Wettach
Nine
Biglaw
firms
showed
their
belly
to
Trump
and
signed
deals
with
the
administration
promising
a
combined
$940
million
in
pro
bono
payola
for
whichever
conservative
causes
and
clients
strike
Donald
Trump’s
fancy.
The
result
of
forsaking
the
rule
of
law
hasn’t
been
pretty
—
there
have
been
congressional
investigations
and client
concerns
and
the
deal
with
Trump
generally
keeps
getting
worse.
And,
of
course,
there’ve
been
bunches
of
associates bailing on the
firms to distance
themselves (partners
are
jetting
from
the
yellow-bellied
nine
too,
though
they’re
often
more
circumspect
about
the
reason
for
their
departure).
But
what’s
next
on
the
career
path
for
associates
that
made
a
principled
stand?
It’s
a
tightening
lateral
market
and
they
have
no
book
of
business
to
port
to
another
firm.
Plus
there’s
always
a
risk
the
firm
they
jump
to
decides
to
cave
next
under
pressure
from
Trump,
though
some
have
found
a
home
a
firms
that
have
already
taken
a
stand
against
Trump.
Former
Simpson
Thacher
associate
Taylor
Wettach
is
taking
a
different
path.
Though
Simpson’s
cowardice
radically
changed
his
career
path,
he’s
out
there
making
lemonade
out
of
those
lemons.
Today
the
seventh
generation
Iowan
announced
he’s
running
for
Congress
“to
take
back
Iowa’s
1st
Congressional
District.”
In
his
opening
“elevator
pitch”
campaign
video,
Wettach
explains
how
Simspon’s
capitulation
to
Trump
derailed
his
legal
career
(and
slyly
refers
to
his
T14
legal
education)
and
now
he’s
focused
on
the
political
sphere
and
trying
to
enact
real
change
for
Iowans.
It’s
an
enticing
pitch
for
those
feeling
lost
and
helpless
by
the
country’s
recent
swing
towards
authoritarianism.
Let’s
see
if
it
plays
well
in
Iowa.
Watch
the
campaign
video
below.
Kathryn
Rubino
is
a
Senior
Editor
at
Above
the
Law,
host
of
The
Jabot
podcast,
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
AtL
tipsters
are
the
best,
so
please
connect
with
her.
Feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments
and
follow
her
on
Twitter
@Kathryn1 or
Mastodon
@[email protected].