Perkins Coie, the law firm that President Trump aimed to punish with an executive order last week for its involvement in representing Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, has engaged the prominent Washington firm, Williams & Connolly, to contest the order, according to four individuals familiar with the situation.
The choice to enlist Williams & Connolly — recognized as one of the most formidable and adept firms in challenging the federal government — signifies a notable escalation in the conflict between Perkins Coie and Mr. Trump.
There were worries within the legal community that no firm would be willing to step in for Perkins Coie. However, now Mr. Trump’s Justice Department will be compelled to confront some of the leading litigators in the nation to defend what legal analysts see as one of his most direct assaults on his perceived adversaries and the American judicial system.
The executive order that Mr. Trump enacted on Thursday essentially incapacitated Perkins Coie’s ability to serve clients engaged with the federal government by revoking its access to government buildings and officials. The president stated that he was taking this action partly due to Perkins Coie’s involvement in hiring another firm that contributed to the creation of a dossier on Mr. Trump’s connections to Russia.
A representative for Perkins Coie, which is headquartered in Seattle but has a significant office in Washington, chose not to comment. Emails sent to Williams & Connolly received no response.
Legal analysts and senior Washington lawyers noted that the order directed at Perkins Coie ranks among Mr. Trump’s most concerning actions since resuming office. They indicated that it appeared aimed at dismantling the firm, and it seemed intended to create a chilling atmosphere for the entire legal profession, suggesting that firms could face severe repercussions for merely representing someone opposed to Mr. Trump.
Marc Elias, the attorney who acted as Perkins Coie’s primary contact regarding the Russia dossier, led the firm’s political law team and served as the chief lawyer for the Clinton campaign. He departed from the firm in 2021 to establish his own practice specializing in election and voting rights law, taking many Perkins Coie attorneys with him and becoming increasingly vocal in his criticism of Mr. Trump.
While Perkins Coie has maintained its political law practice, this is overshadowed by its representation of major corporations that typically aim to steer clear of the political controversies associated with the dossier and Mr. Trump’s allegations.
In the hours after Mr. Trump signed the order, leading lawyers from Perkins Coie rapidly strategized on how to react, as reported by three sources. Several other firms turned down the opportunity to represent Perkins Coie, fearing they, too, could become targets of Mr. Trump’s anger, according to three individuals briefed on the matter. All spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid public identification regarding confidential discussions.
Williams & Connolly has a varied political history. One of its leading partners, David E. Kendall, has been the long-term attorney for Bill and Hillary Clinton. Mr. Kendall managed the congressional and Justice Department inquiries into her use of a personal email account during her tenure as secretary of state.
Another prominent partner at the firm, Emmet Flood, served as one of Mr. Trump’s primary White House attorneys during his first term. Mr. Flood later represented Vice President Mike Pence regarding the Justice Department investigation into Mr. Trump’s attempts to reverse the 2020 election results; that inquiry ultimately led to Mr. Trump’s indictment.
