Mystique Goes Poof: Hold the Noble Rhetoric, Paul Weiss, Skadden, Willkie, Milbank

 From a business standpoint, those large law firms which opted to cut deals with the Trump administration did the right thing. 

But through that horse trading and the negative responses which followed it became clear: Paul Weiss, Skadden, Willkie and Milbank (Kirkland & Ellis could be joining them) were a business. Not a special institution. Not a profession. The core value seems to be: To stay in business and to grow that business. 

However, that has been pointed out before in recent exposes about Big Law such as "The Caesars Palace Coup" and "Servants of the Damned." And a brutal business it is. 

In Bloomberg Law, Roy Strom hammers that there should be no ambiguity about the absolute business identity. Decision-making is shaped by that reality. Financial performance bears that out:

"Partners at the three firms who’ve settled ... on average, twice as much as the three firms who’ve chosen to fight executive orders targeting them in court.

"In 2023, Skadden, Paul Weiss, Willkie and Milbank had a combined 883 equity partners, who earned $5.2 million on average in profits, according to data from The American Lawyer. WilmerHale, Perkins Coie, and Jenner & Block had 545 combined equity partners, earning about $2.5 million on average."

No longer will the dealmaking firms be able to mount a pulpit and orate about noble values. Their messaging will have to mirror that of the earning calls of corporations. This is about the business. 

Staying marketable. Complimentary consultation with Intuitive Coach Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com).


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