No rich person gives 2 craps about the institutions they’re trashing as long as they see more dollars in their bank accounts. So, I wouldn’t hold my breath for anyone at Paul Weiss to feel bad about their decision.
But also, have these people never seen a blackmail/kidnap movie? It has never happened that when they bring the briefcase full of unmarked bills to the middle of the bridge in the dark of night, the blackmailers/kidnappers hand over the documents/photos/hostage. Why on earth did Columbia or Maine ever think anything would be different with this pack of gangsters?
It's probably true that Paul Weiss management feared that if it did not strike a deal with Trump, its clients would be forced to flee to other firms. But an article in today's Times suggests that it was not simply the fear that CLIENTS would flee; it was the fear that LAWYERS -- the firm's own partners -- would flee. When Trump threatened to kneecap Paul Weiss's business, the firm worried that its own greedy lawyers would simply seek out other firms and take their clients with them, without a thought for the political implications or the well-being of their remaining partners. And, apparently, other firms were ready to welcome them with open arms and open pocketbooks. Once a profession, now a business. Disgraceful.
Now, they should do like all good Trumpers eventually do and turn on him. Given the fluffy definition of what it is exactly that they agreed to represent in the future, there are miles and miles of room, to turn on the tyrant and still represent their corporate clients effectively. I would make of Weiss's concessions what I would of Trump's pledges. They are temporary inconveniences to get through the current news cycle.
If Trump & Co. were hitting targets one at a time, it would seem more likely that each would capitulate. But Trump is hitting all targets at once. It is astonishing that all the agencies and organizations haven’t figured out how to collaborate and win by fighting together. Synergism is a real principle. A workhorse can pull x number of pounds. Two pulling together can pull an astonishing load. Our world’s individuals, organizations, government components, and allies need to circle around Jericho and blow their horns simultaneously!
This is all downstream of the corporatization of modern Big Law firms. In certain quarters of the legal world there's still a romantic view of these firms as actual partnerships, but in many cases that's not really reality anymore. Sure, they have partners who share in profits, but many of these firms have elevated one or two partners into a managing partner role that looks more and more like your average CEO by the day, with all the attendant hierarchy below it. And just like most CEOs in corporate America, the focus is always on the short term, on making the line go up, consequences be damned.
Both the legal system and higher education have already been eroded for decades by the obscenely wealthy. Like the political system, the stinking rich termites erode these institutions until meaningful resistance becomes unlikely, if not 'futile'.
Cowardice and capitulation is the governing MO, and it's both out of fear and of financial losses, as you mentioned. How is the private, legal sector able to do their duties to clients, other than shed them like molting birds? Sixth Amendment, anyone?
Also, will any lawsuit challenging tRump's Kill-Big-Law EO reach SCOTUS?
The article you linked to about the state of Maine said that it has NOT agreed to the Trump Administration demands regarding trans athletes or "apologized" to Trump. It appears that the University of Maine system did agree to comply as a result of a separate threat, but I didn't see any news saying that the state had complied.
I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that lawyers value money more than the constitution or the rule of law.
Here's the oath that every single lawyer at Paul Weiss took upon being admitted to the NYS bar:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the constitution of the
United States, and the constitution of the State of New York, and that I will
faithfully discharge the duties of the office of [attorney and counselor-at-law],
according to the best of my ability.
Which part of that allowed for collaboration with a fascist government actively destroying the US Constitution?
No rich person gives 2 craps about the institutions they’re trashing as long as they see more dollars in their bank accounts. So, I wouldn’t hold my breath for anyone at Paul Weiss to feel bad about their decision.
But also, have these people never seen a blackmail/kidnap movie? It has never happened that when they bring the briefcase full of unmarked bills to the middle of the bridge in the dark of night, the blackmailers/kidnappers hand over the documents/photos/hostage. Why on earth did Columbia or Maine ever think anything would be different with this pack of gangsters?
It's probably true that Paul Weiss management feared that if it did not strike a deal with Trump, its clients would be forced to flee to other firms. But an article in today's Times suggests that it was not simply the fear that CLIENTS would flee; it was the fear that LAWYERS -- the firm's own partners -- would flee. When Trump threatened to kneecap Paul Weiss's business, the firm worried that its own greedy lawyers would simply seek out other firms and take their clients with them, without a thought for the political implications or the well-being of their remaining partners. And, apparently, other firms were ready to welcome them with open arms and open pocketbooks. Once a profession, now a business. Disgraceful.
First They Came....https://www.hmd.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/First-They-Came-with-new-branding.pdf
Now, they should do like all good Trumpers eventually do and turn on him. Given the fluffy definition of what it is exactly that they agreed to represent in the future, there are miles and miles of room, to turn on the tyrant and still represent their corporate clients effectively. I would make of Weiss's concessions what I would of Trump's pledges. They are temporary inconveniences to get through the current news cycle.
If Trump & Co. were hitting targets one at a time, it would seem more likely that each would capitulate. But Trump is hitting all targets at once. It is astonishing that all the agencies and organizations haven’t figured out how to collaborate and win by fighting together. Synergism is a real principle. A workhorse can pull x number of pounds. Two pulling together can pull an astonishing load. Our world’s individuals, organizations, government components, and allies need to circle around Jericho and blow their horns simultaneously!
This is all downstream of the corporatization of modern Big Law firms. In certain quarters of the legal world there's still a romantic view of these firms as actual partnerships, but in many cases that's not really reality anymore. Sure, they have partners who share in profits, but many of these firms have elevated one or two partners into a managing partner role that looks more and more like your average CEO by the day, with all the attendant hierarchy below it. And just like most CEOs in corporate America, the focus is always on the short term, on making the line go up, consequences be damned.
Well said, as usual, Brian!
Both the legal system and higher education have already been eroded for decades by the obscenely wealthy. Like the political system, the stinking rich termites erode these institutions until meaningful resistance becomes unlikely, if not 'futile'.
Cowardice and capitulation is the governing MO, and it's both out of fear and of financial losses, as you mentioned. How is the private, legal sector able to do their duties to clients, other than shed them like molting birds? Sixth Amendment, anyone?
Also, will any lawsuit challenging tRump's Kill-Big-Law EO reach SCOTUS?
The article you linked to about the state of Maine said that it has NOT agreed to the Trump Administration demands regarding trans athletes or "apologized" to Trump. It appears that the University of Maine system did agree to comply as a result of a separate threat, but I didn't see any news saying that the state had complied.