Willkie Farr Gallagher
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trump target law firm willkie farr cave to pro bono
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above law
joseph Baio worked at Willkie Farr for 47 years. As a partner, he’d served on the firm’s executive committee. Most recently, the dean of the firm’s lawyers worked as a senior counsel. It takes a lot to make someone leave the firm they’ve worked with — and at times helped lead — for almost half a century. But Willkie Farr managed to find a way to alienate its longest-serving attorney when it turned coward and agreed to give Trump $100 million in pro bono legal services and somehow even more in dignity.
Baio informed the current executive committee that he was leaving to “join the fight against governmental tyranny, unconstitutional decrees and social injustice, particularly at this critical time,” a statement that deserves a swelling orchestral accompaniment befitting the end of a courtroom drama. It’s also a succinct acknowledgement of a lawyer’s ethical responsibilities that seems lost on some Biglaw firms right now.
While a number of associates have publicly broke ties over the settlements and some law students are already telling firms in the “Order of the Obsequious” that they are turning their backs on recruiting efforts, Baio is the most senior lawyer to depart a firm over a settlement. He is unlikely to be the last.
Baio’s position as counsel affords him more flexibility than many partners, who cannot bolt on a dime and have to negotiate smooth transitions for their books of business at other firms. But Above the Law is already aware of corporate clients informing surrendering firms that they will take their business elsewhere in light of the concessions, seeing the deals as confirmation that the firms are incapable of standing up for themselves let alone their clients. When clients start threatening to walk in search of firms with backbone — or at least no drama — the partners will start trying to figure out how to move with them.
Part of a smooth transition — and keeping their next firm off of Trump’s radar — involves keeping a low profile, so don’t expect many partners to publicly tie their departures to the Trump settlements. Relatedly, they have to find new homes for their books that aren’t going to turn around and create the same problem. All of this takes time.
But when you see a statistically significant uptick over the next two quarters of posts from partners at these firms that begin “Thrilled to announce my next chapter!” keep these settlements in mind.
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[### Doug Emhoff's law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher reaches ...
Reuters
https://www.reuters.com › world › trump-says-he-reach...](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-reached-settlement-deal-with-law-firm-willkie-farr-gallagher-2025-04-01/)
Apr 3, 2025 — The law firm of former Vice President Kamala Harris's husband struck a deal with Donald Trump to avert an executive order targeting its business.
[### Willkie Farr strikes deal with Trump, agrees to $100M in ...
Daily Journal
https://www.dailyjournal.com › articles › 384718-willkie...](https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/384718-willkie-farr-strikes-deal-with-trump-agrees-to-100m-in-services-ends-dei)
Apr 1, 2025 — Willkie Farr & Gallagher is the latest law firm to comply with President Donald Trump's executive orders, agreeing to provide $100 million in legal services ...
[### How Trump Is Putting Law Firms in a No-Win Situation
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com › U.S. › Politics](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/us/politics/trump-law-firms-orders.html)
Apr 9, 2025 — Willkie Farr & Gallagher last week became the latest law firm to strike a deal with the White House and escape President Trump's wrath.
[### Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Skadden and Milbank sign ...
Leaders League
https://www.leadersleague.com › news › willkie-farr-and...](https://www.leadersleague.com/de/news/willkie-farr-and-gallagher-skadden-and-milbank-sign-agreements-with-trump-administration)
Apr 8, 2025 — Three more US law firms have chosen to strike a deal with Donald Trump. Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Skadden and Milbank have each pledged $100 ...
[### Willkie Loses Longest-Serving Lawyer Over Trump Surrender Above the Law
https://abovethelaw.com › 2025/04 › willkie-loses-longes...](https://abovethelaw.com/2025/04/willkie-loses-longest-serving-lawyer-over-trump-surrender/)
Apr 9, 2025 — Willkie Farr managed to find a way to alienate its longest-serving attorney when it turned coward and agreed to give Trump $100 million in pro bono legal ...
[### Trump announces $100M deal with law firm tied to Doug ...
The Hill
https://thehill.com › homenews › administration › 5226...](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5226557-trump-doug-emhoff-law-firm/)
Apr 1, 2025 — The agreement with Willkie Farr & Gallagher states that the firm will provide the equivalent of $100 million in pro bono legal services for ...
[### Willkie Farr strikes deal to avoid Trump executive order
The Global Legal Post
https://www.globallegalpost.com › news › willkie-farr-s...](https://www.globallegalpost.com/news/willkie-farr-strikes-deal-to-avoid-trump-executive-order-112994621)
Apr 2, 2025 — Willkie Farr & Gallagher has become the latest Big Law firm to strike a deal with President Donald Trump to avoid a harmful executive order.
[### Judge bars Trump order against law firm tied to Robert ...
Reuters
https://www.reuters.com › world › us-judge-blocks-tru...](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-judge-blocks-trump-order-against-law-firm-wilmerhale-2025-05-27/)
2 days ago — WilmerHale was among four law firms that sued the administration over Trump's orders, which suspended their lawyers' security clearances and ...
[### Willkie Farr & Gallagher, home to Kamala Harris' husband ...
ABA Journal
https://www.abajournal.com › news › article › willkie-ho...](https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/willkie-home-to-kamala-harris-husband-settles-with-trump)
Apr 2, 2025 — Willkie Farr & Gallagher has reached a deal with President Donald Trump to avoid the fate of other BigLaw firms.
[### Another big law firm cuts a deal with White House to avoid ...
Politico
https://www.politico.com › news › 2025/04/01 › law-fir...](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/01/law-firm-cuts-deal-avoid-sanctions-00265285)
Apr 1, 2025 — Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP agreed to provide $100 million in free legal services to causes favored by the Trump administration.
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