Biglaw
is
4
for
4.
Four
times
firms
have
challenged
Executive
Orders
targeting
their
firms,
and,
in
front
of
four
different
judges,
have
won
temporary
restraining
orders
blocking
enforcement
of
the
key
provisions
of
the
EOs.
The
most
recent
firm
to
notch
this
key
W
in
the
fight
against
Donald
Trump
is
Susman
Godfrey.
Yesterday,
Judge
Loren
AliKhan
issued
a
TRO
enjoining
sections
1,
3,
and
5
of
the
EO,
related
to
the
firm’s
access
to
federal
buildings
and
work
with
contractors.
Judge
AliKhan
pulled
exactly
zero
punches,
noting
“The
executive
order
specifically
targets
lawyers
because
of
the
clients
that
they
represented.
The
executive
order
is
based
on
a
personal
vendetta
against
a
particular
firm.
And,
frankly,
I
think
the
framers
of
our
Constitution
would
view
it
as
a
shocking
abuse
of
power.”
This
language,
while
forceful,
echoes
the
sentiments
of
judges
Beryl
Howell,
John
Bates
and
Richard
Leon
who
are
overseeing
the
cases
brought
by
Perkins
Coie,
Jenner
&
Block,
and
WilmerHale
against
similar
EOs.
Judge
AliKhan’s
comments
also
called
out
the
Biglaw
firms
bending
a
knee
to
Donald
Trump
to
avoid
the
exact
legal
fight
that
Susman
is
nailing.
“Law
firms
across
the
country
are
entering
into
agreements
with
the
government
out
of
fear
that
they
will
be
targeted
next,”
she
noted.
“And
while
I
wish
other
firms
were
not
capitulating
as
readily,
I
admire
firms
like
Susman
for
standing
up
and
challenging
it
when
this
does
threaten
the
very
existence
of
their
business,”
AliKhan
said.
Plus
she
pointed
out
just
how
foolhardy
the
Biglaw
deals
are,
“For
the
many
firms
that
have
entered
into
agreements
with
the
administration,
there’s
nothing
stopping
the
government
from
returning
to
target
them
in
the
future.”
It’s
a
lesson
Lando
Calrissian
had
to
learn
the
hard
way.
Susman
Godfrey
provided
the
following
comment
on
the
court
victory,
noting
the
import
of
the
legal
battle
goes
beyond
the
firm,
“This
fight
is
bigger
and
more
important
than
any
one
firm.
Susman
Godfrey
is
fighting
this
unconstitutional
executive
order
because
it
infringes
on
the
rights
of
all
Americans
and
the
rule
of
law.
This
fight
is
right,
it
is
just,
and
we
are
duty-bound
to
pursue
it.
We
are
grateful
the
court
directly
addressed
the
unconstitutionality
of
the
executive
order
by
recognizing
it
as
a
‘shocking
abuse
of
power.’”
Kathryn
Rubino
is
a
Senior
Editor
at
Above
the
Law,
host
of
The
Jabot
podcast,
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
AtL
tipsters
are
the
best,
so
please
connect
with
her.
Feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments
and
follow
her
on
Twitter
@Kathryn1 or
Mastodon
@[email protected].