Willkie Farr & Gallagher Reaches Agreement with Trump Administration
April 2, 2025, 11:15 am CDT
Willkie Farr & Gallagher has opted for a legal settlement to maintain its business ties amidst evolving executive orders from the Trump administration regarding government contracts. (Image credit: Shutterstock)
Willkie Farr & Gallagher, a prominent law firm, has finalized an agreement with President Donald Trump aimed at safeguarding its clients’ government contracts, taking a path similar to other major firms in the industry. The news was divulged via a post on Trump’s social platform, Truth Social, on April 1.
This settlement bears resemblance to arrangements made by fellow law firms, namely Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, as well as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Key features of Willkie’s deal involve a commitment of $100 million toward pro bono legal services, supporting initiatives favored by both the firm and Trump, including aid for veterans and public servants, promoting justice system fairness, and fighting antisemitism. The announcement specified that these pro bono efforts would span a range of political perspectives, including conservative views.
For context, Skadden has also pledged $100 million in similar services, while Paul Weiss has committed $40 million.
These settlements are noteworthy considering that firms like Willkie, Paul Weiss, and Skadden have reported higher gross revenues than their counterparts—Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, Jenner & Block, and Perkins Coie—who opted to challenge the executive orders legally.
The terms of Willkie’s agreement reinforce a commitment to merit-based hiring practices and ensure that representation will not be declined based on the personal beliefs of individual attorneys within the firm.
A memo from Willkie’s executive committee, shared with colleagues, highlighted that this agreement is in line with the firm’s existing activities and serves to prioritize client needs while protecting various stakeholder interests, thereby preventing serious repercussions.
The executive orders in question have significant implications, often leading to restrictions on security clearances for lawyers, limiting access to government offices, hindering employment opportunities for firm staffers, and triggering a reassessment of clients’ government contracts.
Among the partners at Willkie is Douglas Emhoff, who is married to Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, and who joined the firm in January.
Additionally, two attorneys from Willkie played roles as investigative counsel for the House select committee that researched the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021. The firm notably represented Georgia election workers in a defamation lawsuit against former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, resulting in a successful judgment of $148 million.
The agreement enters a landscape where various law firms have employed former officials like Robert Mueller, Hillary Clinton, and Jack Smith, raising the stakes for legal firms navigating the political environment.
In response to the firm agreements, Trump remarked, “They’re all bending and saying, ‘Sir, thank you very much.’ Law firms are just saying, ‘Where do I sign? Where do I sign?’”
