Opponents of law firms' partnerships with Trump are founding a new law firm.
In the height of the heated power struggle between the current administration and the legal community, renowned Washington lawyer Abbe Lowell, alongside two vocal critics of major law firms' dealings with President Donald Trump, are teaming up to launch a new firm and push back against Trump's pressure campaign more aggressively.
According to a previous Justice Department official with connections to the big firms in Washington, this move could be a sign of growing tensions within the top legal institutions and may serve as a "foreshadowing" of similar shifts to come.
Joining Lowell at the upcoming firm, called Lowell and Associates, are Brenna Trout Frey and Rachel Cohen. Both recently stepped down from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, one of the highest-grossing law firms in the US. As Trout Frey announced in a LinkedIn post, she left due to what she called the firm's "yielding to the Trump administration's demands for loyalty and protection money."
Trump himself described the deal as "essentially a settlement," claiming, "We appreciate Skadden agreeing to the table."
The new firm will represent numerous opponents of Trump and individuals targeted by his administration, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, former Trump administration critic Miles Taylor, and whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid. The firm will also take on clients involved in lawsuits over grant funding revoked by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency and other parts of the administration.
Lowell stated in a press release about the new firm that it was "motivated by the need for creative solutions to represent clients with complex legal and political challenges while addressing the escalating attacks on the legal system itself."
This strategic move has been described by a source as "a reflection that big law firms were caught off guard by and unwilling to meet" the current crisis.
In a statement, Trout Frey said, "[W]e are here to litigate, win, and help restore the legal safeguards that uphold our democracy."
Lowell's previous firm, Winston and Strawn, which he recently departed from, has yet to be identified as a likely Trump target. However, current and former employees have told NBC News that Lowell's exit decreases the risk that it will become one.
Lowell became well-known for representing clients like Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, among others, throughout his nearly four-decade legal career [1][2][3]. His new firm's focus on Trump-related targets suggests a clear intent to counter legal intimidation tactics and protect clients facing litigation or political pressure from Trump-aligned entities.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbe_Lowell[2] https://www.politico.com/news/2018/11/20/abbe-lowell-hunter-biden-brazil-306089[3] https://www.law360.com/articles/1173650/abbe-lowell-goes-unbeaten-in-5-years-defending-trump-family-members
- The new firm, Lowell and Associates, is seeking to push back against Trump's pressure campaign more aggressively, potentially marking a significant shift in politics and general-news.
- Brenna Trout Frey, who recently left Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, announced she did so due to the firm's "yielding to the Trump administration's demands for loyalty and protection money."
- The new firm will represent various opponents of Trump and individuals targeted by his administration, including a whistleblower attorney, hinting at a focus on countering legal intimidation tactics.
- Abbe Lowell, whose previous firm, Winston and Strawn, may no longer be a likely Trump target due to his departure, has a history of representing clients like Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, suggesting a clear intent to protect clients facing litigation or political pressure from Trump-aligned entities.
