In a move that underscores how far the Trump administration’s confrontation with elite law firms has escalated, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, a major international firm that employs former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, announced a pre-emptive deal with President Trump’s White House. Under the agreement, the firm will provide at least $100 million in pro bono legal services to causes endorsed by the administration — including veteran support and fighting antisemitism — and commit to aligning certain employment practices with the administration’s directives. (AP News)

The pact makes Willkie the third prominent firm in a short span to strike a similar deal to avoid potential punitive executive actions such as revoked security clearances or loss of government contracts. Trump has publicly framed these agreements as wins — portraying them as collaborative efforts to serve national priorities. (AP News)

But legal professionals and critics are sounding alarms. Many see the pattern as part of a broader campaign of political retribution, where powerful legal institutions are pressured to comply with the administration’s policy preferences or face tangible sanctions. The high-profile nature of Willkie’s leadership — including Emhoff’s affiliation — adds another layer of political symbolism that opponents argue undermines the independence and ethical autonomy of the legal profession. (Reuters)

👉 The full AP News article:
🔗 Major international law firm reaches deal with White House, becoming the latest to do so — AP News (Apr 1, 2025). (AP News)