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cover of episode When powerful law firms don’t defend themselves against Trump, with ex-Skadden associate Rachel Cohen

When powerful law firms don’t defend themselves against Trump, with ex-Skadden associate Rachel Cohen

2025/4/8
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Rachel Cohen: 我是哈佛和俄亥俄州立大学毕业的律师，曾在顶尖律师事务所Skadden Arps工作。我看到特朗普政府对律师行业的攻击，并试图让我的公司对抗政府的压力，但我的努力被拒绝了，我最终被迫离开了公司。我认为特朗普政府对律师行业的攻击是全面性的，旨在削弱法律职业。律师事务所应该集体行动起来，捍卫律师的权利和美国法律体系。但是，律师事务所面临着集体行动的困境，因为律师害怕失去高薪工作而不敢采取行动。Skadden Arps因为其在公益方面的声誉，不可避免地成为特朗普政府的目标。特朗普政府要求律师事务所提供申请人的个人信息，这可能导致申请人被公开其个人信息。特朗普政府的行为可能导致少数族裔申请人的信息被公开，并被指控存在偏见。Skadden Arps的管理层对政府的要求束手无策，这凸显了大型律师事务所的无能。Paul Weiss与特朗普政府达成的协议，表明政府利用行政命令来达到目的。Paul Weiss与特朗普政府达成的协议，包括提供巨额的免费法律服务，这令人担忧。Paul Weiss与特朗普政府达成的协议，包括接受独立调查，这加剧了少数族裔律师的担忧。Skadden Arps的管理层向员工发送邮件，声称其存在违法的多元化、公平与包容行为，这令人震惊。Skadden Arps与特朗普政府达成的协议非常糟糕，因为它没有换来任何实质性的让步。许多人低估了特朗普政府的策略和能力，这导致他们对政府的妥协。如果不对特朗普政府的行动采取集体行动，那么其对美国的影响将是长期的和严重的。律师事务所比其他企业有更大的道德义务来维护法律体系，因为他们宣誓效忠宪法。向特朗普政府妥协从长远来看是错误的商业决策。向特朗普政府妥协，是长期错误的商业策略。律师事务所与特朗普政府的冲突不是政治问题，而是对美国价值观和宪政共和国的生存威胁。我试图阻止我所看到的对美国未来的负面影响。即使情况会变得更糟，我相信我们可以阻止负面影响，并创造一个更好的美国。 Bob Safian: 我与Rachel Cohen讨论了大型律师事务所对特朗普政府压力的回应，以及企业在民主制度的制衡中所扮演的角色。Rachel Cohen的故事引发了人们对法律行业在制衡中的作用以及领导者如何平衡商业与社会责任的思考。企业领导者应该始终思考他们的原则是什么，以及他们愿意为之付出什么代价。

Deep Dive

Chapters
Rachel Cohen, a Harvard and Ohio State educated attorney, shares her experience of trying to get her firm, Skadden Arps, to fight back against the Trump administration's attacks on law firms. Her efforts were rebuffed, leading to her resignation. This incident highlights the challenges faced by businesses in navigating political pressure and raises questions about the legal industry's role in upholding the rule of law.
  • Rachel Cohen's attempt to get Skadden Arps to resist Trump administration pressure was unsuccessful.
  • The Trump administration targeted law firms under the guise of anti-diversity initiatives.
  • Cohen's efforts involved circulating an anonymized letter and engaging with media.
  • Skadden's response included receiving and ignoring EEOC demand letters which sought personal information of applicants.
  • Cohen's resignation followed Skadden's decision to make a deal with the Trump administration, promising $100 million in pro bono work.

Shownotes Transcript

Many prominent law firms have recently found themselves in President Trump’s crosshairs. Skadden Arps’ attorney, Rachel Cohen, encouraged the firm to fight the government’s pressure, only to have her attempts rebuffed and to be effectively forced out from the firm. Cohen joins Rapid Response to share her dramatic story, and fears about how the rule of law is changing in America. Rachel’s experience raises questions about the legal industry’s role in the checks and balances of the US system, and how leaders everywhere navigate the relationship between their business and broader society.

Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/)

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