DC-based non-profit law firm set to contest Trump's executive authority
New Law Firm Emerges to Challenge Trump's Executive Orders
A new law firm, The Washington Litigation Group, has been established with a mission to uphold the rule of law and challenge President Donald Trump's executive orders and agency actions. The firm, led by Tom Green, former head of Sidley Austin's white-collar practice, stands out for its unique composition of seasoned attorneys, judges, and former government employees, many of whom have come out of retirement to work for the cause.
The Washington Litigation Group has already begun representing Cathy Harris, the former chair of the Merit System Protection Board, who was fired by President Trump. Harris' legal challenge to her removal is still ongoing, with a federal appeals court in DC still considering whether her removal is lawful. In May, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump did not have to rehire Harris while her legal challenge plays out.
The firm also represents the head of an independent agency fired by the president, although the specifics of the case have not been disclosed. Nathaniel Zelinsky, an attorney with experience practicing before federal appeals courts and the Supreme Court, is joining the firm from Milbank and Hogan Lovells.
The Washington Litigation Group is deeply concerned about the state of the rule of law in the country. The firm's services will be provided free of charge to those seeking to push back on Trump's use of executive power. The firm has acquired two former federal prosecutors, James Pearce and Mary Dohrmann, who were fired under the Trump administration. Both Pearce and Dohrmann served in multiple capacities at the Justice Department, including as assistant special counsels to Jack Smith, who was investigating Trump.
While there is no clear, verified entity called the "New Washington Litigation Group" identified in the public legal landscape as of mid-2025 focusing specifically on litigation against President Trump's executive orders or agency actions, related litigation has been pursued by various legal organizations such as the Washington State Attorney General's Office and others.
CNN's Paula Reid contributed to this report.
- The Washington Litigation Group, a new law firm primarily focusing on policy-and-legislation and politics, has been established with the mission to challenge President Trump's executive orders and agency actions.
- The firm, engaged in war-and-conflicts as well as crime-and-justice through its legal challenges, has represented Cathy Harris, a former Merit System Protection Board chair fired by President Trump, as well as the head of an independent agency whom the president also dismissed.
- General-news outlets have reported on the firm's concerns about the state of the rule of law in the country and their commitment to providing free legal services to those seeking to push back on Trump's use of executive power.
