Two more law firms sue Trump administration to stop sanctions
WilmerHale's Washington, D.C., headquarters in May 2020. (Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)
Two law firms sued the Trump administration on Friday, challenging executive orders signed by President Donald Trump that imposed sanctions on the firms as part of his broader campaign cracking down on lawyers based on the clients they represent.
Jenner & Block and WilmerHale are among several powerful firms that Trump has targeted after they challenged him in court or employed people who had. His orders shocked the legal community, with attorneys expressing outrage and fear about what they described as an unprecedented and dangerous effort to intimidate the profession.
Jenner & Block’s lawsuit described Trump’s order as unconstitutional and said it was meant “to put immediate pressure on clients to sever their relationship with the firm.” WilmerHale’s suit said Trump’s actions would “severely hinder” its ability to serve clients.
Trump has denounced what he called “rogue law firms,” accused them of partisan misbehavior and directed that they face various consequences, including losing government contracts and access to security clearances needed for some legal representation.
“The Trump Administration is working efficiently to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government,” Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman, said in a statement Friday responding to both lawsuits. Fields called the lawsuits “absurd” and said the firms were suing to retain access to “government perks and handouts.”
A third large firm, Perkins Coie, sued this month after Trump issued an order targeting it. A federal judge granted Perkins Coie a temporary restraining order, preventing many of the penalties from taking effect while litigation continues. The judge said Trump’s action against Perkins Coie “sends little chills down my spine.”
Not all firms have challenged the orders, however. The powerful firm Paul Weiss last week struck a deal with the White House in response to an order punishing it, agreeing to provide $40 million in pro bono legal services to the Trump administration.
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