In a striking development that underscores how aggressively the Trump administration has been pressuring elite law firms, **Milbank LLP — one of the nation’s most prominent practices — agreed to provide at least $100 million in pro bono legal services in a deal with President Trump’s White House. The agreement comes amid a broader campaign by the administration to confront firms it views as ideologically hostile or unsupportive. (Reuters)

According to the administration’s announcement, the pact echoes similar arrangements with other major firms and includes Milbank’s commitment to support “mutually agreed-upon initiatives” and to refrain from diversity-based hiring practices that the White House has criticized. (Reuters)

The deal highlights a growing fault line in the legal industry: while some firms have chosen to fight punitive executive actions in court, others are cutting deals to avert potential sanctions or political retaliation. In Milbank’s case, its leadership said the firm made commitments it was “happy to make” and framed the agreement as a way to put uncertainty behind it. (Reuters)

The move also sparked debate within the profession. Critics warn that such agreements risk undermining legal independence and setting a precedent where political leverage determines how law firms operate — raising serious questions about the rule of law and the role of elite practices in a polarized political landscape. (Reuters)

Source (click to read):
🔗 Trump reaches agreement with Milbank law firm as divide among law firms deepens — Reuters (Apr 2, 2025). (Reuters)