Politics

Doug Emhoff’s Law Firm ‘Bends Knee’ To Trump

Published

5 days ago

April 3, 2025

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP — the elite law firm that just welcomed former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff as a partner back in January of this year — has struck a sweeping agreement with President Donald Trump.

The announcement, released directly by Trump on Truth Social Thursday, outlines a high-stakes arrangement in which Willkie commits to providing at least $100 million in pro bono legal services in alignment with Trump administration priorities. That includes support for veterans, law enforcement, and even conservative causes often overlooked by major legal institutions.

“Willkie’s pro bono Committee will ensure that new pro bono matters are consistent with these objectives, and that pro bono activities represent the full political spectrum, including Conservative ideals,” President Trump wrote.

“Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP proactively reached out to President Trump and his Administration,” read the White House’s official statement, praising the firm’s commitment to end the “weaponization of the justice system” and restore legal fairness.

Chicago, Illinois, August 20, 2024, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. (Maxim Elramsisy)

For a firm that recently welcomed Emhoff — husband to Kamala Harris, who lost her presidential bid to Trump in 2024 — the move is loaded with irony.

Emhoff, who served as the nation’s Second Gentleman and once championed progressive causes under the Biden-Harris administration, now finds himself back in private practice at a firm throwing its full weight behind Trump-era priorities. His own focus at the firm includes advising corporations on reputation-sensitive investigations and complex litigation.

But with his new firm making headlines for aligning with Trump, Emhoff’s return to law now comes under a very different spotlight. As part of the agreement, Willkie affirms a strong stance on merit-based hiring, pledging to avoid “illegal DEI discrimination and preferences.”

The firm will also bring in independent counsel to ensure full compliance with anti-discrimination laws — a striking shift away from the progressive HR frameworks many top firms have embraced.

Most notably, the firm promises not to deny legal representation to politically disenfranchised clients — including Trump officials — simply because of their political beliefs, a veiled jab at law firms that have distanced themselves from anyone tied to Trump in recent years.

Willkie’s Chairman, Thomas Cerabino, confirmed the deal, stating, “We reached an agreement with President Trump and his Administration on matters of great importance to our Firm.” Cerabino said that the commitment reflects the firm’s long-standing principles on legal access and employment practices.

“The Firm looks forward to having a constructive relationship with the Trump Administration, and remains committed to serving the needs of our clients, our employees, and the communities of which we are a part,” he finished.

As Trump ramps up efforts to “de-weaponize” federal institutions, this deal signals that even the most buttoned-up legal players are coming to the table — willingly or not.

Emhoff earned a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies from California State University, Northridge, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law. Following Harris’s selection as Joe Biden’s running mate in the 2020 presidential election, Emhoff took a leave of absence from DLA Piper and eventually left the firm to avoid potential conflicts of interest.