https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2025/03/14/open-letter-from-big-law-associates-calls-for-law-firms-to-defend-their-colleagues/

Over the past several weeks, the Executive Branch has launched an all-out attack aimed at dismantling rule-of-law norms, including by censuring individual law firms by name because of past representation. On March 6, the Trump administration widened the scope of its attack to target firms with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This is not normal. We call on our employers, large American law firms, to defend their colleagues and the legal profession by condemning this rapid purge of “partisan actors,” a group that seems to be synonymous with those the President feels have wronged him.

We join the American Bar Association in “reject[ing] the notion that the government can punish lawyers who represent certain clients.” As attorneys, our work often requires that we represent clients and interests that may not align with our own beliefs. Our system is predicated on the idea that everyone is entitled to zealous representation. Our duty as lawyers to conscientiously pursue our clients’ interests, regardless of whether we personally agree with those interests, is a bedrock principle within the legal profession.

Immediately after taking office, the Trump administration fired at least 17 inspectors general–nonpartisan watchdogs tasked with government oversight–without providing the legally required 30-day notice. The Trump administration also fired high-ranking FBI and DOJ officials, escorting those who worked on Trump’s criminal cases out of the building. Shortly thereafter, Trump’s DOJ sought to dismiss the highly publicized corruption charges against New York City mayor Eric Adams, on the grounds that those charges “restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to [] illegal immigration and violent crime.” This move prompted accusations of a quid pro quo and resulted in an unprecedented series of resignations within the DOJ.

In recent weeks, the Executive has turned its eye to corporate law firms, revoking security clearances and government contracts from Covington & Burling on February 25. The administration explicitly referenced the firm’s work with Special Counsel Jack Smith as it did so. On March 6, the President issued the Executive Order “Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP,” which not only revoked security clearances and contracts from Perkins Coie, but committed to “review the practices of representative, large, influential, or industry leading law firms,” focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. The order further directed the Attorney General to “take any additional actions . . . deem[ed] appropriate in light of the evidence uncovered.”

The Trump administration’s message is loud, clear, and twofold. First, firms that represent those who oppose the administration’s agenda will be punished. This equates lawyers’ views with their clients’ views, and undermines our profession’s commitment to ensure representation for all. It attempts to bully corporate law firms out of engaging in any representation that challenges the administration’s aims, and it intimidates clients out of hiring us if we do not comply. This goes far beyond representation of political opponents. Large firms provided over 5 million hours of legal work pro bono in 2023, both on behalf of individual clients and through large-scale impact litigation. When might the administration decide pro bono representation in immigration court is “adverse” to national interests? Or litigation challenging unconstitutional Congressional action the administration wishes to remain in place? As federal funding is cut to already underfunded public interest organizations, much of this representation may not happen at all if firms refuse to allocate resources to provide it.

Second, the administration will target more large law firms until the industry complies. The Perkins order points to DEI policies as a justification for retribution because the Executive is aware that large firms uniformly have—or until very recently, had—policies aimed at diversifying equity partnership, which remains 89.8% white and 75.2% male. These Executive actions coerce elimination of inclusive policies while leaving a pathway for the administration to intimidate firms out of taking specific clients. They create a culture of fear and make our private-sector employers an extension of the Executive, subject to penalties unless the President approves of their clients and arguments.

Our politics and feelings about the industry and its path forward are varied. But we are united in our condemnation of the administration’s intimidation tactics, viewpoint discrimination, and attempts to weaponize the Executive against the rule of law. It is not lost on us that it targets professions and groups whose existence and independence is vital to any semblance of American democracy.

When we are united, we cannot be intimidated. These tactics only work if the majority does not speak up. Our hope was that our employers, some of the most profitable law firms in the world, would lead the way. That has not yet been the case, but it still very much can be. It is easy to be afraid of being the first to speak. We are removing that barrier; we are speaking. Now it is our employers’ turn.

