Simpson Thacher Racks Up Pro Bono Wins in Wake of Trump Deal

Wall Street’s Simpson Thacher scored back to back wins this week challenging a Texas law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments and a Mississippi electoral map that allegedly discriminates against Black voters.

The firm’s lawyers on Wednesday secured a court ruling temporarily blocking the Texas law, which a judge said is likely unconstitutional. The decision came a day after a federal court in Mississippi ruled that the state must redraw electoral districts because the current map dilutes Black votes.

Simpson Thacher worked with the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups on the cases, which its lawyers took on pro bono, according to the firm.

It remains to be seen how the firm and others that struck deals with President Donald Trump earlier this year will make good on pledges to collectively provide nearly $1 billion in free legal services. The firms said they would work on issues of common interest with the White House, including supporting military veterans, combating antisemitism, and “ensuring fairness” in the US justice system.

A firm spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about whether the firm’s work on the Texas and Mississippi cases would be counted toward its commitment to perform $125 million in free legal work as part of its agreement with Trump.

“Simpson Thacher has a steadfast commitment to pro bono,” Jon Youngwood, co-chair of the firm’s litigation department, said in an email statement. “Across constitutional law, civil rights, equal justice, housing access and beyond, we bring the same rigor and resolve to these matters as we do for all of our complex representations. It’s a reflection of our belief that everyone should have equal access to justice.”

At least one firm that made a White House deal, Milbank LLP, is fighting the Trump administration in court over immigration and trade issues central to the president’s agenda. Other firms that didn’t make deals, including Mayer Brown, have ratcheted up the internal review process for determining which cases the firm takes on.

Simpson Thacher teamed up with Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation for the matter in Texas. The coalition represented a group of parents from religions like Judaism, Christianity and Hinduism. The firm joined the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center as co-counsel on behalf of Black civic leaders in the Mississippi suit.

The cases are Nathan v. Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist., W.D. Tex., 5:25-cv-00756, 8/20/25; and White v. State Board of Election Commissioners, N.D. Miss., 4:22-cv-00062, 8/19/25