Thomas Sipp, a second-year associate at Skadden, publicly resigned in protest against the firm's financial support for President Trump's administration. During an internal meeting aimed at reassuring associates, Sipp delivered a powerful speech condemning the firm's actions as morally indefensible and damaging to its purported commitment to pro bono work and diversity initiatives. His departure email, which expressed his feelings of embarrassment and disillusionment, resonated with many colleagues who shared his concerns about the firm's direction under the current administration.
I believe, as I know many of you do, that what the current presidential administration is doing is wrong. That we are sliding into an autocracy where those in power are above the rule of law.
Having held itself out as a champion for these values, for this firm to turn its back on them so suddenly and so easily was shameful. I am embarrassed to work here.
The associate, Thomas Sipp, followed up the speech with a departure email, available in full below, which does not disappoint.
There was a time when I sincerely believed that this place was committed to its true pro bono causes and diversity initiatives... it believed these things would make the world... a better place.
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