"Above the Law has spent a lot of time and digital ink decrying the cowardly decision of nine Biglaw firms to bend a knee to Donald Trump and ink deals promising $940 million in pro bono payola for conservative causes. These deals have garnered a lot of criticism from around the industry. since the Executive Orders that were threatened were unconstitutional power grabs and many wondered, if a firm won't stand up to the bullying of the Trump administration for themselves, how will they do it for clients?"
"But it's not so cut and dried. After showing their belly, several of the firms decided to use their lawyerly skill to work against Trump's agenda. We made a big deal when Milbank cut their billing rates to fight on behalf of so-called sanctuary cites. Plus they're working against Trump's tariffs in court. And when Skadden took on a pro bono client that runs afoul of Trump's preferred immigration goals, it was worthy of cheers."
"Skadden and Milbank aren't alone. Reuters reports Latham filed a lawsuit against the administration after it stopped construction on a Danish energy company's Rhode Island offshore wind farm. Plus, Willkie Farr is representing the Arlington, VA and Fairfax, VA school districts over the Department of Education's threatened funding freeze over their bathroom policies."
Nine large law firms entered agreements promising $940 million in pro bono support for conservative causes, triggering widespread industry criticism. Several of those firms subsequently took pro bono matters opposing Trump administration policies, including Milbank reducing billing rates for sanctuary cities, Skadden representing immigration-related clients, Latham suing over a halted offshore wind project, and Willkie Farr defending school districts against threatened Education Department funding actions. These defensive and activist pro bono efforts are notable but do not erase the impact of the original deals. The deals are portrayed as contributing to erosion of the rule of law and enabling more aggressive policies.
Read at Above the Law
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