In a significant shift, former President Donald Trump rescinded an executive order targeting the prominent law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison after the firm agreed to provide $40 million worth of pro bono legal services in support of his administration’s policy agenda.
The move followed escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the firm, which has long been associated with Democratic legal causes. The executive order, issued just days prior to its reversal, had threatened to revoke security clearances from the firm’s attorneys and terminate any federal contracts with Paul, Weiss.
The order specifically cited the work of Mark Pomerantz, a former partner at the firm, who led a criminal investigation into Trump’s business dealings during his tenure at the Manhattan district attorney’s office. Pomerantz previously made headlines for comparing Trump to a mob boss, comments that drew sharp criticism from Trump’s allies and were used to justify the order.
A meeting between Trump and Brad Karp, the chair of Paul, Weiss, is reported to have played a pivotal role in reversing the administration’s course. Following that meeting, the White House announced that the law firm had committed to undertaking a broad portfolio of pro bono legal work, reflecting a diversity of political perspectives.
Additionally, Paul, Weiss reportedly agreed to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) considerations from its hiring and promotion practices—a key demand from the Trump administration, which has taken aim at corporate DEI programs across various sectors.
The firm also pledged to allocate legal services to causes aligned with Trump’s current policy goals, such as aiding military veterans and addressing antisemitism. According to the White House, Paul, Weiss acknowledged the “missteps” of Pomerantz during his time overseeing the investigation into Trump’s alleged hush-money payments. It remains unclear whether Karp directly confirmed this aspect of the statement.
This is incredible. Not only did President Trump just manage to compel an elite law firm to admit wrongdoing by its former partner, Mark Pomerantz—the architect of NY’s lawfare against him—but he also secured $40 million in free legal work for causes of his choosing. pic.twitter.com/ggC2UBc4MH
— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) March 21, 2025
In a prepared statement, Karp expressed optimism about future relations between the firm and the administration, stating, “We are gratified that the President has agreed to withdraw the Executive Order concerning Paul, Weiss. We look forward to an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his Administration.”
The agreement between the administration and Paul, Weiss is part of a broader pattern of confrontations between Trump and institutions perceived as aligned with Democratic interests. Meta and ABC previously made settlement payments to Trump’s future presidential library as part of arrangements to conclude lawsuits filed by Trump. Similarly, multiple tech and financial firms have recently scaled back their DEI initiatives, citing alignment with the Trump administration’s policy direction.
Paul, Weiss has agreed to change its ways. pic.twitter.com/mQ42CXJ3gD
— JKash 🍊MAGA Queen (@JKash000) March 20, 2025
Paul, Weiss is not the only law firm to face executive scrutiny. Perkins Coie, a well-known firm with connections to the Democratic Party, recently filed suit in federal court in Washington after being named in an earlier executive order. Another firm, Covington & Burling, has also been targeted under similar terms.
