In a significant decision on Thursday, President Donald Trump withdrew an executive order that had been directed at a major international law firm after it agreed to reassess its hiring practices and commit substantial resources towards free legal services supporting White House initiatives.
This development arose following discussions between Trump and Brad Karp, the chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton. The White House had issued an order last week potentially impacting the firm’s security clearances and federal contracts, citing disagreements with legal work associated with Trump by attorneys from the firm.
The executive order specifically scrutinized the work of Mark Pomerantz, a former attorney at Paul, Weiss involved in investigating Trump’s finances. To circumvent these repercussions, the law firm agreed to engage in a variety of pro bono matters reflecting a broad spectrum of political perspectives. Moreover, the firm promised to forego considerations of diversity, equity, and inclusion in its hiring and promotion procedures. It also pledged to provide an estimated $40 million in complimentary legal services to advance Trump administration goals on issues such as veteran assistance and combating anti-Semitism.
A statement from the White House included a comment from Karp, expressing satisfaction over the withdrawal of the executive order. He noted the firm’s anticipation of engaging productively with the President and his administration.
Paul, Weiss joins the ranks of other corporations that have yielded to Trump’s demands to avoid escalating disputes. Companies such as Meta and ABC have made financial contributions to Trump’s future presidential library, settling lawsuits in the process. In line with Trump’s policies, various technical and financial enterprises have also reduced their DEI initiatives.
Additionally, prior executive orders have been directed at firms such as Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling, indicating a broader pattern of targeting legal entities with opposing legal engagements.