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Trump law firm action dropped after talks

US President Donald Trump has agreed to withdraw an executive order restricting one of the country’s biggest law firms from government work (21 March).

On his Truth Social site, Trump said the action against Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP had been dropped following talks with its chairman Brad Karp.

The firm has also pledged the equivalent of $40m (£31m) in pro bono legal services over the next four years to support the administration’s justice initiatives.

The US President last week issued an executive order barring Paul, Weiss from taking on government work.

Trump accused the firm of hiring an “unethical attorney” formerly with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to manufacture a prosecution against him relating to the riots on 6 January 2021.

The order directed that all government contracts with Paul, Weiss be terminated and security clearances held by its employees be immediately suspended.

Bedrock principle

Trump reversed this order after Paul, Weiss agreed to support a prepared statement that “the bedrock principle of American justice is that it must be fair and nonpartisan for all. Our justice system is betrayed when it is misused to achieve political ends”.

The agreement continued: “Lawyers abandon the profession’s highest ideals when they engage in partisan decision-making, and betray the ethical obligation to represent those who are unpopular or disfavoured in a particular environment.”

Paul, Weiss affirmed its commitment to merit-based employment and said it will not adopt, use, or pursue any DEI policies.

It will also conduct a comprehensive audit of all of its employment practices.