自2025年1月20日以来，特朗普政府对多家知名律所实施行政限制，包括Jenner&Block、Paul Weiss、Perkins Coie和Covington&Burling。这些律所的律师被暂停安全许可、限制进入政府大楼，甚至面临丧失政府合同的风险。特朗普称，这些律所曾支持对他的“不公正”起诉，或为其政治对手提供法律服务。

一、WilmerHale成新目标，直面政府打压

2025年3月27日，WilmerHale成为特朗普政府最新的打击对象。官方理由是该所曾与前特别检察官罗伯特·穆勒（Robert Mueller）有联系。穆勒曾在WilmerHale及其前身Hale and Dorr工作，并在2017年领导“通俄门”调查，此举激怒了特朗普。尽管穆勒已于2021年退休，特朗普仍以此为由对WilmerHale施加行政限制。

面对这一直接针对律师行业的打压，WilmerHale与Jenner&Block分别向华盛顿特区联邦法院提起诉讼，要求法院阻止相关行政令的执行。WilmerHale聘请前美国司法部副检察长Paul Clement代理，而Jenner&Block则由Cooley的Michael Attanasio团队代理。

Jenner&Block在诉状中直指，该行政令“公然违宪，是对律师、客户及法律体系的滥用权力”。该律所指出，过去五年中，其40%以上的收入来自政府合同，行政令的执行将对其业务造成巨大冲击。此外，该诉讼还强调，行政令意在阻止客户聘请他们选择的律师，迫使律所改变立场，甚至终止代理工作。

WilmerHale也在诉讼中指出，特朗普政府的行政令“公然攻击了美国法律体系的基石”，损害了客户辩护权及宪法第一修正案所保障的言论自由。律所还表示，一项几乎相同的行政令此前已被联邦法官驳回，此次诉讼的目的就是迅速获得法律救济，保护客户的合法权益。

其他律所的不同选择：抗争还是妥协？

除了WilmerHale和Jenner&Block，特朗普政府此前已对Covington&Burling、Paul Weiss和Perkins Coie采取类似措施。

- Perkins Coie于3月12日成功获得联邦法院的临时禁令，暂缓行政令执行。

- Paul Weiss选择与特朗普政府达成协议，避免行政令影响。然而，这一决定在法律界引发强烈批评，前Perkins Coie合伙人Marc Elias称其“是对整个法律行业的污点”。

- Skadden,Arps,Slate,Meagher&Flom也在寻求与政府达成协议。3月28日，《纽约时报》报道，Skadden将支付1亿美元的“公益封口费”，以换取特朗普政府的行政令豁免，同时调整其多元、公平与包容（DEI）政策。这一妥协引发内部强烈不满，部分合伙人考虑离职，律所士气低落。Skadden执行合伙人Jeremy London在内部邮件中承认，此举是“在两害相权取其轻”，以保护律所、客户及员工。但外界普遍认为，该协议是对特朗普政府施压的让步。

Skadden执行合伙人Jeremy London向全所发送的内部邮件

Colleagues–

Over the past few days,we learned that the Trump Administration intended to issue an executive order directed at Skadden.We believed it would focus on DEI initiatives and our pro bono activities.When faced with this information,we carefully considered what the right path would be for us,and the answer was not obvious.We were thoughtful and deliberate in determining the steps we might take,knowing that the decisions we were grappling with would have fundamental consequences for our Firm.As we considered our options,we were guided by our determination to uphold the significant commitments and responsibilities we have to our clients,our people,and to the broader communities and society we serve.

With that in mind,we chose to engage proactively and constructively with the Administration to align on a productive path forward without the issuance of an executive order.We entered into the agreement the President announced today because,when faced with the alternatives,it became clear that it was the best path to protect our clients,our people,and our Firm.

This agreement provides that we will:

• Provide a total of at least$100 million in pro bono legal services,during the Trump Administration and beyond,to causes that the President and Skadden both support in relation to the following areas:assisting veterans and other public servants,including members of the military,law enforcement,first responders and federal,state,and local government officials;ensuring fairness in our justice system;and combatting antisemitism.

• Change our pro bono policy so that all pro bono moving forward will be done in the Firm name and ensure that pro bono activities represent the full political spectrum.

• Continue The Skadden Foundation’s mission of providing pro bono legal services to a wide variety of deserving organizations and individuals.Skadden will fund no fewer than five Skadden Fellows each year dedicated to the following projects:assisting veterans;ensuring fairness in our justice system;combatting antisemitism;and other similar types of projects.Law graduates that receive Skadden Fellowships will represent a wide range of political views,including conservative ideals.

• Affirm our commitment to merit-based hiring,promotion,and retention and we will not engage in illegal DEI discrimination and preferences.We will engage independent outside counsel to advise the Firm to ensure employment practices are fully compliant with law,including,but not limited to,anti-discrimination laws.

• Not deny representation to clients,such as politically disenfranchised groups who have not historically received legal representation from major national law firms,including in pro bono matters and in support of non-profits,because of the personal political views of individual lawyers.However,this commitment does not obligate any one of our attorneys to take on any specific representation.

Not everyone will agree with the decision we made today,and I have great respect for the differing views that make us stronger as a Firm.But I firmly believe that an agreement centered around our pro bono work and complying with the law was an acceptable outcome to ensure Skadden will continue to thrive long into the future.This agreement does not change who we are.

Skadden is a remarkable institution.We have 21 offices around the world,and our impact reaches communities in every corner of the globe.Every year we provide thousands of hours and hundreds of millions of dollars in pro bono assistance and charitable contributions to worthy causes.Through the Skadden Foundation,we have funded over 1,000 fellowships to recent law graduates to pursue the practice of public interest law on a full-time basis.And we have more than 3,500 extraordinary people who rely on the Firm for their livelihood.As executive partner,it is my duty to protect our storied Firm so that we can continue to fulfill our commitments to our people,our clients and our communities,now and into the future.

I fully appreciate that this development and other recent events have been extraordinarily difficult for all of us,both personally and professionally.I understand the significant weight that carries.Despite all the uncertainty in our profession over the last several weeks,you have continued to serve our clients with excellence and support one another in the very human way that defines our culture,and for that I am very grateful.I want to thank you for everything that you do–your continued commitment to our clients and each other is at the heart of who we are as a Firm.With this resolution,I am confident that we will go forward with resilience,strength,and integrity.

With gratitude,

Jeremy

联邦法官阻止特朗普行政令

3月28日，联邦法官第三次对特朗普政府的行政令实施临时限制令（TRO），阻止关键条款生效。

负责Jenner & Block诉讼的法官John Bates 形容行政令“令人不安”，并强调：“我们的法律体系依赖律师为所有客户提供尽职辩护。”

负责WilmerHale诉讼的法官Richard Leon 直接指出，该行政令“带有明显的报复性质”，并强调：“这一措施对言论自由和法律辩护产生寒蝉效应，并构成宪法上的损害。”

此外，WilmerHale的律师还要求法院对行政令中涉及律师安全许可的条款实施TRO，但该请求暂被驳回。

特朗普政府的下一步？

特朗普政府针对顶级律所的行政令已引发广泛法律战，而法官的裁决表明，这些措施很可能面临严重的司法阻碍。面对法律界的强烈反弹，特朗普政府是否会继续推进行政令，甚至扩大打压范围？

WilmerHale、Jenner & Block等律所的诉讼，将成为对抗政府干预司法独立的重要战役，法律界正密切关注这一进展。