WilmerHale controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2025
Executive action targeting WilmerHale
The Trump administration issued an executive order imposing measures on WilmerHale because of the firm’s association with former special counsel Robert Mueller. The order sought to affect federal contracting involving clients, lawyers’ security clearances, and access to government facilities. WilmerHale challenged the action, and Judge Richard J. Leon ultimately ruled that the order was unconstitutional.
2007
Political criticism of Guantanamo pro bono representation
A Defense Department official criticized WilmerHale and other large firms for representing Guantanamo detainees. The criticism prompted a broader debate about whether lawyers should provide pro bono representation to terrorism suspects and about the constitutional role of counsel in detention cases.
2006
Confidential memorandum inadvertently disclosed in PepsiCo matter
During WilmerHale’s representation of PepsiCo in an SEC investigation related to the departure of the company’s general counsel, a lawyer inadvertently emailed a confidential memorandum to a Wall Street Journal reporter, making details of the investigation public.