A&O Shearman among four more firms to cut $125m Trump deals

Four more law firms - one headquartered in the UK - have cut a deal to provide pro bono services in return for regulators dropping investigations into their diversity practices. 

President Trump announced on his Truth Social account over the weekend that Kirkland & Ellis, A&O Shearman, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and Latham & Watkins have each committed to providing $125 million in free legal services.

The firms are among the 20 who were told in March that they were being investigated by the federal government’s US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in respect of their equality practices.

Trump’s latest announcement revealed that, concurrent to the pro bono pledges, the commission has withdrawn its letters to these firms and will not pursue any further claims related to diversity issues.

The president said: ‘The law firms affirm their commitment to merit-based hiring, promotion, and retention. Accordingly, the law firms will not engage in illegal DEI discrimination and preferences. The law firms affirm that it is their policy to give fair and equal consideration to job candidates, irrespective of their political beliefs, including candidates who have served in the Trump administration, and any other Republican or Democrat administration.’

The pro bono support will be for causes that both the firms and the president support, and will include matters that ‘represent the full political spectrum, including Conservative ideals’.

In a statement, the firms said: ‘We have resolved this matter while upholding long-held principles important to each of our firms: equal employment opportunity; providing pro bono assistance to a wide range of underserved populations, and ensuring fairness in the justice system; and representing a broad spectrum of clients on various matters. We look forward to a continued constructive and productive relationship with President Trump and his team.’

The statement was made jointly by Jon A. Ballis, chairman of Kirkland & Ellis; Khalid Garousha, global senior partner of A&O Shearman; Alden Millard, chair of Simpson Thacher’s executive committee; and Richard M. Trobman, chair and managing partner of Latham & Watkins.

The US government has now secured more than $900m in pro bono pledges from law firms threatened with either executive orders or investigations from the equal opportunity commission.

All four have a presence in the UK as well as the US and it remains to be seen whether they amend their DEI policies on both sides of the Atlantic. A&O Shearman, formed through a 2023 merger between magic circle firm Allen & Overy and Shearman and Sterling, is the first firm with roots in the UK to make an agreement with Trump.

• It was also reported today that another prestigious firm, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, has also made a deal with the president, pledging $100m.

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