President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he may ask prominent U.S. law firms to provide free legal services to support his administration’s trade negotiations with other countries. This move follows recent agreements with four major law firms to donate hundreds of millions of dollars in legal services to causes endorsed by his administration, such as supporting veterans.
During a White House cabinet meeting, Trump mentioned that several law firms have previously paid him significant legal fees. He expressed his intention to utilize these firms for trade matters, stating, “I think we’re going to try to use these very prestigious firms to help us out with the trade.” However, he did not specify which firms might be involved.
The four law firms that have partnered with Trump—Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom; Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP; Milbank LLP; and Paul Weiss—have collectively committed to providing substantial pro bono legal services. Trump has previously targeted other firms with executive orders, accusing them of misusing the justice system and criticizing their workplace diversity policies. These orders aimed to limit access to government facilities and threatened to revoke federal contracts for clients of targeted firms.
On Wednesday, Trump announced a temporary halt on significant reciprocal tariffs for several countries, excluding China, after more than 75 nations expressed interest in negotiating trade agreements. This decision came shortly after the tariffs were implemented.
Trump also pondered whether he might need legal assistance from these firms after leaving office, saying, “Hopefully I won’t need that… after it ends—after, after we leave. Maybe I’ll need it.”
Some firms, including Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block, have challenged Trump’s executive orders in court, with judges temporarily blocking key provisions due to potential constitutional violations. Representatives from the firms that made deals with Trump did not immediately comment on whether their commitments would extend to trade negotiations.
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