Nixon Peabody is in disarray after the agency took on Donald Trump as a shopper in secret, publicly filed a movement parroting Trump speaking factors downplaying January 6, and when the remainder of the agency requested why it’s placing its fame on the road like this, management informed them to kindly pound sand.
There are requires management to step down and for the group repping Trump to comply with the lead of each different Trump lawyer with Biglaw roots and depart the agency earlier than going additional. So far, no motion on both entrance.
But a reader’s insightful query acquired us questioning: put apart the harm to shopper relationships, the skilled dangers of slapping the agency title on buffoonish political speaking factors masquerading as authorized arguments, and the shattered belief among the many partnership following a cloak and dagger try to slide repping essentially the most well-known wingnut on the planet previous the remainder of the companions… did Nixon Peabody get a retainer? And, if that’s the case, how a lot?
One would suppose so. Securing a retainer is normal process. But then once more, so is operating a possible shopper by the remainder of the partnership and that didn’t occur, so who is aware of?
Trump is infamous for stiffing attorneys, as Rudy Giuliani is aware of properly. And it’s not a brand new phenomenon both. Several months in the past, a former Biglaw lawyer informed me that again within the Eighties, his agency held a celebration after successful a key victory for Trump’s enterprise empire and The Donald crashed the occasion to inform the celebrating attorneys that he wasn’t going to pay their invoices. The agency finally acquired paid however solely after taking an unspecified haircut.
Firm CEO Stephen Zubiago has indicated that the case got here to the agency by the GOP and never Trump particularly. Substantively, it doesn’t matter who referred the case as a result of Trump is, in the end, the shopper. As a procedural matter, it would imply the Republican Party and never Trump picked up the tab on this one. Though, question why the GOP would view it as a celebration matter to get readability on whether or not throwing a coup triggers the Fourteenth Amendment.
Actually, scratch that. OBVIOUSLY, the GOP ought to view it as a celebration matter since it would absolutely come up once more — however why would the GOP need the general public to know the social gathering is legitimately nervous about candidates trying coups once more?
If Trump or his marketing campaign is on the hook… is the agency lined? Motion observe can get dear!
And the one factor that would irk Biglaw companions greater than having the agency go behind their backs and making dangerous, embarrassing strikes… just isn’t getting paid for it.
Earlier: Trump Stiffs Rudy For All His Amazing Legal Services
Nixon Peabody Partners Meet Over Repping Donald Trump, Managing Partner Called On To Step Down
Biglaw Firm Adds Donald Trump As Client… Rest Of The Firm May Not Be Too Happy About It
After Nixon Peabody Hitched Itself To Donald Trump, Blindsided Partners Told To Get Over It
Some Clients Aren’t Worth The Risk For Biglaw… And, Yes, We Mean Donald Trump
Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to e mail any suggestions, questions, or feedback. Follow him on Twitter in the event you’re all in favour of regulation, politics, and a wholesome dose of school sports activities information. Joe additionally serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.
