Sullivan & Cromwell, a prominent Wall Street law firm, is reportedly experiencing internal divisions over its decision to represent former President Donald Trump in his appeal against a felony conviction related to falsifying business records and other legal matters. This representation marks a significant shift for the firm, which has historically maintained a non-partisan stance and advised against representing controversial public figures.
The firm's involvement includes representing Trump in his hush-money case appeal, where attorney Jeffrey Wall argued for presidential immunity to transfer the case to federal courts. Other partners from the firm, including James McDonald, Morgan Ratner, and Matthew A. Schwartz, are also part of Trump's legal team. Robert Giuffra, co-chair of Sullivan & Cromwell, is leading Trump's appeal for the $500 million civil fraud judgment and reportedly played a role in negotiating an executive order targeting Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.
This move has drawn criticism from some within the firm and the broader legal community, who see it as potentially damaging to Sullivan & Cromwell's long-standing reputation. The firm's deep connections to Trump are evident in the number of its attorneys who have served in his administration, including James McDonald and Jay Clayton, who held prominent government positions. Despite the internal debate, Sullivan & Cromwell appears to be strengthening its ties with the former president, making it one of the closest Big Law firms to Trump.
In related legal news concerning Trump, he is actively trying to prevent the disbursement of nearly $5.8 million to E. Jean Carroll. This amount includes a $5 million judgment for sexual abuse and defamation from 2023, plus post-judgment interest. Trump's legal team has appealed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to halt the payout while he requests the Supreme Court to reconsider its denial of his appeal and a separate appeal regarding presidential immunity in a second defamation lawsuit where Carroll was awarded $83.3 million.
