The Trump II reign has come with new legal wrinkles (many of them unconstitutional) as Donald Trump is taking the hint from Project 2025 and trying to radically remake the nation in the image of conservatives. As with any massive policy change, that’s led to a run on legal services as clients try to navigate exactly what the law is. But the Trump administration is also running on vibes with folks with a history of loyalty to the cause receiving benefits, regardless of actual experience.
And that means law firms with MAGA ties are doing great. Both Skadden and Davis Polk hired Miller Strategies, staffed by Trump fundraiser Jeff Miller and former Trump White House lawyer Stefan Passantino, for lobbying efforts. Kirkland and Simpson Thacher each hired Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm founded by a top Trump fundraiser, before capitulating to Trump. And Hogan Lovells also turned to MAGA-adjacent advisers to navigate the changing legal landscape.
Hunter Bates, co-leader of Akin Gump’s lobbying and public policy practice, told Law.com, “Having a deep roster of Republican advisers in a moment like this—where you have GOP control of the House, Senate and White House—has led to an even busier period than we otherwise could have imagined.” And Akin is on an “aggressive hiring spree” of folks with MAGA bona fides, most recently snatching up Kelly Ann Shaw who served as deputy assistant to the president for international economics in Trump’s first term.
And Morrison Cohen, a firm led in part by former Trump real estate attorney Y. David Scharf, is also making moves to cash in on the windfall for Republican attorneys. The firm launched a government strategies and controversies practice to help clients “navigating public policy, regulatory compliance and government relations strategy.” Scharf said, “What we’re seeing now in terms of demand is certainly an uptick, and I think it’s driven partially by people looking for guidance and understanding, which is something that we have a unique perspective and ability to be able to deliver.” He continued, noting the firm’s deep connections to MAGAland are helping the firm in this tumultuous time, “We have that ability with the current administration with long-standing, deep ties that start at the top and work their way through various members of the cabinet.”
When the administration’s controlling mandate is vibes, not the Constitution or the rule of law, then who you know is a lot more important than what you know.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
