- Kirkland & Ellis, which ranks as the top U.S. law firm based on revenues, is currently negotiating with the White House to prevent an executive order akin to ones imposed on some of its competitors, according to The Wall Street Journal’s report on Thursday.
This development occurs as President Donald Trump leads an effort to exert pressure on what he sees as adversaries within the legal community. As a result, several prominent law firms have negotiated agreements with the White House to prevent potential executive orders aimed at limiting their work with federal agencies.
Kirkland & Ellis along with the White House did not promptly reply to email requests for comments.
Trump has already signed executive orders targeting five firms and reached settlements with four others that agreed to commit millions of dollars in free legal services to mutually agreed-upon projects with the White House and refrain from engaging in diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Another three law firms have sued to block Trump's executive orders targeting them, underscoring a deepening divide among large law firms over how to respond to Trump's actions. The president has primarily targeted firms with ties to lawyers who have investigated him or represent clients challenging his policies in court.
For many years, Kirkland has held the position of being the highest-earning U.S. law firm according to American Lawyer, boasting reported earnings of $8.8 billion in 2024. The firm is well-known for handling transactions involving private equity companies and litigious matters.
(Jack Queen reported from New York; Additional reporting by Rajveer Singh Pardesi in Bengaluru; Edited by Leslie Adler)