Trump vs. BigLaw: How Paul Weiss Bent the Knee

Donald Trump has come for the world of BigLaw — the big law firms that represent Wall Street and corporate America. For now, he’s winning — but at what cost?

There is a lot of hue and cry about big liberal institutions “bending the knee” to Trump — i.e., caving in to his demands after being targeted or threatened with executive orders or investigations. For a certain stripe of liberal or progressive, there’s a tribal duty to resist Trump, no matter what he asks. For a certain stripe of right-winger, Trump is just evening the score. As with so many things Trump, however, we need the perspective to draw careful distinctions between the good, the bad, and the ugly — the things that are righteous, the things that are abusive, and when he pursues righteous ends by abusive means.

About the Author

Dan McLaughlin

Dan McLaughlin is a senior writer at National Review Online and a fellow at National Review Institute.

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Donald Trump has come for the world of BigLaw — the big law firms that represent Wall Street and corporate America. For now, he’s winning — but at what cost?

There is a lot of hue and cry about big liberal institutions “bending the knee” to Trump — i.e., caving in to his demands after being targeted or threatened with executive orders or investigations. For a certain stripe of liberal or progressive, there’s a tribal duty to resist Trump, no matter what he asks. For a certain stripe of right-winger, Trump is just evening the score. As with so many things Trump, however, we need the perspective to draw careful distinctions between the good, the bad, and the ugly — the things that are righteous, the things that are abusive, and when he pursues righteous ends by abusive means.