Thanks you for standing against this regime. I was a 16 years high school student in conservative Indiana who in 1969 was one of three students to wear black armbands to school o moratorium day. I was surprised we were able to pull it off. Several teachers were visibly upset with us.
"Every court has the authority to take appropriate action if a lawyer acts improperly in a particular case."
This point bears greater emphasis. If Trump and his cronies truly believed that Jenner et al. have engaged in unethical or illegal conduct, the appropriate course would be to file ethical complaints or enforcement actions; by failing to pursue those paths, Trump tacitly concedes that the firms have not actually done anything wrong beyond displeasing him.
Thank you for your excellent post. I'm a retired senior partner from a major accounting firm and, as such, have worked with many of the country's largest law firms over the years. Naturally, I formed opinions about the firms, including yours. I was not in the least surprised to see Jenner suing. I've long held the firm in very high regard. I was also, to be honest, not especially surprised to see Skadden and Paul Weiss capitulating. Extremely disappointed, of course, but not surprised. No one cares about my opinions on law firms, but I have said to many friends and colleagues that, were I in a position to retain legal counsel, I would never retain a law firm that chose not to defend itself when confronted with what is clearly, even to "NAL" (not a lawyer) a complete violation of our rule of law. If a firm isn't capable of defending itself, how can I expect it to provide me with vigorous, competent representation? How will I know if its advice to "settle" is sound? How will I trust them to explore all legal remedies on my behalf? How will I believe them when they tell me they have no conflicts? I sincerely appreciate your post for educating me as to the legal basis for suing. It is nice to see such close alignment between common sense and the law. But my deepest appreciation is reserved for Jenner & Block.
Thank you for laying out the case. The clarity with which you have explained it makes it even more disappointing to watch some of our country’s most “powerful” and “reputable” law firms run to save themselves when the legal profession itself is under attack.
ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, 1. Preamble and Scope ... .
[11] To the extent that lawyers meet the obligations of their professional calling, the occasion for government regulation is obviated. Self-regulation also helps maintain the legal profession's independence from government domination. An independent legal profession is an important force in preserving government under law, for abuse of legal authority is more readily challenged by a profession whose members are not dependent on government for the right to practice.
Thank you. I am not an attorney nor Ami affiliated with any law firm in any way. I did think that Trump’s persecution of law firms (because of one affiliated person he sought to revenge) was illegal and against the Constitution. Prior to reading your discourse, I read a few from Just Security and they validated my own research. Thank you. Keep standing.
Might it be appropriate for clients of the law firms that entered into such arrangements with the Trump Administration to find new outside counsel because such law firms cannot adequately represent their interests in dealing with the government (independent of any concern about the moral and ethical issue of using a law firm that enables unlawful and unconstitutional "overreaching" by the Administration? What is the implication of this situation for their general counsel and boards of directors?
Thank you for your stand, not only against Trump, but also against those firms who capitulated to him. They are, unfortunately an embarrassment to the profession of law.
Thank you. I am eternally grateful that Jenner & Black has the courage to fight these unconstitutional executive orders.
While Trump's malignancy for revenge is behind this, there has to be someone (or a group of someones) who are carrying out the orders. Do you know who these people are? Trump is too lazy and ignorant to be doing this on his own.
Thank you, Adam. Thank you Jenner and Block, Perkins Coie, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey and the firms representing them in their fight like Cooley.
Your article explains the damage these executive orders and the firms caving into the administration are doing to the legal profession and the judiciary.
As an attorney, you have my support. If you have ideas for how solo
Practitioners can further support you, please let us know.
I have been alarmed and dismayed about the firms that folded and took the non-deals to avoid executive action.
Brilliant. Inspiring. Unanswerable. I wish every lawyer in America would read it.
Thanks you for standing against this regime. I was a 16 years high school student in conservative Indiana who in 1969 was one of three students to wear black armbands to school o moratorium day. I was surprised we were able to pull it off. Several teachers were visibly upset with us.
"Every court has the authority to take appropriate action if a lawyer acts improperly in a particular case."
