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4w ago

Trump Secures $600M in New Pro Bono Deals From Major Law Firms

Five top law firms agree to extensive free legal work for Trump administration initiatives, pushing total commitments to $940 million as resistance within the legal community grows.

U.S. President Donald Trump attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Signage is seen on the building exterior of the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., August 17, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Overview

  • Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft have pledged a combined $600 million in pro bono legal services to avoid punitive executive orders.
  • The agreements include provisions to halt EEOC inquiries into the firms' diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, which Trump criticized as discriminatory.
  • These deals bring the total pro bono commitments from nine law firms to $940 million, with Trump hinting at plans to use these services beyond his presidency.
  • Internal dissent is mounting, with over 500 associates at Allen Overy Shearman Sterling signing a letter opposing the agreements, citing threats to the rule of law and the firms' reputations.
  • Some firms, including Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block, continue to challenge Trump’s executive orders in court, securing temporary rulings that block enforcement of key provisions.