{"id":113921,"date":"2025-04-07T17:02:59","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T01:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/04\/07\/associate-quits-in-epic-fashion-says-willkie-farrs-principles-are-now-so-deeply-compromised\/"},"modified":"2025-04-07T17:02:59","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T01:02:59","slug":"associate-quits-in-epic-fashion-says-willkie-farrs-principles-are-now-so-deeply-compromised","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/04\/07\/associate-quits-in-epic-fashion-says-willkie-farrs-principles-are-now-so-deeply-compromised\/","title":{"rendered":"Associate Quits In Epic Fashion, Says Willkie Farr\u2019s Principles \u2018Are Now So Deeply Compromised\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Willkie Farr surrendered <\/a>to Donald Trump, inking a deal to save their hide<\/a> (that is, avoid one of the\u00a0increasingly common<\/a>\u00a0Executive Orders targeting Biglaw), we wondered how that move would go over at the firm. Because we know that similar bargains at other Biglaw firms went over<\/a> like a lead balloon<\/a>, with a lot of\u00a0anger<\/a>\u00a0boiling at the firms, leading to some principled\u00a0resignations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From all accounts Above the Law\u2019s heard, there\u2019s deep disappointment the firm didn\u2019t stand up to defend the rule of law. And an associate, Andrew Silberstein, has put his money where his mouth is (unlike some of the prominent names at the firm) and quit because the firm bent the knee to Trump.<\/p>\n

Insiders called Silberstein\u2019s departure memo \u201cOne of the more colorful\u00a0resignation\u00a0letters I\u2019ve seen!\u201d And, honestly, it\u2019s a great read, especially for those frustrated with the lackluster response<\/a> from Biglaw to Trump\u2019s attack on the industry. <\/p>\n

Silberstein\u2019s resignation:<\/p>\n

\n

Willkie Farr & Gallagher stated in its announcement on Tuesday that its decision to acquiesce to the Trump administration\u2019s unprecedented demand was \u201cincredibly difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

The more difficult, and moral, decision would have been to stand with Perkins Coie and other such courageous firms. The rule of law is clearly under threat. They have come for us, and we did not speak out. Who is next?<\/p>\n

I am only a cog in this machine, the gears of which will churn on mechanistically no matter my decision to leave, as they\u00a0 would have churned on with me loyally and passionately had Willkie Farr & Gallagher stood in defense of the rule of law. This proud and storied century & a half old institution comprised of 1200 brilliant legal minds, of more than $1 billion in revenue last year. If this institution cannot fight, then who? There are moments in a life of becoming & unbecoming and what we have here is the menace of both. Where is our courage?<\/p>\n

My four plus years here were marked with good fortune: hardworking, intelligent colleagues, participation in the type of voting rights trial that our benefactor surely took into consideration wen he decided to put his thumb on the scale and test of mettle. But Willkie is a different firm today. The principles this firm purportedly valued over the years I\u2019ve worked here are now so deeply compromised. We signed them away when we made this deal What will Willkie say when it faces the next set of demands? Is there a line in the sand?<\/p>\n

I am a cog whose words & actions cannot mean a thing. But if my words mean nothing, so too do ours. If my actions mean nothing, so too do yours. So too the words & actions of every associate and partner at this firm and every other. Of all workers left to the whim of corporate executives who have forgotten the import of truth and principle. But I know that to be false. Our words and actions mean everything. Every day comes clearer that individuals too must fight. Must carve out their place in all this. It is only in the aggregate we lose ourselves. But it is also only in the aggregate we can truly be saved. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve given my notice and am signing off. To all the people I\u2019ve worked with over the years, I really do count my blessings and wish you well. Thank you.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That\u2019s sure one way to exit a firm. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if others followed suit.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her<\/a> with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The post Associate Quits In Epic Fashion, Says Willkie Farr\u2019s Principles \u2018Are Now So Deeply Compromised\u2019<\/a> appeared first on Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Willkie Farr surrendered <\/a>to Donald Trump, inking a deal to save their hide<\/a> (that is, avoid one of the\u00a0increasingly common<\/a>\u00a0Executive Orders targeting Biglaw), we wondered how that move would go over at the firm. Because we know that similar bargains at other Biglaw firms went over<\/a> like a lead balloon<\/a>, with a lot of\u00a0anger<\/a>\u00a0boiling at the firms, leading to some principled\u00a0resignations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From all accounts Above the Law\u2019s heard, there\u2019s deep disappointment the firm didn\u2019t stand up to defend the rule of law. And an associate, Andrew Silberstein, has put his money where his mouth is (unlike some of the prominent names at the firm) and quit because the firm bent the knee to Trump.<\/p>\n

Insiders called Silberstein\u2019s departure memo \u201cOne of the more colorful\u00a0resignation\u00a0letters I\u2019ve seen!\u201d And, honestly, it\u2019s a great read, especially for those frustrated with the lackluster response<\/a> from Biglaw to Trump\u2019s attack on the industry. <\/p>\n

Silberstein\u2019s resignation:<\/p>\n

\n

Willkie Farr & Gallagher stated in its announcement on Tuesday that its decision to acquiesce to the Trump administration\u2019s unprecedented demand was \u201cincredibly difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

The more difficult, and moral, decision would have been to stand with Perkins Coie and other such courageous firms. The rule of law is clearly under threat. They have come for us, and we did not speak out. Who is next?<\/p>\n

I am only a cog in this machine, the gears of which will churn on mechanistically no matter my decision to leave, as they\u00a0 would have churned on with me loyally and passionately had Willkie Farr & Gallagher stood in defense of the rule of law. This proud and storied century & a half old institution comprised of 1200 brilliant legal minds, of more than $1 billion in revenue last year. If this institution cannot fight, then who? There are moments in a life of becoming & unbecoming and what we have here is the menace of both. Where is our courage?<\/p>\n

My four plus years here were marked with good fortune: hardworking, intelligent colleagues, participation in the type of voting rights trial that our benefactor surely took into consideration wen he decided to put his thumb on the scale and test of mettle. But Willkie is a different firm today. The principles this firm purportedly valued over the years I\u2019ve worked here are now so deeply compromised. We signed them away when we made this deal What will Willkie say when it faces the next set of demands? Is there a line in the sand?<\/p>\n

I am a cog whose words & actions cannot mean a thing. But if my words mean nothing, so too do ours. If my actions mean nothing, so too do yours. So too the words & actions of every associate and partner at this firm and every other. Of all workers left to the whim of corporate executives who have forgotten the import of truth and principle. But I know that to be false. Our words and actions mean everything. Every day comes clearer that individuals too must fight. Must carve out their place in all this. It is only in the aggregate we lose ourselves. But it is also only in the aggregate we can truly be saved. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve given my notice and am signing off. To all the people I\u2019ve worked with over the years, I really do count my blessings and wish you well. Thank you.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That\u2019s sure one way to exit a firm. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if others followed suit.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her<\/a> with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Mastodon @[email\u00a0protected].<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Willkie Farr surrendered to Donald Trump, inking a deal to save their hide (that is, avoid one of the\u00a0increasingly common\u00a0Executive Orders targeting Biglaw), we wondered how that move would go over at the firm. Because we know that similar bargains at other Biglaw firms went over like a lead balloon, with a lot of\u00a0anger\u00a0boiling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":113870,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-113921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/quit-job-620x413-D2fipE.jpeg?fit=620%2C413&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113921"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113921\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}