More Than 500 Law Firms Back Perkins Coie in Fight With Trump

[highplainsdem]

Source: NYT

More than 500 law firms on Friday threw their support behind some of their embattled peers, declaring that President Trump’s recent crackdown on the law firm industry poses “a grave threat to our system of constitutional governance and to the rule of law itself.”

The firms, 504 in all, signed a so-called friend of the court brief that was filed on behalf of Perkins Coie, the first firm to receive an executive order restricting its business.

-snip-

The New York Times reported this week that none of the nation’s top 10 revenue-generating firms signed the brief before a soft deadline on Tuesday, and that remained the case on Friday. In fact, not a single top 20 firm by revenue, as ranked by American Lawyer, signed, including Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins or Gibson Dunn.

Yet in recent days, a few large firms did add their signatures, including Covington & Burling, No. 28 in American Lawyer’s rankings; and Arnold & Porter, No. 47. Two other big firms that received executive orders and are also challenging them in court, WilmerHale and Jenner & Block, also signed. All told, nearly 10 firms in the top 100 signed the brief.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/business/law-firms-perkins-coie-trump.html

[SheilaAnn]

1. Sounds so "mobbish" don't you think?

[DENVERPOPS]

5. Makes me wonder

how many in those 500 law firms voted for Trump.............a lot, I betcha.........

[SupportSanity]

2. Organized resistance.

Organized resistance seems to be happening more and more lately.

[OldBaldy1701E]

3. "a grave threat to our system of constitutional governance and to the rule of law itself."

Well, I am betting it was more about the potential loss of revenue, but sure, let's say that.

Regardless of motivation, it is a good thing!

[MadameButterfly]

4. It seems to me that the ones concerned about revenue are NOT signing

and we should see the ones who do as heroes. Most of the biggest firms aren't signing. That could be an endless supply of free legal services for Trump. We haven't won until the firms who go along with Trump become such pariahs that it's financially risky to play his game. The firms signing should be the overwhelming majority. That clearly hasn't happened yet.

[nycbos]

6. I am guessing there is going to be a rush to poach...

.. the talent from the firms that surrendered faster than the French Army to Trump

[LostOne4Ever]

7. The top revenue firms are run by cowards then...

I don’t know how confident I would be in a firm that won’t stand up for itself or its profession standing up for me if I were one of their clients.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. Big law is starting to fight

I was at one large firm and my oldest is a partner at one of the largest firms. Many lawyers are liberal

[highplainsdem]

9. They have to fight. Otherwise there will be no end to the threats and demands.

[LisaM]

10. Many lawyers actually believe in the rule of law.

Not a concept that means anything to MAGA these days.

[mahina]

11. Thank you. Is it true that by forcing them or persuading them anyway to sign agreements with him, is preventing them fro

[riversedge]

12. "Unless the judiciary acts decisively now, what was once beyond the pale will in short order become a stark reality," it

504 Law Firms Sign Amicus Brief Backing Lawsuit Against Trump’s Executive Order
‘GRAVE THREAT’
Yet the largest firms opted against signing.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/504-law-firms-back-lawsuit-against-trumps-executive-order/?utm_source=twitter_owned_tdb&utm_campaign=owned_social&utm_medium=socialflow&via=twitter_page

William Vaillancourt
Updated Apr. 5 2025 3:24AM EDT


WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 28: U.S. President Donald Trump announces that his administration has reached a deal with elite law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump hosted the swearing in of his former personal attorney and White House Presidential counselor Alina Habba as interim U.S. Attorney in New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)


The legal community is banding together to show their support for Perkins Coie’s lawsuit against the Trump administration.

The New York Times reported on Friday that more than 500 firms signed an amicus brief outlining why the president’s targeting of law firms to do his bidding is “a grave threat to our system of constitutional governance and to the rule of law itself.” A total of 504 companies signed the brief, though none of the nation’s 20 largest firms were among them.


After Trump slapped an executive order on Perkins Coie, threatening its business, the firm sued. A handful of others have as well, while some firms have opted to cave to Trump’s demands for pro bono work, among other things.


......................

The brief, drawn up by Donald Verrilli, a solicitor general during the Obama administration, and Chicago lawyer Nathan Eimer, warned about Trump’s continued threats against the legal community.

“Unless the judiciary acts decisively now, what was once beyond the pale will in short order become a stark reality,” it said. “Corporations and individuals alike will risk losing their right to be represented by the law firms of their choice and a profound chill will be cast over the First Amendment right to petition the courts for redress.”
......................