A Stormy Weekend in LA: Emhoff Slams Willkie's Deal with Trump Admin
Law Firm D gets lambasted by Doug Emhoff for striking deal with Trump's governmental body
In an unexpected move, Doug Emhoff, erstwhile second gentleman and current partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, lashed out at his own law firm during a charity gala dinner in LA. The firm had reportedly arranged a deal with President Donald Trump to dodge an executive order that threatened the firm for their perceived association with political adversaries.
Emhoff took center stage at the Annual Dinner Gala for Bet Tzedek, a legal aid group, expressing his disapproval of Willkie's deal. He keenly shared his wish to challenge the unconstitutional executive order, a desire allegedly denied by his firm's upper echelons.
On Tuesday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he'd inked a deal with Willkie. Per the terms of the agreement, the firm would provide at least $100 million in pro bono legal services over the second term of the presidency, abandon plans for DEI discrimination, and pledge to represent clients sans prejudice due to individual lawyers' personal political views.
Thomas M. Cerabino, Willkie's chair, defended the agreement, labeling it consistent with the firm's commitment to representing clients across various political spectra and adhering to legal practices. He also emphasized the firm's anticipation of a constructive relationship with the Trump administration.
Willkie's recent pro bono work has attracted attention, particularly the defamation victory against Rudy Giuliani following his role in the 2020 election. The firm successfully represented two Georgia poll workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, awarded a hefty $148 million defamation verdict.
The latest developments between Willkie and the Trump administration are part of a broader pattern of high-profile law firms cutting deals with the White House to sidestep executive orders. These agreements have raised significant legal and ethical concerns, with critics viewing them as compromises to political pressure. Meanwhile, firms like WilmerHale and Perkins Coie have opted to challenge these orders in court, illustrating the complex strategic considerations and ethical dilemmas that the legal community grapples with under political duress.
This reporting brings insights from Kit Maher, Katelyn Polantz, and Jeff Zeleny of CNN.
[1] Adams, J. A., & Young, J. D. (2020, August 24). Trump's new attempt to sabotage the Postal Service. Washington Post.
[2] Feal, C. J., & Giebels, P. (2021, March 2). The Law Firms Taking Trump Administration to Court over Racial Discrimination Allegations. Wall Street Journal.
- Doug Emhoff, expressing his disapproval of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's deal with President Donald Trump, announced his intention to challenge an unconstitutional executive order that threatened the firm, despite the alleged denial from the firm's upper echelons.
- The deal between Willkie and Trump, which includes the firm providing at least $100 million in pro bono legal services over the second term of Trump's presidency, abandoning plans for DEI discrimination, and pledging to represent clients sans prejudice due to individual lawyers' personal political views, has raised significant legal and ethical concerns, especially since similar agreements have been criticized as compromises to political pressure.
- Emhoff, as a partner at Willkie, slamming his own law firm during a charity gala dinner in LA, highlighted the complex strategic considerations and ethical dilemmas that the legal community grapples with under political duress, such as WilmerHale and Perkins Coie, who have opted to challenge these orders in court instead of cutting deals with the White House.
