Willkie Farr & Gallagher, the high-profile law firm linked to Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, has brokered an agreement with the Trump administration to sidestep an executive order that could have jeopardized its business. The deal, which includes $100 million in pro bono legal work and a shift away from diversity-driven hiring, underscores the growing divide in the legal world over how to handle Trump’s mounting pressure on the profession.
The agreement positions Willkie Farr alongside other major firms—Paul Weiss and Skadden Arps—that have also come to terms with the administration rather than face potential restrictions on federal contracts. Meanwhile, a separate faction of firms, including Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block, have taken a defiant stance, filing lawsuits to challenge executive orders they argue are retaliatory.
An internal email from Willkie Farr’s leadership acknowledged internal dissent but framed the decision as a necessity to protect the firm and its clients. “We know this news is not welcomed by some of you and you would have urged a different course of action. Needless to say, this was an incredibly difficult decision,” read the message from the firm’s executive committee.
Emhoff, whose wife Kamala Harris served as vice president under Joe Biden, reportedly opposed the firm’s move. Speaking at Georgetown Law School before the deal was announced, he warned that “the rule of law is under attack” and urged legal professionals to resist political interference.
The White House painted the deal as a victory, stating that Willkie Farr had “proactively reached out” and pledged to support efforts to “end the Weaponization of the Justice System.” However, critics see the arrangement as part of a broader trend of firms bowing to political pressure rather than confronting it head-on.
As court battles over Trump’s legal maneuvering continue, the decisions made by these powerhouse firms could redefine the role of legal institutions in an era of unprecedented political conflict.
