In a notable deviation from the norm, a small group of Big Law partners are choosing to publicly oppose actions by former President Donald Trump. Traditionally, high-profile legal professionals have opted for quiet dissent, but partners from firms such as Goodwin Procter, Littler Mendelson, Winston & Strawn, and Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft are taking a different path. They are among the less than 15% of partners who signed an amicus brief in a lawsuit challenging Trump’s order against Susman Godfrey, doing so under their own names.
The amicus brief emerged as a show of support for Susman Godfrey, a firm embroiled in a legal conflict resulting from the former president’s directives. Eric Savage, a New York-based shareholder at Littler Mendelson, expressed that a critical point had been reached where remaining silent was untenable.
This move highlights a growing willingness among a select few in Big Law to break with the profession’s tradition of anonymity and reticence when opposing high-profile political figures. It marks a significant shift in the legal community’s approach to advocacy, potentially influencing the dynamics between legal professionals and political figures in the future.