Top law firm partners quit after secret Trump budget deal exposed

Trump issued Executive Order 14231 on Mar. 14, 2025, titled "Addressing Risks from Paul Weiss." The order suspended the firm's security clearances, barred lawyers from federal buildings, and directed agencies to review and potentially terminate contracts with Paul Weiss clients. The White House cited the firm's representation of Jan. 6 defendants in civil suits and its employment of MPMark Pomerantz, who investigated Trump for the Manhattan DA.

BKBrad Karp, Paul Weiss chairman since 2008, flew to 🌲Washington on Mar. 20 to negotiate with the administration. The firm initially planned to sue, but Karp concluded that winning in court would not solve the fundamental problem: clients perceived the firm as persona non grata with the administration and were threatening to leave. Karp told staff the firm faced an existential crisis.

The settlement required three commitments from Paul Weiss: First, $40 million in pro bono services over four years to causes including veterans assistance, combating antisemitism, and promoting fairness in the justice system. Second, the firm acknowledged that MPMark Pomerantz had committed wrongdoing in his role investigating Trump. Third, Paul Weiss agreed not to adopt, use, or pursue any diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

Trump rescinded Executive Order 14231 the same day the deal was announced, Mar. 20, 2025. He posted on Truth Social that Paul Weiss had agreed to represent clients of all political viewpoints and conduct merit-based hiring. The firm stated it would dedicate pro bono resources to mutually agreed administration projects, though chairman Karp insisted the administration would not dictate the firm's work.

Seven partners resigned from Paul Weiss within three months of the settlement. In May 2025, litigation co-chair KDKaren Dunn left along with partners JRJeannie Rhee, William Isaacson, and Jessica Phillips to launch competing firm Dunn Isaacson Rhee LLP. Former U.S. Attorney DWDamian Williams departed for Jenner & Block, a firm that sued Trump rather than settling. Pro bono head SBSteven Banks resigned in Apr.. Former Homeland Security Secretary JJJeh Johnson also left the firm.

141 Paul Weiss alumni signed an open letter on Mar. 24, 2025 protesting the firm's capitulation to Trump. The letter called the settlement a betrayal of the firm's independence and integrity. At a 🗽New York Bar Foundation gala, attorney Raymond Dowd publicly heckled BKBrad Karp over the deal, demonstrating the legal community's backlash against the firm's decision to settle rather than fight.

Senators Richard Blumenthal, Jamie Raskin, and Adam Schiff launched congressional investigations into the Paul Weiss agreement and similar settlements by other law firms. They sent letters to at least nine firms questioning whether the agreements constitute extortion, violate legal ethics rules, or represent abuse of executive contracting authority. The investigations examined whether forced pro bono commitments and DEI policy abandonment undermine the legal profession's independence.

The Paul Weiss settlement established a template Trump used against multiple law firms. Executive Order 14230 had previously targeted Perkins Coie. By Apr. 2025, nine major law firms had collectively agreed to nearly $1 billion in pro bono commitments to administration-selected causes under threat of executive action. Legal experts warned this creates a chilling effect on legal representation of government critics and political opponents.