Milbank reaches a deal with Trump

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By Caitlin Tremblay

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REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

Milbank reached an agreement with the Trump administration, becoming the latest firm to strike a deal with the president as he seeks to punish perceived enemies in the legal profession. Milbank's deal comes a day after Willkie struck a similar agreement to head off an executive order targeting its business, joining Wall Street powerhouses Paul Weiss and Skadden in making concessions to the president to protect their businesses. Read more about Milbank's agreement.

Perkins Coie, WilmerHale and Jenner & Block have challenged executive orders against them in court, reflecting a deepening divide in the legal community over how to respond to Trump's efforts to punish his perceived enemies in the profession and root out diversity-based hiring, which he deems discriminatory. Judges have blocked key portions of those orders.

Beyond powerful law firms, President Trump has managed to wring concessions out of several other targets, including Columbia University, Meta and Disney, setting what some view as damaging precedents.

In just 10 weeks in office, Trump has leveraged power in ways no other modern U.S. president has tried. Many of Trump's actions are being challenged in courts, where some judges have tried to slow him down. 

James Oliphant and Jeff Mason have more on the speed and breadth of the president's actions that have caught Democrats, public-service unions, CEOs and the legal profession off guard.

REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo

Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared sympathetic to South Carolina's bid to strip Planned Parenthood of funding under the Medicaid program in a case that could bolster efforts by Republican-led states to deprive the reproductive healthcare and abortion provider of public money. Read more about the oral arguments here.

The justices also released opinions this morning, including one that rejected a medical marijuana firm's bid to avoid a racketeering suit. In another ruling the court largely backed the FDA's refusal to let two e-cigarette companies sell flavored vape products that regulators consider a health risk to youths.

Find more SCOTUS coverage here.

In New York …

Dechert added Brian Whaley as a partner to its global finance group from Paul Hastings … Vadim Avdeychik left Clifford Chance to join Debevoise as a registered funds partner in the firm's investment management group … Haynes Boone hired Michele Navazio as co-chair of its derivatives practice from Seward & Kissel … M&A partner Bradley Edmister moved to Venable from Hogan Lovells.

In Washington, D.C. … 

A four-partner commercial litigation team from Kramer Levin moved to Hogan Lovells: Gary Orseck, William Trunk, Jennifer Windom and Matthew Madden … Former U.S. attorney and homeland security adviser Ken Wainstein joined Mayer Brown as a partner in the firm's global investigations and white-collar defense practice … International trade and security partner Darshak Dholakia left Dechert to join McDermott … Francis McCabe joined Hughes Hubbard as a partner in the firm's project finance practice from Norton Rose Fulbright … Hogan Lovells hired James Davidson as a capital markets partner in the firm's REIT practice from Hunton Andrews Kurth. He will also practice in Houston … Energy and infrastructure partner Merrill Kramer moved to Davis Wright as a partner from Pierce Atwood.

In Los Angeles …

Winston & Strawn hired Stan Kalminsky as a partner in its transactions practice from Goodwin … Vedder Price added corporate tax and estate lawyer Megan Janes as a partner from Pillsbury.

In San Francisco …

Willkie added Daniel Lopez as a partner to its private equity practice from Orrick.

In Chicago …

Former federal prosecutor Ryan Hedges joined BakerHostetler's white-collar, investigations and securities enforcement team from Vedder Price … John Wiktor moved to Honigman's private client practice from Kilpatrick Townsend … Alison Powers joined Blank Rome as a partner in the firm's labor and employment group from Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg … 

In London …

Nabil Khodadad and Allistair Wishart joined Baker Botts' project finance group as partners from Vinson & Elkins. Khodadad will also be head of project finance for Baker Botts' international offices.

And finally …

Antitrust partners Bonnie Lau and Brian Smith joined Wilson Sonsini. Lau joins from Morrison Foerster where she was co-head of the San Francisco litigation department and Smith moves over from K&L Gates in Chicago.

Trump to impose sweeping tariffs, escalating global trade tensions. Follow live coverage here … Trump national security adviser used personal email, White House says … Former California AG Xavier Becerra launches run for governor … Val Kilmer, star of "Top Gun" and "The Doors," died at 65 … And our top photos of the day.

caitlin.tremblay@thomsonreuters.com

@ctrembz

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