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$940,000,000
in legal work to appease Trump.

“They give me a lot of money considering they’ve done nothing wrong.”
— Donald J. Trump

Why It Matters

These firms are shaping the future of American democracy — not in the courtroom, but in cowardice.

When legal elites bow down and lend their names and reputation to authoritarian actors, they’re not neutral. They’re complicit.

Below are the firms that have “bent the knee” to Trump, as the White House puts it, and some of  the details reported on what Trump expects from these firms moving forward. 

Trump and the White House have made clear they’ll seek to exploit these deals–and when they do, the firms will face a reckoning of their own making.

The Capitulators

These firms didn’t just flinch, they folded.

And Trump is taking full advantage: While the firms have largely maintained they will simply be providing typical pro-bono services, Trump has repeatedly suggested that he expects the firms to serve his administration’s interests–and reports have emerged that the White House may even try to call on the firms to represent Trump and his allies personally.

Facing mounting pressure, A&O Shearman entered direct negotiations with Trump.

  • Allocate $125 million worth of legal resources;

  • Settled potential EEOC complaint regarding internal DEI programs to satisfy terms set by the administration.

Facing mounting pressure, Cadwalader reportedly entered direct negotiations with Trump.

  • Allocate $100 million worth of legal resources;

  • Align firm pro bono priorities with administration initiatives including criminal justice, antisemitism, and veterans’ services.

Facing mounting pressure, Kirkland entered direct negotiations with Trump.

  • Allocate $125 million worth of legal resources;

  • Submitted to EEOC review of diversity policies before the administration agreed to withdraw its inquiry.

Facing mounting pressure, Latham & Watkins entered direct negotiations with Trump.

  • Allocate $125 million worth of legal resources;

  • Commit to ongoing monitoring of firm DEI practices in conjunction with Trump-appointed legal monitors.

Facing mounting pressure, Milbank entered direct negotiations with Trump to avoid becoming the target of a threatened executive order.

  • Allocate $100 million worth of legal resources; 
  • Put conservatives on the firm’s pro bono committee to ensure that conservative causes and nonprofits can receive pro bono legal work.

Facing mounting pressure, Paul Weiss entered direct negotiations with Trump to avoid becoming the target of a threatened executive order.

  • Allocate $40 million worth of legal resources; 
  • Appoint a Trump-approved “outside advisor” to oversee the dismantling of the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) structures.

Facing mounting pressure, Simpson Thacher entered direct negotiations with Trump.

  • Allocate $125 million worth of legal resources;

  • Restructure firm-wide DEI-related employment practices following EEOC scrutiny.

Facing mounting pressure, Skadden entered direct negotiations with Trump to avoid becoming the target of a threatened executive order.

  • Allocate $100 million worth of legal resources;
  • Bring all pro bono under firm control, limiting individual attorneys’ freedom to work on cases that might run afoul of Trump.

Facing mounting pressure, Willkie entered direct negotiations with Trump to avoid becoming the target of a threatened executive order. 

  • Allocate $100 million worth of legal resources; 
  • Dismantle firm’s existing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) structures.