As the number of Biglaw capitulations to the Trump administration pile up, so too do the number of principled resignations from rank-and-file attorneys who cannot abide their firms’ decision to play ball with authoritarianism. Whaddya know — some folks take that oath to uphold the rule of law pretty seriously!
The latest round of take-this-job-and-shove-it moments couched in constitutional maxims arrives from Sam Wong, a now former Latham associate in the energy regulation, climate, and environmental law group, who posted his departure email on LinkedIn. He writes, “I fear jumping into the unknown. But I fear more staying and being complicit or participating in this administration’s consolidation of power. The biggest victims of which are not would never have been us—the most fortunate and privileged—but those who cannot protect themselves from actual harm.” And notes that “Freedom and democracy have always come at a cost; if this is in part mine, I am willing to pay it.” Pretty powerful stuff.
And it’s not the only stand being made by Biglaw associates. Jacqui Pittman, a former investment funds associate at Kirkland, also publicized her resignation on LinkedIn. Pittman writes that the decision to leave the firm is not one she had planned on, “While I had hoped to stay and grow at K & E, I can no longer be complacent or ignore the truth of what’s happening for the sake of temporary comfort.”
And she — gently — encourages others to follow her lead.
I know that many of you feel similarly after today’s announcement. As a gentle reminder, we are all uniquely positioned as lawyers to advocate for others, and individual voices hold weight even in the most powerful spaces. You are a group of adept critical thinkers that confront difficult situations each day. I’d encourage everyone to pause and leverage the same skills to audit your own decisions in the coming days.
You can read both Pittman’s and Wong’s resignation letters below. Something tells me they won’t be the last in Biglaw to quit over these deals. If you want to share other Biglaw resignations you can email us or text us (646-820-8477). All submissions are kept anonymous.
The post Associates At Kirkland And Latham Latest To Quit Biglaw Gigs Because Of Cowardly Deals With Trump appeared first on Above the Law.
As the number of Biglaw capitulations to the Trump administration pile up, so too do the number of principled resignations from rank-and-file attorneys who cannot abide their firms’ decision to play ball with authoritarianism. Whaddya know — some folks take that oath to uphold the rule of law pretty seriously!
The latest round of take-this-job-and-shove-it moments couched in constitutional maxims arrives from Sam Wong, a now former Latham associate in the energy regulation, climate, and environmental law group, who posted his departure email on LinkedIn. He writes, “I fear jumping into the unknown. But I fear more staying and being complicit or participating in this administration’s consolidation of power. The biggest victims of which are not would never have been us—the most fortunate and privileged—but those who cannot protect themselves from actual harm.” And notes that “Freedom and democracy have always come at a cost; if this is in part mine, I am willing to pay it.” Pretty powerful stuff.
And it’s not the only stand being made by Biglaw associates. Jacqui Pittman, a former investment funds associate at Kirkland, also publicized her resignation on LinkedIn. Pittman writes that the decision to leave the firm is not one she had planned on, “While I had hoped to stay and grow at K & E, I can no longer be complacent or ignore the truth of what’s happening for the sake of temporary comfort.”
And she — gently — encourages others to follow her lead.
I know that many of you feel similarly after today’s announcement. As a gentle reminder, we are all uniquely positioned as lawyers to advocate for others, and individual voices hold weight even in the most powerful spaces. You are a group of adept critical thinkers that confront difficult situations each day. I’d encourage everyone to pause and leverage the same skills to audit your own decisions in the coming days.
You can read both Pittman’s and Wong’s resignation letters below. Something tells me they won’t be the last in Biglaw to quit over these deals. If you want to share other Biglaw resignations you can email us or text us (646-820-8477). All submissions are kept anonymous.
