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Paul, Weiss law firm caves, so does Trump, sort of [1]

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Date: 2025-03-20

I wrote not just days ago how Trump went after another law firm that dared to give Trump problems in the past. They were the subject of another executive order designed to ruin their business. The first law firm, Perkins Coie, went to court and got a restraining order, but left out wiping DEI out of the firm or getting their security clearances back. Why did Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison capitulate?

Trump's posting on Truth Social went 5 pages, so I'll try to cover as much as I can before including it.

The executive order was titled: Addressing The Risks From Paul Weiss. In it, Trump went after DEI at the firm, their association with the Mueller probe, Mark Pomerantz, took away their security clearance, barred any contractors from having a anything to do with them, canceled any contracts with them, and banned them from entering any federal buildings. Real hard to be a lawyer on the last one.

Trump has agreed to withdraw his order but with Paul, Weiss agreeing to concessions that will essentially neuter the firm in the long run. They should have fought it like Perkins Coie. They will win their case in total.

The first point is that they will not favor political parties. Not so bad except most of their clients were Democrats and Republicans are never going to give them any business, even with the withdrawl of the order. They will also hire Republicans as well as Democrats.

They will not deny any clients, including pro bono work, and for nonprofits, based on the clients political beliefs.

They must take on a wide range of pro bono matters whether conservative or liberal.

DEI goes bye-bye.

They're going to do $40 million in pro bono work "to support the Administration's initiatives" including for veterans, "fairness in the Justice System," following Trump's battle against antisemitism. "and other mutually agreed projects."

Administration initiatives. That means whatever Trump wants it to mean. Antisemitism means they won't help Palestinian protesters anymore.

Trump met with Paul, Weiss Chairman Brad Karp, and "Mr. Karp acknowledged the wrongdoing of former Paul Weiss partner, Mark Pomerantz, the grave dangers of Weaponization, and the vital need to restore our System of Justice."

Mark Pomeranz didn't do anything wrong, except develop a case against Donald Trump that Alvin Bragg eventually used. He also wrote a book about developing the case and how Bragg had dropped it at first, and he left the Manhattan DA's office as a result.

Trump is also making them admit to something they didn't do, which is weaponized justice. That's what Trump and Pam Bondi are doing. Making them to admit to a lie is the ultimate insult.

In response to Trump's offer, Brad Karp kissed the ring and said, "We are gratified that the President has agreed to withdraw the Executive Order concerning Paul, Weiss. We look forward to an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his Administration."

Humiliation is what I call it. They could have easily won in court. Telling a law firm what they can and cannot do, is illegal on the face of it. A judge would have laughed at the legality of the order as Judge Beryl Howell did. There was already precedent. Why did they cave?

Williams & Connolly was happy to help represent Perkins Coie. They even sent 14 lawyers to let the government and Judge Howell know they were serious. With 132 cases against Trump, the DOJ is spread thin without enough lawyers to handle the cases.

This was a time to stand up to Trump, just on principle. The only answer is that the board of the partnership said it was in the business's best interest to make a deal they could live with. I wonder how their 1,200 lawyers will feel about this. Will they accept the situation or resign in protest? I wonder what the discussion was at Perkins Coie in comparison.

I'm not sure if this is a deal they can live with. Happy clients before, Democrats, may take their business elsewhere. Republicans weren't using them before, anyway. That means a big hit on the business. They save themselves in the short term and screw the future.

Perkins Coie put up a manifesto in response to Trump's executive order titled: "Protecting Our Firm and Safeguarding the Interests of our Clients." It's a short and good read.

Sometimes I root for a Trump adversary just for the sheer orneriness of it. I thought this firm would follow suit with Perkins Coie. Unfortunately, this creates a precedent in the wrong direction.

Trump is already taking a victory lap. How many more law firms to go?

Maybe they should have called Marc Elias.

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