Overview

• Paul Weiss negotiated a $40 million pro bono agreement with the Trump administration, leading to the rescission of an executive order targeting the firm.
• The deal required Paul Weiss to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, a move widely criticized by alumni and legal experts.
• Over 100 alumni of the firm signed an open letter condemning the agreement as a capitulation to political pressure and a threat to legal independence.
• Chairman Brad Karp defended the decision, citing potential firm collapse due to client losses and lack of support from other law firms.
• Other firms, such as Perkins Coie, continue to challenge similar executive orders in court, with bar associations warning of risks to the rule of law.