm and your lawyers can't get into federal buildings or keep their clearances, how do you even represent a client? You kinda can't.
The reasoning? Much of it stems from past work. Trump’s team pointed to the firm’s involvement with the 2016 Clinton campaign and the Steele dossier. It felt like a delayed-fuse bomb finally going off.
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The Firms in the Crosshairs
It’s a "who’s who" of the legal elite. Here’s a look at some of the heavy hitters who found themselves on the "enemies list":
- WilmerHale: Targeted largely because it was the home base for Robert Mueller both before and after his special counsel stint.
- Jenner & Block: Hit with an order because they previously employed Andrew Weissmann, another key player in the Russia investigation.
- Susman Godfrey: This one was different. They didn't work for Mueller. They represented Dominion Voting Systems in that massive defamation suit against Fox News.
- Paul Weiss: They were initially targeted but took a different path, which we’ll get into.
The "Settlement" Era: A New Reality for Big Law
While some firms decided to fight, others looked at the bottom line and blinked. This is where it gets really interesting. Firms like Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, and A&O Shearman chose a path of "cooperation" rather than litigation.
They didn't just sign a piece of paper. They committed massive amounts of money—we’re talking over $1 billion collectively—to pro bono work for causes the administration supports.
Imagine you’re a partner at one of these firms. You’ve built a career on being an independent advocate. Suddenly, your firm is promising $125 million in free legal work to the government's preferred initiatives just to keep the regulators off your back. It’s a total culture shock. Morale in some of these offices? Pretty low, to be honest.
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The Courts Push Back
The judicial system wasn't just going to sit by and watch. By May and June of 2025, the lawsuits started bearing fruit.
Judge Beryl Howell, in a pretty stinging opinion, called the actions against Perkins Coie an "unprecedented attack" on the foundation of the American legal system. She didn't mince words. She basically said you can't punish lawyers just because you don't like who they represent.
By the time we hit early 2026, four different federal judges had struck down these Executive Orders as unconstitutional. They ruled that the government was violating the First Amendment—specifically the right to petition for a redress of grievances and the right of association.
Key Legal Victories
- Perkins Coie v. DOJ: Won a permanent injunction.
- Jenner & Block: Successfully argued that the order violated their First Amendment rights.
- Susman Godfrey: A judge called the targeting a "shocking abuse of power."
The Long-Term "Trump Effect" on the Legal Industry
So, where does this leave us today? The fallout is still settling. We’re seeing a massive reshuffling in the legal market.
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Some clients are actually moving their business away from the firms that settled. Why? Because they’re worried that those firms are no longer truly independent. If a firm is beholden to the administration to keep its contracts, can it really give a client unbiased advice when that client's interests clash with the government's? That’s a tough sell.
On the flip side, the firms that fought back have become magnets for certain types of talent. Lawyers who want to maintain that "independent advocate" identity are flocking to places like WilmerHale or Jenner & Block.
Also, don't ignore the DEI angle. The EEOC has been used as a tool to investigate the hiring practices of several firms. This has forced almost every major law firm to completely re-evaluate how they handle diversity programs. They’re scrubbed-down, "colorblind" versions of what they used to be, mostly out of fear of a federal audit.
Actionable Insights for the Legal Profession
If you’re a business owner or a legal professional, you can't just ignore the political climate anymore. The "neutral" law firm is becoming a myth.
- Audit Your External Counsel: If you're a GC, you need to know where your outside firms stand. Have they made "deals" with the administration? How might that affect their representation of you in a regulatory dispute?
- Diversify Your Legal Portfolio: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Use a mix of firms—some that are politically "safe" and some that have proven they will fight for their independence.
- Watch the Appellate Courts: The 2025 rulings are currently being appealed. The D.C. Circuit Court is the one to watch in 2026. Their decision will likely set the rules of engagement for the next decade.
- Focus on Documentation: If your firm is under the microscope for DEI or past "adversarial" work, ensure your internal documentation regarding hiring and client selection is airtight and merit-based.
The era of the "politically invisible" law firm is over. Whether you like it or not, the brand of your legal counsel now carries a political weight that didn't exist five years ago. Staying ahead of it means being honest about the risks and choosing your partners very, very carefully.