In early 2026, the legal fight over President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting major U.S. law firms is moving into a new phase. The orders sought to restrict lawyers’ security clearances and encouraged federal agencies to scrutinize government contracts connected to firms’ clients, citing firms’ political ties or high-profile adversarial hires.
Four firms—Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale—sued and won in district court, with judges ruling the actions unconstitutional. The administration appealed, and the cases are now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which is considering consolidation; the firms’ motions are due Jan. 26. The U.S. Department of Justice has brought in new counsel, including Abhishek Kambli.
Meanwhile, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison and eight other firms avoided litigation by striking agreements involving large pro bono commitments—raising ongoing questions about what work “counts” and how these deals will be tracked and enforced.