In this Above the Law column, legal commentator Mark Herrmann offers a provocative defense of Big Law firms that chose to settle with the Trump administration rather than fight its executive orders. While acknowledging the reputational and ethical costs of capitulation, Herrmann argues that it was a rational, even necessary move to protect firms from …
As President Trump issues executive orders targeting law firms for their past legal work or diversity efforts, most large firms have opted to strike deals rather than push back — a response shaped by the hyper-competitive “talent war” that has reshaped Big Law. The rise of high-paid, mobile deal-making partners has eroded firm loyalty and …
In March 2025, Keystone Law’s London headquarters was vandalized by activists due to its representation of U.S. defense contractor Teledyne, which had obtained a court injunction against the protest group Palestine Action. This incident reflects a growing trend: law firms are increasingly becoming targets of activist reprisals, not just their clients. Security experts warn that …
In April 2025, dozens of Big Law associates across major firms—including Skadden, Simpson Thacher, Willkie Farr, Kirkland & Ellis, and Latham & Watkins—submitted public resignation letters in protest of their firms’ compliance with political demands from the Trump administration. These letters, featured here, articulate a shared alarm over the erosion of democratic norms, the undermining …
As Donald Trump escalates efforts to punish law firms involved in cases against him, several former U.S. solicitors general — including Donald Verrilli, Paul Clement, and Elizabeth Prelogar — are stepping in to challenge his executive orders. These orders strip targeted firms of federal contracts and bar their lawyers from interacting with government agencies. Framing …
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), alongside global legal and human rights groups, has condemned the Turkish government’s lawsuit and criminal investigation against the Istanbul Bar Association and its leadership. Sparked by the Bar’s call for an independent probe into the deaths of two journalists, the charges—including “terrorist propaganda”—are seen as reprisals for …
A coalition of international legal and human rights organizations has condemned escalating attacks by Turkish authorities on the Istanbul Bar Association and the broader legal profession. Following the forced removal of the Bar’s elected leadership and criminal charges against its president and board members, including arbitrary detentions and judicial harassment, concerns are mounting over the …
President Trump’s use of executive orders to punish law firms tied to political opponents has sparked fear across the legal profession, leading some firms to quietly scale back or reject pro bono work on causes that conflict with his administration’s priorities. Civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups report a noticeable decline in law firm support, …
Facing pressure from President Trump’s administration, nearly two dozen top U.S. law firms have quietly removed references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from their websites and adjusted descriptions of pro bono work to align with the administration’s political priorities. The changes—ranging from deleting DEI-related language to cancelling diversity events—reflect a broader trend of legal …
Nearly a dozen of America’s top law firms have pledged a staggering $940 million in pro bono legal services to Donald Trump, with commitments expected to grow. These firms, including giants like Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis, are offering support for conservative legal causes after facing pressure from the former president, who has …