Paul, Weiss is representing Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in a lawsuit towards the Hudson Valley Proud Boys and their president William Pepe. The traditionally Black church is suing over trademark infringement, as Metropolitan AME was awarded Proud Boys Worldwide’s curiosity within the “Proud Boys” trademark after a 2020 assault by members of Proud Boys.
In a standard world, that is the form of illustration that the agency boasts about however is so uncontroversial that it’s not likely “information.”
However it’s 2025, so this qualifies as a Huge Deal.
Donald Trump’s war on Biglaw, by unconstitutional Executive Orders designed to break major law firms except they bend a knee to Trump, has already had an amazing influence on the business. Within the face of financial harm, 9 main companies sought Trump’s seal of approval, offering professional bono payola, that’s, free authorized companies on behalf of conservative clients or causes as a way to keep away from Trumpian retribution. However the chilling effect is even better than these capitulating companies, as a result of professional bono and public curiosity representations by Biglaw firms are down — significantly — as companies don’t wish to danger Trump’s ire.
And Paul, Weiss was one of many companies — the very first firm, in reality — that capitulated to Trump. Since then, the agency has been experiencing the consequences of their actions — the cope with Trump keeps getting worse, there’ve been congressional investigations and client concerns. And, in fact, there’ve been bunches attorneys bailing on the firm to distance themselves from the craven capitulation — most notably, the anticipated 20-odd litigators leaving to work at litigation boutique Dunn Isaacson Rhee, the agency created in the wake of Paul, Weiss’s Trump deal.
So Paul, Weiss taking the authorized battle to the Hudson Valley Proud Boys — and Pepe, who was pardoned by Trump for his function within the January sixth tried coup — is being hailed as a stance towards the president’s agenda. Let’s not get too excited although. Relating to Biglaw bravery, the companies that refused to ink a deal with Trump and are actively combating the Biglaw EOs in court docket are on the prime of the pyramid. Then the companies actively litigating towards key points of Trump’s agenda. The companies that capitulated to Trump have an extended option to go earlier than the even begin to undo the injury they’ve completed to the rule of regulation (and even in that class, Milbank is lapping Paul, Weiss).
But it surely’s actually higher than repping the Proud Boys on this case.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Regulation, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the very best, so please join together with her. Be happy to e-mail her with any suggestions, questions, or feedback and observe her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
