The law firm employing Doug Emhoff, husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, is the latest to reach an agreement with the Trump administration to align with the president’s policy goals, according to a report.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Willkie Farr & Gallagher—where Emhoff became a partner in January—has committed to providing at least $100 million in pro bono legal services during his presidency and beyond, the Los Angeles Times reported. According to Trump, the support will focus on assisting veterans, Gold Star families, law enforcement personnel, and first responders.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform, that the firm agreed to combat antisemitism and not engage in “DEI” efforts.
“Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP proactively reached out to President Trump and his Administration, offering their decisive commitment to ending the Weaponization of the Justice System and the Legal Profession,” the White House said in a statement. “The President is delivering on his promises of eradicating Partisan Lawfare in America, and restoring Liberty and Justice FOR ALL.”
According to a source familiar with the discussions, Emhoff privately expressed his opposition to the firm’s decision to enter into an agreement with the Trump administration. The source was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
Neither Harris nor Emhoff responded to a request for comment on Tuesday, the Times reported.
The deal with Emhoff’s firm marks the latest in a series of agreements between the Trump White House and prominent U.S. law firms—many of which the president has previously criticized for liberal bias, engaging in frivolous or fraudulent litigation, or other forms of misconduct.
The president’s actions have sparked broad concern among Democratic lawmakers and constitutional and campaign law experts, who warn that these efforts could undermine the separation of powers enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and threaten the independence of the judiciary.
“The actions against law firms are blatantly illegal. Capitulating just encourages going after more law firms,” said Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley Law, who attempted to encourage other law school deans to publicly join him in railing against the White House’s singling out of individual law firms, without much success.
“The best hope was their sticking together and fighting the illegal, retributive orders,” he told the LA Times.
The head of Emhoff’s firm, which employs 1,200 people across six countries, confirmed the agreement, according to Trump’s post.
“The substance of that agreement is consistent with our Firm’s views on access to Legal representation by clients, including pro bono clients, our commitment to complying with the Law as it relates to our employment practices, and our history of working with clients across a wide spectrum of political viewpoints,” noted Thomas M. Cerabino, the chairman of firm, per Trump’s post.
Emhoff, 60, has extensive experience as an attorney specializing in entertainment, media, and intellectual property law. He was brought on board in January to advise corporations, individuals, and organizations facing crises or navigating changing legal landscapes, as announced by the firm at the time of his hiring.
Per the Times, Cerabino said at the time of his hiring that Emhoff was “a trusted counselor to many global business leaders across a broad range of industries.”
Just before Trump announced the agreement on social media on Tuesday, Emhoff addressed students at Georgetown Law School.
“The rule of law is under attack. Democracy is under attack. And so, all of us lawyers need to do what we can to push back on that,” he said without providing any hard data to support his contention.
“Us lawyers have always been on the front lines, fighting for civil rights, for justice. … I love being a lawyer, this is what we do: We fight for people. We fight for what’s right,” he added.
