Seven Willkie Farr Partners Leave for Cooley After Trump Deal

Seven partners, including leaders of Willkie Farr & Gallagher's San Francisco office, are leaving the firm to join Cooley following Willkie's agreement with President Donald Trump to avoid punitive executive orders targeting firms opposing his administration. These departures reflect dissatisfaction among lawyers who oppose Willkie's decision to capitulate to Trump, especially as Cooley is representing firms challenging the constitutionality of these executive orders in court. The executive orders, which threaten firms with loss of government contracts and federal access if they employ or represent Trump's perceived enemies, have been ruled unconstitutional in several cases, including a notable victory for Jenner & Block with Cooley's representation. The fallout from Trump's actions has led to significant turmoil in major law firms, with several prominent attorneys departing firms that made deals with the administration. Willkie Farr, which also handles pro bono work seen as antagonistic to Trump, has seen this exodus as clients and lawyers express concern over the firm's cooperation with the Trump administration. This trend is part of a broader pattern of legal professionals moving to firms actively resisting Trump's punitive policies, underscoring divisions within the legal community over how to respond to the administration's tactics.