A prominent litigator who has spent his career fighting for conservative issues is now taking on the Trump administration over its attacks on law firms.
Paul Clement on Friday filed a lawsuit against Trump, challenging the presidentās executive order against WilmerHale. The firm is among five that Trump has targeted over the last month for their ties to his perceived opponents and pro bono work he says undermines US interests.
āThis lawsuit is absolutely critical to vindicating the First Amendment, our adversarial system of justice, and the rule of law,ā Clement said in a statement.
The former Solicitor General, who was on Trumpās list of potential picks for Supreme Court seats during the presidentās first term, has argued more than 100 cases before the countryās highest court. He convinced the court last year to roll back federal agenciesā rulemaking power and in 2022 to strike down strict gun restrictions in New York. Trumpās former chief of staff Mark Meadows brought in Clement in 2024 in his fight against charges related to the 2020 election in Georgia.
āPaul is the perfect fit for this case,ā said Deepak Gupta, an appellate lawyer and the founding partner of Gupta Wessler. āHeās not only a card-carrying conservative and a phenomenally skilled advocate; heās also shown throughout his career that he has a steadfast commitment to lawyersā obligation to zealously represent unpopular clients.ā
WilmerHale turned to Clement as other firms are looking to strike a deal with the White House instead of fighting in court. Wall Streetās Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom pledged to provide $100 million in pro bono work for Trump administration priorities, the president said Friday. Paul Weiss, another leading New York firm, agreed earlier this month to provide $40 million in pro bono legal services and conduct and independent review of its DEI policies in exchange for Trump withdrawing an order against the firm.
Jenner & Block also filed a lawsuit on Friday against the Trump administration over a similar order against the firm, tapping Cooley for its representation in the case.
Clement previously left partner roles at two major firms over disagreements about conservative legal causes. He departed King & Spalding after the firm withdrew as counsel for the US House of Representatives, which had argued to preserve a federal law that allowed states to refuse same-sex marriage. He exited Kirkland & Ellis after the firm said it would not longer take gun rights cases.
āIn the past, when people have tried to pressure Paul to abandon a commitment to a client, heās shown that heās willing to stand up for his principles,ā Gupta said. āThatās what the American legal profession needs to do at this dangerous momentāwe need to unite to defend the rule of lawānot capitulate or compromise our principles for short-term convenience.ā