1. Akin 2022

2. Alston & Bird LLP, c/o 2022

3. Arnold & Porter ‘22

4. Cleary 2022

5. Cleary 22

6. Cleary Gottlieb (Class of 2022)

7. Cleary Gottlieb 2021

8. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton 2024

9. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, 2021

10. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, 2022

11. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, 2023

12. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, 2nd Year

13. Cleary Gottlieb, 2022

14. Covington & Burling 2022

15. Covington & Burling, 2023

16. Covington & Burling, c/o 2022

17. Davis Polk ‘23

18. Davis Polk (Class of 2022)

19. Davis Polk & Wardwell, Class of 2022

20. Davis Polk 2022

21. Davis Polk 2022

22. Davis Polk Class of 2021

23. Davis Polk, Class of 2022

24. Davis Wright Tremaine (2019)

25. Debevoise & Plimpton (2022)

26. Debevoise & Plimpton, 2019

27. Dorsey & Whitney, First Year

28. Fenwick & West LLP, 2021

29. GIBSON DUNN - 2022

30. Gibson Dunn ‘21

31. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, c/o 2021

32. Gibson Dunn 2020

33. Goodwin 2020

34. Goodwin Procter ‘23

35. Greenberg Traurig, 2024

36. Hogan Lovells / second year

37. Hogan Lovells 2024

38. Hogan Lovells, 2024

39. Jenner & Block, Class of 2022

40. Kirkland & Ellis LLP 2022

41. Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 2022

42. Kirkland & Ellis, 2022

43. Kirkland and Ellis 2023

44. Kirkland and Ellis, 2022

45. Latham & Watkins 2023

46. Latham & Watkins, 2023

47. Latham & Watkins, c/o 2022

48. Latham 2020

49. Latham, third year

50. McDermott Will & Emery Class of 2021

51. McDermott Will & Emery LLP, 2022

52. McDermott Will & Emery, 2018

53. Milbank LLP 2022

54. MOFO 2020

55. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius 2021

56. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, third-year associate

57. Morrison & Foerster, 2022

58. O’Melveny 2022

59. Perkins Coie 2024

60. Perkins Coie, 2022

61. Ropes ‘24

62. Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. Class of 2016

63. Sidley Austin LLP 2022

64. Simpson Thacher Bartlett 2nd year

65. Skadden 2016

66. Skadden 2020

67. Skadden 2020

68. Skadden 2022

69. Skadden 2022

70. Skadden 2022

71. Skadden 2023

72. Skadden 2023

73. Skadden 2024

74. Skadden 2024

75. Skadden 3rd year

76. Skadden class year 2022

77. Skadden, 2020

78. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 2021

79. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 2023

80. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 2024

81. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP 2024

82. Skadden, Arps; 2020

83. Skadden, First-year (class of 2024)

84. Sullivan & Cromwell ‘22

85. Sullivan & Cromwell (2023)

86. Sullivan & Cromwell 2022

87. Sullivan & Cromwell 2024

88. Sullivan & Cromwell, 2023

89. Sullivan & Cromwell, 2023

90. Sullivan & Cromwell, Class of 2021

91. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, 2022

92. Weil, Gotshal, and Manges, 2022

93. White & Case 2022

94. 2022 White & Case

95. 2024, Williams and Connolly

96. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (Class of 2018)

97. WilmerHale 2024

98. WilmerHale, 2021

99. Wilson Sonsini, 2022

100. Winston & Strawn, first year (class of 2024)

101. Latham 2022

102. Cravath, 2022

103. Latham, 2023

104. Latham & Watkins, 2023

105. Sheppard Mullin, 3rd year

106. Latham & Watkins 2024

107. Mayer Brown, 2024

108. Sidley Austin LLP, 2023

109. Hogan Lovells 2021

110. Akin 2022

111. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 2023

112. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP 2022

113. Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP ‘16

114. Sullivan & Cromwell 2018

115. Kirkland & Ellis ‘24

116. Foley & Lardner 2018

117. Latham, 2024

118. Covington ‘20

119. Alston & Bird LLP, 2015

120. Linklaters LLP, 2020

121. Mayer Brown, 2024

122. Akerman LLP '21

123. Foley & Lardner 2019

124. Wilson Sonsini, 2020

125. Latham & Watkins, 2022

126. Kirkland & Ellis 2024

127. BakerHostetler, 8th year

128. Cleary Gottlieb, 2022

129. Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 2019

130. Dechert, 2015

131. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLC; Third Year Associate

132. Cadwalader 2024

133. McDermott Will & Emery, 2019

134. Linklaters LLP, 2018

135. Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, 2022

136. Simpson Thacher, Class of 2023

137. DLA Piper 2024

138. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP c/o 2023

139. Latham & Watkins 2023

140. Sidley 22

141. Milbank, 2021

142. Fish & Richardson, 2024

143. Skadden, 2017

144. Cleary Gottlieb, 2019

145. Eversheds Sutherland, 2019

146. Skadden, Class of 2022

147. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, First Year

148. Goodwin, 2023

149. Reed Smith ℅ 2022

150. Gibson Dunn 2020

151. Gibson Dunn, 2022

152. Fish & Richardson 2021

153. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (2023)

