• Four partners from Paul Weiss, including Karen Dunn, leave to start a new law firm.
• The departure follows a controversial deal with Trump to avoid federal penalties.
• Paul Weiss committed to providing $40 million in pro bono services in exchange for lifting restrictions.
• The deal faced backlash from legal colleagues and alumni of the firm.
• Similar deals have been made by other law firms, raising ethical concerns.

Four senior partners from Paul Weiss, including Karen Dunn, announced their departure from the firm to establish a new legal practice. This exit comes on the heels of a controversial agreement Paul Weiss made with President Trump, which aimed to lift an executive order that had threatened the firm's operations, including their access to government contracts. Dunn, who has played a significant role in Democratic politics by assisting figures such as Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton, expressed regret in an internal email, stating, "We were disappointed not to be able to tell each of you personally...or individually the news that we have decided to leave Paul, Weiss to start a new law firm," according to The New York Times and Reuters.

The partnership's exit includes Bill Isaacson, Jessica Phillips, and Jeannie Rhee, each holding distinguished titles at the firm. Rhee had previously participated in the Mueller investigation regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election, and Isaacson is a renowned antitrust lawyer. This group of departures has surfaced after Paul Weiss reached a deal with Trump’s administration that required the firm to provide $40 million in pro bono legal services while canceling its diversity policies. The deal's fallout prompted criticism from various legal circles, with assertions that it undermines the integrity of legal practice and the freedom of the profession, as highlighted by Newsweek and CBS News.

Additionally, the executive order that Trump issued initially targeted Paul Weiss due to its connections to investigations into his business dealings. This order threatened to limit access to government buildings and revoke security clearances for the firm’s lawyers, leading to significant backlash. Notably, other firms like Perkins Coie and Jenner & Block have faced similar orders that were later found unconstitutional by judges, indicating a shift in the legal landscape regarding compliance with government directives, according to India Times.

Chairman of Paul Weiss, Brad Karp, expressed gratitude for the contributions of the departing partners, stating, "We are grateful to Bill, Jeannie, Jessica and Karen for their many contributions... We wish them well in their future endeavors." Meanwhile, public sentiment remains divided, with many, including notable activists, vocalizing support for the departing partners' decision to prioritize principle over political alliance, as reported by CBS News and Newsweek.