[This article first appeared in Crain’s Chicago Business on October 2, 2025.]

Big Law firm partners promote themselves as the best, brightest, and toughest lawyers in America. But nine firms capitulated to President Donald Trump because they feared a fight with him to preserve their constitutional rights. Now they’re grappling with the growing costs of appeasing a bully.

Trapped By Their Own Business Models

With average partner profits of more than a million dollars, the Big Law firms that settled were uniquely positioned to resist Trump’s unlawful executive orders aimed at the heart of the legal profession. They could have banded together, spearheaded a high-profile resistance, and honored the sworn oath that every attorney takes to uphold the Constitution.

To be fair, more than 500 firms signed an amicus brief challenging Trump’s order targeting the Perkins Coie firm. But the vast majority of the Big Law firms that generate the most revenue remained silent. Nine went a step farther and settled by promising a combined total of $940 million in free legal services to Trump-approved causes.

And therein lies the rub.

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