Law firms Turn to SC Veteran Clement in Appeal Over Trump Executive Orders
Four firms targeted by Trump are seeking to block punitive executive orders, as a leading appellate lawyer prepares to argue their case.
Staff WriterApr 27, 2026, 11:04 AMFour US law firms targeted by President Donald Trump have turned to a leading Supreme Court advocate to persuade a federal appeals court not to reinstate executive orders that penalise them over past legal work, diversity policies and political links.
Paul Clement, the former US solicitor general under President George W. Bush, confirmed in a court filing on Thursday that he will represent Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey at a hearing on 14 May before the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The Trump administration is appealing after a lower court last year struck down the executive orders, ruling that they violated free speech protections and other provisions of the US Constitution. The three-judge panel includes two judges appointed by Democratic presidents and one appointed by a Republican.
Clement will argue against Justice Department lawyer Abhishek Kambli, who is leading the government’s defence of the orders. Neither party responded immediately to requests for comment.
Widely regarded as one of the country’s foremost appellate lawyers, Clement has argued more than 100 cases before the US Supreme Court. His clients have included Tesla and the Association of American Universities, which challenged the Trump administration over cuts to federal research funding. He has also recently represented Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook in a high-profile case involving Trump’s attempt to remove her.
Kambli joined the Justice Department last year from the Kansas Attorney General’s office, where he led its special litigation and constitutional issues division.
The executive orders sought to restrict lawyers from the four firms from accessing federal buildings and to terminate US government contracts held by their clients. The firms have denied any wrongdoing.
Nine other law firms, including Paul Weiss and Skadden Arps, previously reached settlements with the Trump administration to avoid similar measures.
Any ruling from the D.C. Circuit may be further appealed to the US Supreme Court.
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