The Trump II reign has been characterised by repeated attacks on the rule of law and blatant power grabs. And Biglaw has confirmed… it’s not up to the task. When directly confronted with unconstitutional Government Orders focusing on corporations on Trump’s record for retribution, greater than twice as many main legislation corporations had been keen to vow the president almost a billion {dollars} in pro bono payola for conservative causes or clients as had been keen to battle the EOs in courtroom. Not an awesome search for the supposed finest within the authorized trade.
However, that doesn’t imply we’re fully screwed as a society. Small legislation and boutiques have stepped up, and these small however mighty corporations are poised to tackle among the greatest circumstances. And that features the Washington Litigation Group, a nonprofit agency created earlier this yr. As Nathaniel Zelinsky, senior counsel on the Washington Litigation Group, stated, “Daily, we now have incoming requests of people that want illustration, and we will tackle some, and we attempt to establish those that match inside our core mission…however there may be a unprecedented want proper now for certified illustration and to be sure that we’re placing ahead one of the best illustration in an important circumstances.”
“We tackle circumstances which can be type of core to the rule of legislation. So we defend people, establishments who’re beneath assault, and we fight authorities overreach, however we’re at our core attorneys,” stated Zelinsky. “Our pedigree is basically individuals from [the] authorities and folks in non-public observe.”
The agency was created by a mixture a Biglaw companions, former judges, and authorities attorneys. The agency’s website touts the distinctive pedigree of its attorneys:
- A former Performing Legal professional Basic of the USA, and two former Deputy Assistant Attorneys Basic.
- A number of former Assistant United States Attorneys.
- Protection attorneys who’ve represented shoppers from Watergate onward.
- A number of former legislation agency companions, together with the top of a nationwide white-collar protection observe, the top of a outstanding Supreme Court docket and Appellate Apply, and the top of a nationwide legislation agency’s D.C. workplace.
- Former judges who served on the USA District Court docket for the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Superior Court docket.
- Attorneys who’ve argued at each stage of the federal judiciary, together with earlier than the Supreme Court docket.
And the agency is rising. It lately added Kyle Freeny, a Greenberg Traurig associate who beforehand labored on Particular Counsel Robert Mueller’s group — and prosecuted Paul Manafort in that function. Her expertise jives nicely with the high-profile circumstances its taking up, as reported by Legislation.com:
The agency has already taken on a number of high-profile circumstances, together with representing former Advantage Programs Safety Board member Cathy Harris, who was fired by Trump earlier this yr, serving as co-counsel with Milbank. The agency additionally represents three members of the Federal Oversight and Administration Board for Puerto Rico that had been fired by Trump, together with Cooley and Democracy Defenders Fund as co-counsel.
Zelinsky notes the agency will proceed its development within the “near-term future.” Which checks out — there’s definitely not an absence of labor combating the Trump administration.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Legislation, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are one of the best, so please join along with her. Be happy to e-mail her with any suggestions, questions, or feedback and comply with her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
