Executive Orders as Greek Tragedy? But If You Cut Through the Drama, Like the NY Supreme Court Did ...

There's a stunner of a long shelf life for the controversy surrounding law firms' decisions about how to navigate the spring 2025 White House Executive Orders. 

Also, oh boy, has the hyperbole been sticky. For example, there are the tone and language in the June 2025 complaint filed with the New York Supreme Court Appellate Attorney Grievance Committee. It's about the nine law firms which negotiated deals with the Trump administration. The situation is described in the complaint as:

" ... watching this Greek tragedy play out"

 In addition, amidst all the drama there's downright wrong information. Bloomberg Law reports:

" The complaint, filed by a group of law professors ..."

If you go to the actual complaint you see that law professors were not the only filers. There were also practicing lawyers such as Julia Sullivan. 

But that's all mostly irrelevant, at least that's how we businesspeople see it. 

The key point here is that, from the get-go of the issuing of the EOs, there's been a confusion about what are ethical issues and which are business ones. 

The complaint focuses on ethics. 

The September response from that NY Supreme Court Committee frames the matter as business. Bloomberg Law reports:

“'The business decisions of law firms, such as the selection of clients or the allocation of pro bono resources, generally fall outside the purview of this Committee,' Jorge Dopico, chief attorney for the committee, said in a Sept. 2 letter."

Dopico added that the Committee has deferred further investigation. 

Meanwhile, the nine law firms which did negotiate deals are still being vilified in some circles.

So?

The continuing brutal beatdown in the court of public opinion hasn't negatively impacted business for some of the firms. No Greek tragedy. At least not for Paul, Weiss. It had been a "first responder" in dealmaking with the White House. It made the decision to negotiate in order to "save the business." The EO's terms and conditions, chair Brad Karp and many partners were convinced, would put the firm out of business.

Well, Paul, Weiss figured right. The business didn't collapse. For 2025, at least so far, it officially reports amazing financial performance. It

" ... saw its revenue increase by 32% to $2.63 billion from $2 billion in the previous year[8]. This growth nearly tripled the previous year's 11% revenue increase .... Additionally, the firm's revenue per lawyer rose 6% to $2.1 million from $1.98 million ..."

In my intuitive coaching/tarot reading I'm bearing witness to the profileration of those who know staging. Drama has become the currency of our times. Trade it for what you need such as a shot at being an influencer. But then a society has to go back to the business of business. It's just taking longer for that to take place post-Executive Orders. 

We, at least boomers, have been there before. The recession of the early 1970s shut down the theater in the streets of the counterculture. For my gen it was then all-business. 

Thrown off your game, maybe the first time since you started working? You made all the right moves and then the world moved in another direction.

Intuitive Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, reskilling and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com). Yes, test out the chemistry. Zero risk.