In a dramatic shift, four distinguished partners have resigned from the prestigious law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Karen Dunn, Bill Isaacson, Jeannie Rhee, and Jessica Phillips have chosen to depart and establish their own firm. While their resignation letter did not explicitly reference the firm’s controversial settlement with the Trump administration, the timing strongly suggests a connection.
The resignation comes on the heels of Paul Weiss’s controversial decision in March 2025 to enter into a deal with the Trump administration. The agreement saw the firm provide $40 million in pro bono legal services for causes aligned with the administration’s goals. In exchange, the executive order limiting the firm’s access to government contracts was lifted.
The deal has raised eyebrows within the legal community, with many questioning the ethics of such an arrangement. Critics argue that the settlement may have compromised the firm’s independence, stirring concerns about the potential for political influence in legal representation. This has sparked a broader debate about the role of law firms in an increasingly partisan political landscape.
The resigning partners’ decision to leave the firm adds further fuel to the controversy. By stepping away, they seem to signal their disapproval of the Trump deal, potentially highlighting deeper ethical divisions within Paul Weiss. The legal profession is now left to grapple with the implications of this episode – whether it signals a shift in how law firms approach political clients or a larger issue concerning their ethical responsibilities.
As the legal world watches closely, it remains to be seen how this situation will evolve and if it will influence future dealings between law firms and political entities. One thing is certain, though: Paul Weiss’s handling of this high-profile case will continue to resonate within the legal industry for years to come.
