Wake Up Call: As Firms Settle With Trump, They Alienate Recruits

Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel.

• Big Law’s recent deals with the Trump administration to avoid sanctions have sparked backlash among law students and junior lawyers, leading to canceled recruiting events, protests, and reconsidered job offers. Students from top law schools are questioning whether to work for firms that bend to Trump, which they say have compromised on core values like diversity and pro bono work. Some are urging peers to boycott or sabotage recruiting, while firms argue their concessions were necessary to protect business interests and clients. (Wall Street Journal)
• Dãnia Davy, a lawyer and founder of Land and Liberation, is emerging as a vital lifeline for farmers struggling to navigate the sweeping policy shifts under President Trump’s second term. Through weekly webinars, pro-bono legal aid, and a detailed framework tracking executive orders, Davy is equipping farmers with the tools to withstand cuts to climate and DEI programs, food aid rollbacks, and rising trade instability. (Sentient)
• Following Spirit Airlines’ exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, more than $33 million in legal and advisory fees are now before the US Bankruptcy Court for approval. Eight firms, including Debevoise & Plimpton, Willkie Farr & Galagher, and Davis Polk & Wardwell, filed requests for compensation, with filings revealing amounts ranging from hundreds of thousands to nearly $14 million. (Simple Flying)

Laterals, Moves, In-House

• Susan Burkhardt joined Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in its investment funds practice group. She joins from Clifford Chance.
• Stacey Sprenkel joined Davis Wright Tremaine as a partner and head of its environmental, social, and governance and sustainability group in San Francisco. She joins from Morrison & Foerster.
• Rudgee Charles joined Mayer Brown as a partner in its banking and finance practice in New York. He joins from Kirkland & Ellis.
• Mondaire Jones joined Friedman Kaplan as a partner. He joins from the US Commission on Civil Rights.
• Lucas Foletta joined Holland & Hart as a partner in its environmental and energy practices in Reno, Nev. He joins from McDonald Carano.