Trump Administration Executive Order Resistor - Perkins Coie - to Merge

When the Trump administration was issuing Executive Orders which would have limited or even prevented law firms from conducting business (e.g. not allowed to enter federal buildings) Perkins Coie resisted. 

Perkins Coie used the law to combat the EO. It filed a lawsuit and the EO was blocked. But nevertheless Bloomberg Law describes the aftermath as "a tumultuous stretch." Bloomberg Law also positions the Perkins Coie merger with London law firm Ashurst as providing "stability" after such a stretch. For Ashurst the benefit of the merger is access to the US legal market. The resulting entity will be the world's 20th largest firm, grossing $2.7 billion.

So, things haven't been all that peachy for this front-line resistor. While hailed in some corners as a hero, it endured other kinds of challenges.

Meanwhile, for the first law firm to cut a deal with the administration to lift the EO - Paul, Weiss - the number-one challenge has been in the realm of public opinion. During 2025, at least so far, it has achieved a 32% boost in revenue and 11% in Profit Per Equity Partner. The business is thriving. 

Continually Paul, Weiss contends that had the EO remained in force, its business might have collapsed. The business argument is sound. But too many still aren't buying it. A bit over a week ago the chair Brad Karp was heckled when delivering a keynote speech as a New York bar gala. Legacy media, tabloids and social media continue to run with the story. I call it "HeckleGate."

What Karp didn't mention, unless I missed something in the copious coverage of the dealmaking, was the possibility of a merger. 

That probably would have eliminated plenty of high-paid jobs. Mergers create redundancies. The new entity, for example, only needs one HR department. In addition, many mergers don't live up to the synergy objectives. It frequently proves harder than expected to fuse systems. Therefore, Paul, Weiss as we've known it could have lost ground. 

The Perkins Coie merger may provide a fresh perspective for analyzing Paul, Weiss' business decision to negotiate to provide pro-bono assistance to the administration that was in the public interest.

Coaching takeaway: Outcomes can't be predicted. Both Perkins Coie and Paul, Weiss have navigated unique upheavals.

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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.

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