154. King & Spalding 2023

155. Wilson Sonsini, 2023

156. Simpson Thacher 2022

157. Skadden, 2017

158. McGuireWoods c/o 2010

159. Thompson Coburn LLP 2023

160. Williams & Connolly 2022

161. Weil, Gotshal & Manges, 2024

162. WilmerHale, 2021

163. Covington & Burling, 2021

164. Nelson Mullins ‘22

165. Sidley Austin 2024

166. Covington & Burling, c/o 2021

167. Alston & Bird 2024

168. Latham & Watkins 2022

169. Debevoise & Plimpton (2024)

170. Skadden, Class of 2016

171. Dechert LLP, Class of 2024

172. Hogan Lovells 2024

173. Jones Day, 2022

174. Hunton Andrew’s Kurth, Class of 2020

175. McGuireWoods, 4th Year

176. Cooley LLP, 2024

177. Morrison & Foerster, 2021

178. Freshfields 2021

179. Kirkland and Ellis, third year

180. Latham & Watkins, 2022

181. Latham & Watkins, 2023

182. Paul, Weiss, 2022

183. Norton rose Fulbright 2023

184. Kirkland & Ellis, first year

185. Debevoise & Plimpton, 2022

186. Goodwin Procter LLP, 2017

187. Mayer Brown, 2022

188. Mayer Brown, class of 2022

189. Covington & Burling, 2022

190. Hogan Lovells 2021

191. Davis Polk 2022

192. Latham & Watkins, 2022

193. Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 2022

194. Bass, Berry & Sims, 2021

195. Alston & Bird, 2023

196. Latham & Watkins, 2023

197. K&L Gates, 2022

198. Ropes & Gray 2021

199. Hogan Lovells, 2024

200. K&L Gates, 2022

201. Fenwick & West, 2016

202. Goodwin 2022

203. Debevoise & Plimpton, 2022

204. Kirkland & Ellis LLP 2022

205. Linklaters LLP, 2021

206. Haynes and Boone, LLP, Class of 2017

207. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, 2024

208. Morrison & Foerster 2023

209. O'Melveny, 2023

210. Covington & Burling, 2022

211. WilmerHale 2024

212. Sullivan & Cromwell, 2023

213. Hogan Lovells 2022

214. Sidley Austin 2024

215. K&L Gates 2022

216. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, 2022

217. Loeb & Loeb 2017

218. Cooley LLP, 2024

219. Sidley Austin, 2022

220. Winston & Strawn, 2020

221. Norton Rose Fulbright 2011

222. K&L Gates, Fourth Year

223. Quinn Emanuel, 2022

224. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, 2024

225. Skadden 1st year

226. Weil, 2020

227. Nixon Peabody LLP, 2016

228. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, 2023

229. Selendy Gay, 2023

230. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton 2024

231. Ropes & Gray LLP, Class of 2021

232. Gibson Dunn 2021

233. Paul Weiss 2019

234. Mayer Brown, 2018

235. Debevoise & Plimpton (2020)

236. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, 2023

237. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP (Class of 2014)

238. Hogan Lovells 2022

239. Ropes and gray, 2023

240. Williams & Connolly LLP 2022

241. Davis Polk & Wardwell 2024

242. K&L Gates, 2023

243. Gibson Dunn ‘21

244. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, 3rd year

245. BCLP 2013

246. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP 2019

247. Kirkland & Ellis 2021

248. Akin 2017

249. Goodwin ‘22

250. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, 2023

251. Arnold & Porter 2024

252. Jenner & Block 2021

253. Boies Schiller Flexner, first year associate

254. Boies Schiller Flexner, Class of 2022

255. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (2020)

256. Boies Schiller Flexner, 2024

257. Sidley Austin LLP 2016

258. Covington and Burling, 2022

259. Goodwin, 2024

260. Sidley Austin, 2024

261. Gibson Dunn, 2023

262. Davis Polk 2022

263. Foley & Lardner LLP, Class of 2022

264. DLA Piper 2019

265. Covington & Burling 2022

266. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, 2019

267. Kirkland & Ellis 2020

268. Cravath, 2022

269. Cooley 2020

270. Womble Bond Dickinson (US) - 2015

271. Jenner & Block, Class of 2024

272. BakerHostetler, 2020

273. Akin, Class of 2022

274. Chapman and cutler, 2020

275. Hogan Lovells, 2020

276. Jenner & Block ‘22

277. Linklaters LLP, 2024

278. Cooley, Class of 2023

279. Beresford Booth 2021

280. Womble Bond Dickinson - 2015

281. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (Class of 2023)

