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Trump Secures $600M in Pro Bono Legal Commitments from Top US Law Firms

Five major firms agree to provide free legal services and abandon diversity initiatives to avoid punitive executive orders targeting their operations.

Overview

  • Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett each committed $125 million in pro bono legal work, while Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft pledged $100 million.
  • The agreements include provisions requiring the firms to cease diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, instead adopting strictly merit-based hiring practices.
  • Trump's executive orders had threatened to revoke security clearances, restrict federal access, and cancel contracts for firms representing political adversaries or pursuing DEI policies.
  • The total value of legal services pledged by firms targeted by the administration now exceeds $940 million, with work directed toward causes aligned with Trump’s agenda, including veterans' support and trade negotiations.
  • Three firms—Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, and WilmerHale—continue to challenge the constitutionality of these executive orders in court, securing preliminary injunctions against key provisions.