Follow up to previous postings – How Trump’s crackdown on law firms is undermining legal defenses for the vulnerable and What if the Big Law Firms Hadn’t Caved to Trump?, see also Above the Law: “Back in August, the New York Times reported that Kirkland and Paul Weiss (along with Skadden) — firms who had cut deals with the administration in exchange for pro bono payola — had done work for Trump’s Commerce Department. Democratic lawmakers quickly fired off inquiries because giving the government free services would violate the Anti-Deficiency Act, and direct work for the administration would contradict the firms’ prior representations that any free legal work would be limited to a relatively benign list of charitable causes. The firms responded without actually answering those concerns, instead reiterating that they can choose their clients and believe they’re not doing anything wrong. Now, it seems, Simpson Thacher has joined up with Trump’s Commerce Department.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is handling work for the U.S. Commerce Department, a department official confirmed on Wednesday. The New York firm is the latest Big Law firm that reached a pro bono deal with President Donald Trump this year to commit to do work on behalf of the U.S. government. Simpson Thacher has already started working for the department, but the firm and the U.S. government are working to finalize an agreement for the firm’s work. “We are working with the firm and finalizing terms at the moment,” a department official said…”