282. Kirkland & Ellis 2022

283. Cooley 2016

284. McDermott Will & Emery 2023

285. Arnold & Porter, 2022

286. Proskauer 2021

287. Gibson Dunn, 2022

288. Wilmerhale, 2023

289. Skadden Arps 2022

290. Morgan Lewis 2013

291. Wilmerhale 2023

292. Goodwin, class of 2018

293. Ballard Spahr LLP, 2024

294. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, c/o 2022

295. Orrick, 2021

296. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, 2017

297. Orrick 2018

298. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (2019)

299. Orrick 2015

300. Orrick 2020

301. Sidley Austin LLP, 2023

302. WilmerHale ‘23

303. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, 2016

304. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP - 2016

305. WilmerHale. 2023 class.

306. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe 2020

307. Orrick 2021

308. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison '22

309. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, 2017

310. Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan 2022

311. A&O Shearman 2009

312. Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt (2016)

313. Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft 2018

314. Orrick 2017

315. WilmerHale, 2023

316. Covington & Burling, 2020

317. Covington & Burling, 2021

318. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom ‘16

319. McGuireWoods LLP, 2022

320. Covington & Burling 2023

321. Venable 2023

322. Latham, 2023

323. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett c/o 2022

324. Mintz Levin 2016

325. Sheppard Mullin 2016

326. DLA Piper, LLP 2019

327. Wilson Sonsini, 2013

328. Covington & Burling 2020

329. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, ‘21

330. Paul Weiss 2016

331. Sullivan & Cromwell, 2023

332. Paul, Weiss 2021

333. Latham & Watkins 2020

334. Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP 2019

335. Linklaters LLP, Class of 2019

336. O’Melveny & Myers LLP 2021

337. O’Melveny & Myers - 2018

338. Sheppard Mullin 2022

339. Davis Polk, 2017

340. Faegre Drinker, 2024

341. Covington & Burling, 2023

342. Squire Patton Boggs, 2016

343. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 2018

344. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, 2018

345. Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, 2020

346. Simpson Thacher 2020

347. Nelson Mullins '17

348. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Class of 2020

349. Milbank LLP Class of 2020

350. O’Melveny & Myers LLP, 2018

351. Goodwin Procter, 2021

352. Morrison Foerster, 3rd year

353. Ropes & Gray - 2017

354. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Class of 2024

355. Dechert, 2019

356. WilmerHale, 2023

357. Hogan Lovells, Class of 2018

358. Debevoise & Plimpton (2019)

359. Quinn Emanuel 2014

360. Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, seventh year

361. Freshfields LLP (2019)

362. Sidley Austin LLP, 2020

363. Sullivan & Cromwell, 2021

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5695722&forum_id=2:#48757238)

Mara Senn (she/her)Mara Senn (she/her)

• 2nd • 2nd

Global Executive Compliance Lead, GE HealthCareGlobal Executive Compliance Lead, GE HealthCare

1d • Edited • 1 day ago

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First they came for Covington but I did not speak up because my firm did not represent Jack Smith.

Then they came for Perkins Coie but I did not speak up because my firm did not represent Hillary Clinton.

Then they came for Paul Weiss but I did not speak up because we did not hire someone who had prosecuted a case against the former president in another job.

Judge Howell correctly ruled in the Perkins Coie case that “to pursue what is a wholly personal vendetta, advancing such political payback is not something [in] which the government has a cognizable interest.” And Williams & Connolly not only represented Perkins Coie but had 15 of their lawyers sign onto the brief. The fact that this seems heroic should send chills down your spine, which is how Judge Howell described the case.

But where is everyone else? This is literally outrageous and completely violates the First Amendment and the Sixth Amendment right to pick your own counsel. And as importantly, Trump apparently has a list of 15 law firms he is going to go after in a similar way. So if you think your firm is safe, you are delusional because the list is only going to grow. Do you want the government to dictate what clients you can take on and what positions you can take? If not, you need to speak up now before it is too late.

Update: Munger Tolles is filing an amicus brief in the Perkins Coie case on April 2. If your firm (big, medium or small) wants to sign on, email amicus@mto.com or call 213-683-4010.

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"Anonymous"

Harvard Business School

Class of 2014

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66. Skadden 2020

67. Skadden 2020

68. Skadden 2022

69. Skadden 2022

70. Skadden 2022

71. Skadden 2023

72. Skadden 2023

73. Skadden 2024

74. Skadden 2024

75. Skadden 3rd year

76. Skadden class year 2022

77. Skadden, 2020

78. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 2021

79. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 2023

80. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 2024

81. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP 2024

82. Skadden, Arps; 2020

83. Skadden, First-year (class of 2024)

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