New York-based law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison (Paul Weiss) said in a March 19 court filing that it was fired by a client after President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month revoking security clearances from its employees.
In the filing, the firm said Steven Schwartz, a former executive facing criminal bribery charges, terminated its services following Trump’s March 14 executive order, which also restricted the firm’s employees’ access to government buildings and workers. As a result, the firm asked U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz to allow it to withdraw from Schwartz’s case.
“Mr. Schwartz is concerned that the firm’s continued representation of him may negatively affect his ability to obtain a favorable review of his case, or, due to the Executive Order, otherwise create potential conflicts of interest as between Mr. Schwartz and Paul, Weiss, that Mr. Schwartz is not prepared to waive,” the filing read….