The top-tier international law firms Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, Covington & Burling, and Perkins Coie now know full well what William Shakespeare was getting at when more than 400 years ago he wrote: "The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers."
The famous but oft-misunderstood line from Henry VI, Part II has frequently been used to condemn the legal profession and perpetuate the stereotype of the corrupt, overpriced lawyer. But Shakespeare, a master at depicting the interplay of power and politics, had something else in mind: the character who wants to wipe out all the lawyers also wants to stage a coup. The remark, while comical, is a recognition that lawyers can stand in the way and that they act as guardians of justice and freedom.
Don’t take my word for it. Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who served on the country’s highest court from 1975 to 2010, cited the line in a footnote in a 1985 opinion, writing that "Shakespeare insightfully realized that disposing of lawyers is a step in the direction of a totalitarian form of government."
I do not assume that President Donald Trump has been reading Shakespeare lately. But the idea still stands. On Friday, Trump issued an executive order suspending security clearances for Paul Weiss attorneys, restricting their access to government buildings, and cutting off any government contracts with the firm. The order further stated that Paul Weiss’ practices will be reviewed to ensure “compliance with civil rights laws against racial bias,” according to a White House fact sheet. In other words, they will be investigated for having DEI policies.
Paul Weiss might have seen this coming. The president had already issued similar orders targeting lawyers at Covington & Burling and Perkins Coie—moves widely viewed to be retribution for the firms’ activities representing Trump’s perceived enemies. Although a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of parts of the Perkins Coie order last week, referring to its “chilling effect” and noting that it “threatens to significantly undermine our entire legal system,” Trump, who had previously stated that about 15 other firms were on his list, still went after Paul Weiss. The firm has a number of partners who have ties to people Trump dislikes: Paul Weiss Chair Brad Karp has raised money for the Democratic Party, and prominent litigator Karen Dunn helped Kamala Harris prepare for the presidential debate—to name just a few.
It’s important to remember that although these firms are based in the U.S., they are international law firms. Their success or failure has a bearing on their operations around the world, whether they be in London, Brussels, Dubai or Shanghai. And the world is watching.