This point bears greater emphasis. If Trump and his cronies truly believed that Jenner et al. have engaged in unethical or illegal conduct, the appropriate course would be to file ethical complaints or enforcement actions; by failing to pursue those paths, Trump tacitly concedes that the firms have not actually done anything wrong beyond displeasing him.
Thank you for writing and sharing this. I had seen this story in headlines, but had not realized how despicable the whole scheme was.
Thank you for your excellent post. I'm a retired senior partner from a major accounting firm and, as such, have worked with many of the country's largest law firms over the years. Naturally, I formed opinions about the firms, including yours. I was not in the least surprised to see Jenner suing. I've long held the firm in very high regard. I was also, to be honest, not especially surprised to see Skadden and Paul Weiss capitulating. Extremely disappointed, of course, but not surprised. No one cares about my opinions on law firms, but I have said to many friends and colleagues that, were I in a position to retain legal counsel, I would never retain a law firm that chose not to defend itself when confronted with what is clearly, even to "NAL" (not a lawyer) a complete violation of our rule of law. If a firm isn't capable of defending itself, how can I expect it to provide me with vigorous, competent representation? How will I know if its advice to "settle" is sound? How will I trust them to explore all legal remedies on my behalf? How will I believe them when they tell me they have no conflicts? I sincerely appreciate your post for educating me as to the legal basis for suing. It is nice to see such close alignment between common sense and the law. But my deepest appreciation is reserved for Jenner & Block.
As a general counsel, I look at Jenner Block's decision as one that makes me more likely to hire Jenner Block in the future.
And, conversely, I am less likely to hire law firms that have made settlements with this administration.
Agree with all you’ve said, and only wish to add: What client wants lawyers (especially in litigation) who are too cowardly to fight? It’s pathetic.
Thank you for laying out the case. The clarity with which you have explained it makes it even more disappointing to watch some of our country’s most “powerful” and “reputable” law firms run to save themselves when the legal profession itself is under attack.
ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, 1. Preamble and Scope ... .
[11] To the extent that lawyers meet the obligations of their professional calling, the occasion for government regulation is obviated. Self-regulation also helps maintain the legal profession's independence from government domination. An independent legal profession is an important force in preserving government under law, for abuse of legal authority is more readily challenged by a profession whose members are not dependent on government for the right to practice.
Thank you. I am not an attorney nor Ami affiliated with any law firm in any way. I did think that Trump’s persecution of law firms (because of one affiliated person he sought to revenge) was illegal and against the Constitution. Prior to reading your discourse, I read a few from Just Security and they validated my own research. Thank you. Keep standing.
Compelling analysis!
Might it be appropriate for clients of the law firms that entered into such arrangements with the Trump Administration to find new outside counsel because such law firms cannot adequately represent their interests in dealing with the government (independent of any concern about the moral and ethical issue of using a law firm that enables unlawful and unconstitutional "overreaching" by the Administration? What is the implication of this situation for their general counsel and boards of directors?
Please see https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7322276700929630208-1uOs?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAIk-kcBiLS7MpZJaw3RsPLH_WqLbLJBtWA (discussing Executive Order: "Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship;" see also https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/addressing-risks-from-chris-krebs-and-government-censorship and https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-addresses-risks-associated-with-miles-taylor.
One
Thank you for laying out the case.
Thank you for your stand, not only against Trump, but also against those firms who capitulated to him. They are, unfortunately an embarrassment to the profession of law.
Thank you. I am eternally grateful that Jenner & Black has the courage to fight these unconstitutional executive orders.
While Trump's malignancy for revenge is behind this, there has to be someone (or a group of someones) who are carrying out the orders. Do you know who these people are? Trump is too lazy and ignorant to be doing this on his own.
Thank you, Adam. Thank you Jenner and Block, Perkins Coie, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey and the firms representing them in their fight like Cooley.
Your article explains the damage these executive orders and the firms caving into the administration are doing to the legal profession and the judiciary.
As an attorney, you have my support. If you have ideas for how solo
Practitioners can further support you, please let us know.
I have been alarmed and dismayed about the firms that folded and took the non-deals to avoid executive action.