Paul Weiss Alters Policies Amid White House Pressure, Sparking Backlash
- Executive order threatened firm’s operations
- Paul Weiss to drop diversity policies, offer free legal services
- Critics call the move a concession; experts label Trump’s actions unprecedented
March 21 (Reuters) – Leading Wall Street law firm Paul Weiss came under fire on Friday after reaching an agreement with the White House to avoid an executive order that jeopardized its business. While some lawyers argued the firm had little choice, others criticized the decision as a surrender to political pressure.
Legal professionals across various firms and companies condemned Paul Weiss online for seemingly yielding to Republican President Donald Trump’s demands. The firm agreed to eliminate its internal diversity policies and commit $40 million in free legal services to initiatives aligned with Trump’s administration.
