Overview

• Perkins Coie and WilmerHale are asking federal judges to permanently block executive orders issued by President Trump that they argue are unconstitutional retaliations against their legal work.
• The executive orders revoke security clearances, restrict federal building access, and terminate government contracts for targeted firms, citing their past representation of political adversaries and diversity policies.
• Over 800 law firms, along with hundreds of academics, have filed amicus briefs supporting the challenge, though fewer than 20 of the largest Am Law 200 firms have joined publicly.
• At least nine major law firms have settled with the administration, agreeing to provide nearly $1 billion in pro bono legal services to causes endorsed by Trump to avoid further sanctions.
• The legal community is divided, as critics warn the orders undermine the independence of lawyers and threaten the legal profession’s role as a check on government power.