The Trump administration continues to openly target Biglaw firms for their representation of clients and causes adverse to the president’s political agenda. Three top firms — Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie, and Paul Weiss — have found themselves on the receiving end of Trump’s retaliatory executive orders, which strip attorneys of their security clearances, terminate the firms’ government contracts, and limit lawyers’ access to government buildings. On top of these (likely unconstitutional) executive actions, Trump has sicced the EEOC on 20 additional Biglaw firms over their DEI policies, with the agency launching full-scale investigations into their alleged “unlawful” employment practices.
Although associates have spoken up on these issues, Biglaw leadership has largely remained mum, perhaps in the hope of avoiding Trump’s notice. Unfortunately, there may be no escaping the president’s wrath, and everyone is silently wondering who could be next.
Wonder no more, because Bloomberg Law has published what could be considered a blueprint for Trump’s future executive orders meant to punish Biglaw firms for clients their current and former partners have represented in court.
Without further ado, these are six of the firms that may have targets on their backs, in alphabetical order:
Elias Law Group
Before starting his own firm, Marc Elias ran the political practice group at Perkins Coie, which has already been targeted with an executive action by the Trump administration; he also served as outside counsel to the Harris-Walz presidential campaign.
Foley & Lardner
The firm investigated former partner Cleta Mitchell, who was on the call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, where Trump asked Raffensperger to “find” him additional votes
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Barry Berke, who now co-chairs the firm’s litigation practice group, served as impeachment special counsel and chief impeachment counsel during Trump’s 2019 and 2021 impeachment trials; the firm now represents parties challenging the Trump administration’s immigration and refugee policies
Hecker Fink
Partner Joshua Matz served as counsel for the House Judiciary Committee during Trump’s first impeachment trial and also worked on the Committee’s inquiry into the January 6 coup attempt; Matz was part of the team that represented E. Jean Carroll in her sexual assault and defamation lawsuits against Trump, and recently represented special counsel Hampton Dellinger against the Trump administration over his termination
Jenner & Block
Trump referred to former partner Andrew Weissmann, who assisted in the Mueller probe and prosecuted former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort, as “scum” in a recent speech at the Justice Department
WilmerHale
Former special counsel Robert Mueller practiced at the firm until 2021; partners Seth Waxman and David Ogden represent inspector generals who were fired by the Trump administration
Good luck to these Biglaw firms as they try to evade Trump’s revenge tour for simply doing their jobs. Thankfully, the law is on their side in this Shakespearean nightmare.
Trump’s Big Law Fury Shows Additional Firms Are Target Risks [Bloomberg Law]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
