A cohort of 67 former lawyers hailing from prominent corporations such as Microsoft, Eli Lilly, and Intel have banded together to submit an amicus brief addressing concerns over recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump targeting major law firms. This legal move is in support of Perkins Coie LLP, a firm currently engaged in litigation with the Trump administration following their own targeting by an executive order.
The group mainly comprises former general counsels who articulated their view on the potential consequences of the executive order, particularly its “chilling effect” on American businesses. They warn that businesses might become reluctant to contest executive authority if they fear potential retaliation from the presidency.
The brief argues that such executive orders undermine the U.S. rule of law. According to their statement, the order “does not merely punish a single law firm and its thousands of employees; it erodes the foundation of legal representation by counsel of choice, uses federal contracts to coerce political loyalty, and conscripts private businesses to settle the President’s political scores.” They propose that these actions send a clear warning: hiring the wrong lawyers or publicly adopting a disfavored stance might result in punitive actions against a company.
It is within this context that Executive Order No. 14,230 was signed on March 6, 2025. The order limited Perkins Coie attorneys’ access to federal buildings and officials, and it threatened the cancellation of some of their government contracts. As per official records, the justification for this order was based on the firm’s “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies and allegedly “dishonest and dangerous activity,” notably linked to their representation of former Vice President Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Notably, Perkins Coie LLP has received external support from other entities, such as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which submitted a brief in favor of the firm. They advocated for a summary judgment, arguing that Trump’s executive order infringes on the US rule of law.
More details on the situation and subsequent reactions can be found on the full article at JURIST.