Osborn Maledon Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of Former and Current General Counsel Challenging Executive Order

This week, Osborn Maledon filed an amicus brief in a case challenging the executive order targeting the law firm of Susman Godfrey.  Osborn Maledon previously filed briefs challenging similar executive orders targeting Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block.  These briefs were filed on behalf of former and current general counsel who offer their perspective as leaders of law departments for businesses of every size, from growing high tech firms to longstanding Fortune 50 companies. They explain the harm to America’s businesses flowing from the Executive Orders issued against these firms. 

Each Order, they explain, “erodes the foundation of legal representation by counsel of choice, uses federal contracts to coerce political loyalty, and conscripts private businesses to settle the President’s political scores.” Corporations must remain free to select and maintain relationships with outside counsel based on merit, not political pressure. The Orders instead force companies to choose counsel to avoid the President’s retribution rather than based on independent business judgment, experience, skill, or expertise.  And the Orders threaten businesses directly with the unmistakable warning that they too could become the target of a similar order if they take positions against the President.  The Orders are not only wrong now, in this administration, but they create dangerous precedent for future administrations.

You can read the briefs here: Perkins Coie | WilmerHale | Jenner & Block | Susman Godfrey