Paul Weiss chair: Trump order 'could easily have destroyed our firm'

The chair of a law firm that struck a deal with President Trump said the president’s executive order could have easily “destroyed our firm.”

Chair Brad Karp told employees in a memo obtained by The Hill that he made an agreement with Trump that included pro bono support for the administration’s plans. It was the first glimpse into the news that the firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison had made a deal with Trump.

Karp acknowledged that it had been a “profoundly unsettling” time for the firm’s employees.

Trump recently signed an order targeting Paul Weiss, which is the latest in a string of moves targeting major law firms that he said acted improperly or had ties to his critics. He’s also stripped security clearances from attorneys at two other firms.

“Only several days ago, our firm faced an existential crisis. The executive order could easily have destroyed our firm,” he wrote. “It brought the full weight of the government down on our firm, our people, and our clients.”

The firm agreed it would not deny representation to clients based on political views or use diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, in addition to the $40 million in pro bono services for the administration.

The White House said Trump made the decision to reverse the executive order after meeting with Karp.

Karp said he hoped the legal industry would rally to help the firm but was disappointed they were not helped.

He said the firm initially planned to challenge Trump’s order in court, but it “became clear” that it would not solve the “fundamental problem,” which was that “clients perceived our firm as being persona non grata with the Administration.”

Karp said he wanted to note that the administration will not dictate which matters the firm takes on but that the firm has instead agreed to commit more pro bono resources “in areas of shared interest.”

“This existential crisis required the leadership of our law firm to make incredibly difficult decisions under extraordinary time pressure,” he wrote.

Karp noted that the agreement with the Trump administration “will have no effect on our work” and the company’s culture and values.

He said the current political environment is making the announcement of the deal generate “intense feelings,” but he urged the firm’s staff to “look to the future.”

“I am confident that, just as we have in past crises, we will get through this together and become even stronger and more resilient as a community,” he said.

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