Keker, Van Nest & Peters continues to lead the push against the Trump administration’s efforts to bend law firms to its will and issue personal attacks against judges who rule against its political agenda.
In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg Law, Keker partners Steven Ragland and Laurie Carr Mims emphasized potential risks to the legal profession as a result of Big Law firms signing agreements with the White House earlier this year. One example is the potential for dealmaking firms to justify the deployment of federal troops in U.S. cities.
“When the bully says, ‘OK now it’s time to give me your lunch money again,’ what’s going to happen?” said Ragland. “We will see what will be done and what sort of damage might be done.”
Judges targeted by President Trump after issuing rulings against the administration have received treats and hate mail, said Mims.
“Many jurists, at significant personal risk, are willing to follow the rule of law,” Mims said.
Earlier this year nine major law firms pledged $1 billion in free legal services to the Trump administration, a move firm co-founder John Keker described as “bribery” during an appearance on “60 Minutes.”
Ragland and Mims said Keker’s decision to fight the administration has attracted new business and has bolstered the firm’s recruitment efforts.
“Our associates were united in thanking us for doing it and telling their friends, ‘My firm did this, how about yours?’” Ragland said. “It’s only helped with our recruitment.”
