Targeting Law Firms

Topic Summary

In March & April 2025, President Trump issued a series of five Executive Orders targeting major law firms. He directed all federal departments & agencies to suspend the law firms' active security clearances and restrict their interactions with the federal government. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Some Law Firms Fight Back

Four of the five targeted firms filed challenges in the District of D.C. Each case was heard before a different judge, and each judge found the Executive Orders unconstitutional. For all of the challenges, the Department of Justice (DoJ) waited until nearly the last possible day to appeal those results to the D.C. Circuit, where the litigation now continues.This delay tactic stands out from the Trump DoJ's typical pattern of appealing as soon as a ruling is entered against them.

In an attempt to protect law firms from any future attacks, the American Bar Association has filed a challenge to the entire class of Orders.The briefing schedule is ongoing.

Other Law Firms Acquiesced

Paul, Weiss was the only targeted firm not to file suit against Trump's Orders. Instead, the law firm negotiated a settlement with the DoJ to contribute tens of millions of dollars worth of legal services to causes favored by Trump [6]. As a result, the Trump administration resinded their threat to suspend Paul, Weiss' access to the federal government. [7]. Eight firms (known by their mononyms as Skadden, Willkie, Milbank, Kirkland, Shearman, Simpson, Latham, and Cadwalader), not directly targeted by Trump's Executive Orders, reached similar settlements, "apparently not in writing or enforceable by the law firms" [8]. In total, Paul, Weiss and these other eight firms have publicly pledged $940 million in legal services for administration-favored causes. Many of those settlements were agreed to even after courts had temporarily blocked the other law-firm-targeting Orders.

The New York Times reports the Trump administration has engaged several of those firms to work on trade negotiations with South Korea and Japan [9].

Analysis from ProPublica and Reuters (Excerpts) found that these Orders have effectively suppressed other law firms' willingness to support pro bono litigation against the federal government.

(Last Updated August 26, 2025.)

List of All Relevant Cases

Case Title	Case Summary	Case Status
Perkins Coie v. Department of Justice	The law firm Perkins Coie sues to block an Executive Order [10] targeting them.	The District of D.C. ruled in favor of Perkins Coie, blocking the EO. The DoJ has appealed that ruling to the D.C. Circuit, where the briefing schedule is ongoing. The EO remains blocked, for now.
Jenner and Block v. Department of Justice	The law firm Jenner & Block sues to block an Executive Order [11] targeting them.	The District of D.C. ruled in favor of Jenner & Block, blocking the EO. The DoJ has appealed that ruling to the D.C. Circuit, where the briefing schedule is ongoing. The EO remains blocked, for now.
Susman Godfrey v. Executive Office of the President	The law frm Susman Godfrey sues to block an Executive Order [12] targeting them.	The District of D.C. ruled in favor of Susman Godfrey, blocking the EO. The DoJ has appealed that ruling to the D.C. Circuit, where the briefing schedule is ongoing. The EO remains blocked, for now.
WilmerHale v. Executive Office of the President	The law firm WilmerHale sues to block an Exeuctive Order [13] targeting them.	The District of D.C. ruled in favor of WilmerHale, blocking the EO. The DoJ has appealed that ruling to the D.C. Circuit, where the briefing schedule is onging. The EO remains blocked, for now.
American Bar Association v. Executive Office of the President	The American Bar Association sues the executive, seeking an umbrella ruling that any "Law Firm Intimidation Policy" be ruled unconstitutional, so that no firm can be so threatened.	The Department of Justice moved to dismiss the complaint. The briefing schedule is ongoing.

List of All Upcoming Events

Date	Summary	Case Title	Court
2025-09-11	First round of dispositive motions due from both parties to the appellate court.	WilmerHale v. Executive Office of the President	D.C. Circuit
2025-09-24	ABA due to file response to DoJ's motion to dismiss.	American Bar Association v. Executive Office of the President	District of D.C.
2025-10-15	DoJ to file response supporting their motion to dismiss.	American Bar Association v. Executive Office of the President	District of D.C.
TBD	Waiting for appellate court to set filing schedule	Susman Godfrey v. Executive Office of the President	D.C. Circuit

List of All Events in the Past Week

Date	Summary	Case Title	Court
2025-09-05	First round of dispositive motions due from both sides to the appellate court.	Jenner and Block v. Department of Justice	D.C. Circuit
2025-09-11	First round of dispositive motions due from both parties to the appellate court.	WilmerHale v. Executive Office of the President	D.C. Circuit