Joseph Baio worked at Willkie Farr for 47 years. As a partner, he’d served on the firm’s executive committee. Most recently, the dean of the firm’s lawyers worked as a senior counsel. It takes a lot to make someone leave the firm they’ve worked with — and at times helped lead — for almost half a century. But Willkie Farr managed to find a way to alienate its longest-serving attorney when it turned coward and agreed to give Trump $100 million in pro bono legal services and somehow even more in dignity.
Baio informed the current executive committee that he was leaving to “join the fight against governmental tyranny, unconstitutional decrees and social injustice, particularly at this critical time,” a statement that deserves a swelling orchestral accompaniment befitting the end of a courtroom drama. It’s also a succinct acknowledgement of a lawyer’s ethical responsibilities that seems lost on some Biglaw firms right now.
While a number of associates have publicly broke ties over the settlements and some law students are already telling firms in the “Order of the Obsequious” that they are turning their backs on recruiting efforts, Baio is the most senior lawyer to depart a firm over a settlement. He is unlikely to be the last.
Baio’s position as counsel affords him more flexibility than many partners, who cannot bolt on a dime and have to negotiate smooth transitions for their books of business at other firms. But Above the Law is already aware of corporate clients informing surrendering firms that they will take their business elsewhere in light of the concessions, seeing the deals as confirmation that the firms are incapable of standing up for themselves let alone their clients. When clients start threatening to walk in search of firms with backbone — or at least no drama — the partners will start trying to figure out how to move with them.
Part of a smooth transition — and keeping their next firm off of Trump’s radar — involves keeping a low profile, so don’t expect many partners to publicly tie their departures to the Trump settlements. Relatedly, they have to find new homes for their books that aren’t going to turn around and create the same problem. All of this takes time.
But when you see a statistically significant uptick over the next two quarters of posts from partners at these firms that begin “Thrilled to announce my next chapter!” keep these settlements in mind.
How Trump Is Putting Law Firms In A No-Win Situation [New York Times]
Earlier: Biglaw Is Under Attack. Here’s What The Firms Are Doing About It.
Willkie Farr Surrenders To Trump
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter or Bluesky if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
The post Willkie Loses Longest-Serving Lawyer Over Trump Surrender appeared first on Above the Law.
Joseph Baio worked at Willkie Farr for 47 years. As a partner, he’d served on the firm’s executive committee. Most recently, the dean of the firm’s lawyers worked as a senior counsel. It takes a lot to make someone leave the firm they’ve worked with — and at times helped lead — for almost half a century. But Willkie Farr managed to find a way to alienate its longest-serving attorney when it turned coward and agreed to give Trump $100 million in pro bono legal services and somehow even more in dignity.
Baio informed the current executive committee that he was leaving to “join the fight against governmental tyranny, unconstitutional decrees and social injustice, particularly at this critical time,” a statement that deserves a swelling orchestral accompaniment befitting the end of a courtroom drama. It’s also a succinct acknowledgement of a lawyer’s ethical responsibilities that seems lost on some Biglaw firms right now.
While a number of associates have publicly broke ties over the settlements and some law students are already telling firms in the “Order of the Obsequious” that they are turning their backs on recruiting efforts, Baio is the most senior lawyer to depart a firm over a settlement. He is unlikely to be the last.
Baio’s position as counsel affords him more flexibility than many partners, who cannot bolt on a dime and have to negotiate smooth transitions for their books of business at other firms. But Above the Law is already aware of corporate clients informing surrendering firms that they will take their business elsewhere in light of the concessions, seeing the deals as confirmation that the firms are incapable of standing up for themselves let alone their clients. When clients start threatening to walk in search of firms with backbone — or at least no drama — the partners will start trying to figure out how to move with them.
Part of a smooth transition — and keeping their next firm off of Trump’s radar — involves keeping a low profile, so don’t expect many partners to publicly tie their departures to the Trump settlements. Relatedly, they have to find new homes for their books that aren’t going to turn around and create the same problem. All of this takes time.
But when you see a statistically significant uptick over the next two quarters of posts from partners at these firms that begin “Thrilled to announce my next chapter!” keep these settlements in mind.
How Trump Is Putting Law Firms In A No-Win Situation [New York Times]
Earlier: Biglaw Is Under Attack. Here’s What The Firms Are Doing About It.
Willkie Farr Surrenders To Trump
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter or Bluesky if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
