Trump-targeted firms head to appeals court showdown

Four Big Law firms targeted by president Donald Trump - Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale and Susman Godfrey - are headed back to court this week.

The US Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments from the firms and decide whether to uphold lower court rulings blocking Trump’s executive orders against them.

The argument

The firms argue that Trump retaliated against them for providing legal services to his political opponents and for supporting adversarial causes, violating the First Amendment and their clients’ right to counsel.

The firms will be represented by litigation heavyweight Paul Clement, a former US solicitor general and Kirkland partner.

A source familiar with the firms’ argument said that unpopular causes need to be represented and that the firms had a right to challenge the government.

The context

After beginning his second term in early 2025, Trump issued executive orders targeting major law firms and specific attorneys, suspending security clearances and restricting access to federal buildings and contracts.

Nine of the firms later struck deals with the administration, including Paul Weiss, A&O Shearman, Kirkland, Simpson Thacher, Latham and Cadwalader, committing to a combined $600 million in pro bono work supporting causes backed by the president.

The US Justice Department withdrew its appeals against the remaining law firms in March this year, before reverting course and withdrawing its earlier motion to dismiss just a day later.

Four different federal judges from lower courts have heard challenges to the executive orders since last year, all reaching similar conclusions and siding with the law firms.