Willkie Farr Surrenders To Trump
Will offer $100 million in pro bono payola. The post Willkie Farr Surrenders To Trump appeared first on Above the Law.
Earlier today, we learned that Biglaw firm Willkie Farr was preparing to be the next Biglaw firm targeted by Donald Trump’s likely unconstitutional Executive Orders. But they weren’t tapping litigators to draft a slam-dunk complaint against the administration. Turns out they were busy groveling to the administration.
According to social media posts from Donald Trump, Willkie has committed $100 million in pro bono services to causes aligned with “conservative ideals.” Similar to these other deals with the devil by other Biglaw firms (Paul Weiss and Skadden), the firm has disavowed their DEI initiatives. In exchange, the firm will avoid one of the increasingly common Executive Orders targeting Biglaw, and the tremendous harm that can bring.
The firm reportedly earned Trump’s ire for hiring the former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and two former investigators for the congressional committee on the January 6th attack. The firm is also known for representing clients in opposition to far-right allies, notably Georgia poll workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who took down Rudy Giuliani.
According to social media posts, some partners at the firm were caught unaware by the firm’s capitulation.
