President Donald Trump on Thursday rescinded an executive order targeting prominent law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP after the firm agreed to provide $40 million worth of free legal services to support the administration's initiatives and pledged to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The White House reversed the March 14 order following a meeting between Trump and Paul Weiss Chairman Brad Karp. Trump announced the development on Truth Social, stating the firm would deliver pro bono legal work valued at $40 million and commit to "merit-based" hiring and promotion practices. Paul Weiss "will not adopt, use, or pursue any DEI policies," Trump wrote.
Karp, in a statement shared by Trump, said: "We are gratified that the President has agreed to withdraw the Executive Order concerning Paul, Weiss. We look forward to an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his Administration."
The agreement quickly sparked outrage across the legal community, with many accusing Paul Weiss of capitulating to political pressure. Marc Elias, a former Perkins Coie partner and leading Democratic attorney, criticized the firm's decision. "Paul Weiss didn't just bend a knee, it set a new standard for shameful capitulation," Elias posted on Bluesky. "This is a stain on the firm, every one of its partners, and the entire legal profession."
Paul Weiss, which generated more than $2 billion in revenue last year and employs over 1,000 attorneys, had been at risk of losing lucrative federal contracts and security clearances after Trump's original order accused the firm of "undermining the judicial process" and fostering DEI practices allegedly in violation of civil rights laws.
The order specifically cited a former partner's involvement in litigation related to the January 6 Capitol riots and referenced Mark Pomerantz, another former partner who worked with the Manhattan District Attorney on Trump's hush-money case. Trump, who has pardoned many of the January 6 rioters, had called the firm's role "an outsized role in undermining the judicial process and in the destruction of bedrock American principles."
Following the rescindment, dissent erupted internally and externally. Rachel Cohen, an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, resigned shortly after, submitting a firmwide email stating, "This is not what I saw for my career or for my evening, but Paul Weiss' decision to cave to the Trump administration on DEI, representation and staffing has forced my hand."
Cohen's resignation letter, which quickly went viral, called on her firm to stand against Trump's policies and refuse to cooperate in dismantling DEI efforts. "We do not have time. It is now or it is never, and if it is never, I will not continue to work here," she wrote.
Cohen told NBC News that her decision wasn't made lightly. "Is this going to be unhelpful to the aim that I am working towards, which is the protection of not just my colleagues, but the rule of law in the United States of America?" she said. "The stakes really are that high."
The move by Paul Weiss has triggered broader concerns within major law firms and the Justice Department, where lawyers described an atmosphere of intimidation and fear of retribution. One attorney at a Washington firm told NBC News the decision was "as craven and despicable a decision as you will find," warning it could deter other firms from challenging Trump's policies.
Efforts among firms to mount a collective response, such as filing amicus briefs, have so far stalled amid worries over losing corporate clients. Cohen described how colleagues "are just scared, and they're hiding behind notions of fiduciary duty."
George Conway, a former partner at Wachtell Lipton and vocal Trump critic, urged firms to prioritize principle over profits. "They have a moral duty to defend the very system that has allowed them to make the kind of money that they make," Conway said. "These law firms are now basically so profit-driven that they are putting their own economic interests...above the system."
The Justice Department has seen its own internal upheaval, with lawyers reportedly reassigned or dismissed if they worked in areas misaligned with Trump's priorities. A DOJ attorney described an environment where attorneys are "constantly looking over their shoulder."
