West Coast Willkie Farr attorneys are leaving en masse as a result of the agency bent a knee to Donald Trump, pledging $100 million in professional bono payola to keep away from an unconstitutional Govt Order focusing on the agency, and the tremendous harm that may convey. They usually’re heading to a agency with a confirmed monitor file of standing up to the Trump administration, Cooley. Whereas the departing companions (and the books of enterprise they symbolize) are garnering the most attention, associates are additionally a part of the exodus — they usually’ve bought one thing to say.
As reported by Legislation.com, the entire variety of Willkie attorneys headed to Cooley is at the moment 13. And a number of other of the associates making the transfer have taken to LinkedIn to specific their emotions about their soon-to-be-former agency.
“I didn’t need to go away. However as quickly because the agency determined to make a take care of the Trump administration, I knew that I couldn’t keep,” wrote Isabella McKinley Corbo in a LinkedIn submit. “After I turned a lawyer, I took an oath to defend the Structure. I imagine that Willkie’s determination to capitulate to Trump violated that oath. It was a grave mistake-–one which I imagine historical past will choose harshly, as it’s going to all corporations that made this alternative.”
“I’m privileged and proud to be becoming a member of a lot of my mentors from Willkie who did simply that by departing final week for Cooley LLP, a agency with a confirmed file of preventing this administration, moderately than bowing to a would-be autocrat,” Corbo continued.
“From the second I first interviewed at Willkie as a 1L, I felt like I had discovered a house—one full of sensible advocates who meet their work every day with braveness, kindness, and tenacity,” wrote Remy Carreiro on LinkedIn. “It’s due to this that I used to be so heartbroken when Willkie selected to make a take care of Trump in April. This determination was, and continues to be, improper.”
“In the event you had requested me on March 31, I’d have stated I had no quick plans to depart [Willkie] – it actually has felt like house for these previous two years. However the determination to make a take care of Trump shouldn’t be a choice that I can stay with or be part of. It was the improper determination and one which historical past is not going to be (and has not been) type to,” wrote Emily Abbey. “It’s an immense privilege to be becoming a member of the seven brave, principled companions who left this agency for Cooley LLP, a agency that has a demonstrated file of preventing the administration, not rolling over.”
It’s simply extra proof that many attorneys need to distance themselves from the stink of capitulation.
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 the most effective, so please join together with her. Be at liberty to e mail her with any suggestions, questions, or feedback and observe her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
