ImpactGC stands in strong support of Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block, and Susman Godfrey for their courage in resisting the Trump administration’s unlawful attack on these and other large law firms.

Recently, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down the Executive Order (EO) that sought to force Perkins Coie to abandon its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and to punish the firm for employing and representing people and causes that the President personally found objectionable.  Similar EOs were issued to the other three firms listed above and several others.  The Court’s decision in the Perkins Coie case is not just a legal victory; it’s a powerful reminder that there is no basis in U.S. law for a President to wield the power of the federal government to penalize and harm private companies simply because the President does not like the work they do or the people they employ.

Let’s be clear: the EOs issued by the Trump White House were never about protecting “freedom” or “electoral integrity”, as the administration claimed.  Rather, they were a calculated effort to intimidate the legal profession and to use the federal government’s power to silence and punish dissent. 

We are deeply disappointed that nine powerful and successful law firms have caved to the pressure, signing “settlements” to not only abandon their DEI policies but also to perform a total of nearly $1 billion in so-called “pro bono” work aligned with the administration’s political agenda.  With average equity partner profits in the millions, these other firms had the resources to fight — and chose not to.

Imagine the impact if the legal profession had united, pooled even a fraction of its massive financial and professional resources, and fought back together.  Instead, the nine large firms that have capitulated to the Administration have pledged to use their almost unlimited resources to provide free work for a President that works every day to undermine the rule of law, perpetuate lies and tear down the structures that support a free and fair society.  Other firms have complied in advance by ending their DEI programs out of fear of being targeted next.  This unnecessary capitulation undermines the integrity of the legal profession and the rule of law.

Now is the time for investors, corporations, law firms and other business leaders to rise to the challenge and recognize that standing up for justice, truth, and the rule of law is not just a moral imperative — it’s essential to the long-term health of our economy and democracy.  When we allow any administration to replace a free market economy with corruption and intimidation, we all risk a future of diminished security, prosperity, and trust.  At ImpactGC, we remain committed to fighting for justice, integrity, truth, and the rule of law.