Trump reaches deal with another major law firm
President Trump announced Wednesday that he reached another deal with a major law firm, Milbank LLP, as he seeks to punish organizations with ties to his political critics.
Milbank is the latest in a string of firms looking to cut a deal with the president after he signed orders in recent weeks reviewing security clearances and government contracts for several Big Law companies, as well as another executive order threatening to sanction attorneys for “vexatious” lawsuits.
In his announcement, Trump said Milbank has agreed to perform at least $100 million worth of pro bono legal services on shared initiatives throughout his administration. Examples include assistance for veterans, law enforcement officials and first responders as well as work to ensure "fairness" in the justice system and combat antisemitism.
Partners at the firm “with diverse political ideologies” will work with the administration’s pro bono committee to make sure the cases are consistent with the firm’s objectives and the full political spectrum is represented, “including Conservative ideals,” Trump said.
“Milbank will not deny representation to clients, such as members of politically disenfranchised groups and Government Officials, employees, and advisors, who have not historically received Legal representation from major National Law Firms,” Trump said.
The agreement comes after several other firms, including former second gentleman Doug Emhoff’s, made similar deals with the administration — despite not being explicitly targeted in an order or executive action. Milbank was also not directly named in any order, but the firm was among 20 recently contacted by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission asking about diversity in its hiring practices.
The White House said it was approached by Milbank about the deal.
However, in a letter to Milbank employees, obtained by The Hill, Chair Scott Edelman said the firm was contacted by members of the Trump administration about “questions and concerns” regarding the firm’s approach to pro bono work and diversity initiatives.
Edelman told employees that the administration "suggested to us that we enter into an agreement" similar to one made by another firm: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
"As a large law firm that does a majority of its work on transactional matters, we are dependent on our ability to navigate client issues in all parts of the Executive Branch. We believed that it was in the best interests of the Firm and its clients to resolve the Trump Administration’s concerns in a way that would foster our working relationship and avoid what could have been an unnecessary confrontation," Edelman wrote.
"Having reviewed the Skadden agreement, we concluded that it was in the Firm's best interest to agree with the Administration's suggestion and enter into our own Skadden-type agreement," Edelman told employees.
Like the other agreements, Milbank has agreed to not engage in hiring practices that factor in diversity, equity and inclusion requirements and to hire candidates that have a variety of political views.
Edelman, in the letter to Milbank employees, noted that the deal would not make "any significant changes" to the firm's current practices and would involve things the organization is "happy to do anyway."
“Our agreement is consistent with Milbank’s core values,” Edelman said. “We are pleased to affirm a commitment to continue to engage in significant pro bono services in areas that are mutually supported by Milbank and the President.”
Milbank is involved in at least one lawsuit against the Trump administration. The firm is part of the legal team representing former Merit Systems Protection Board member Cathy Harris, who was fired from her appointed post when the president returned to office.
The Wednesday deal also comes several weeks after Milbank announced that Neal Katyal, one of the most prominent Supreme Court attorneys and former acting solicitor general under the Obama administration, joined the firm.
Milbank is the third such firm to strike a deal with the Trump administration, the first being Paul, Weiss, which agreed to provide $40 million in po bono legal services.
Several law firms targeted by Trump executive orders have sued, scoring initial wins in court to pause the provisions of Trump’s order barring attorneys from entering federal buildings.
Rebecca Beitsch contributed reporting.
Updated at 6 p.m. EDT