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In a move drawing both applause and intense scrutiny, five of the world’s most powerful law firms—Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Allen Overy Shearman Sterling, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, and Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP—have committed to a combined $500 million in pro bono services as part of a controversial deal with President Donald Trump’s administration.

The pact, revealed Friday through a series of pointed social media announcements by the president, aims to shield the firms from executive orders that threatened to revoke federal security clearances and derail their government-linked practices.

$125M Promises from Big Four

Each of the four firms—Kirkland, A&O Shearman, Simpson Thacher, and Latham—has pledged $125 million in pro bono legal work and affirmed their support for merit-based hiring, promotions, and retention practices. The announcement comes on the heels of growing political scrutiny surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in corporate law.

In his post, Trump claimed the deal had prompted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to retract letters previously sent to the firms, which questioned the legality of certain DEI initiatives under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Cadwalader’s Separate $100M Pledge

Cadwalader, though not among the original firms flagged by the EEOC, entered a separate agreement to offer $100 million in pro bono services covering a “full political spectrum, including Conservative ideals.” The firm holds close ties to the Trump legal saga—former partner Todd Blanche left in 2023 to found Blanche Law PLLC and defend Trump in his Manhattan criminal case involving alleged hush-money payments.

Blanche also previously defended Paul Manafort, Trump’s ex-campaign chief, successfully blocking state-level charges due to double jeopardy protections after his federal conviction.

A $940M Legal Earthquake and Growing Pushback

These deals follow earlier settlements with Paul Weiss, Skadden, Willkie Farr, and Milbank, bringing the total pro bono commitment from BigLaw to $940 million.

However, not everyone is celebrating. Three major firms—Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block—have refused to settle, choosing instead to litigate, claiming the executive orders encroach upon constitutional rights and ethical legal practice. Judges in those cases have temporarily blocked parts of the orders.

Backlash from Within the Legal Community

The legal world is roiling. More than 80 former Skadden attorneys penned a letter decrying the firm’s decision to negotiate, accusing it of emboldening the Trump administration’s attacks on democratic institutions.

“Skadden’s capitulation emboldens Trump to further erode the rule of law,” the letter read. “At a time when freedom of speech and adversarial lawyering are under threat, firms must stand united.”

Similar criticism was levied by Paul Weiss alumni, and a Georgetown student group boycotted a Skadden recruiting event. The outrage has even galvanized institutional responses: over 57 bar associations, the American Bar Association, and faculty groups from Harvard and UCLA Law have issued statements condemning the executive orders.

The Perkins Coie lawsuit has garnered sweeping support, with 507 law firms signing amicus briefs in opposition to the orders.