Latest news with #Skadden
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
ADGM posts stellar Q1 with 33% surge in assets under management
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the UAE capital's international financial centre, kicked off 2025 with an impressive first quarter, reinforcing its position as a global powerhouse for finance and innovation. With a 33 per cent surge in assets under management (AUM), 119 fund and asset managers now oversee 184 funds, a significant leap from last year. The number of operational entities soared by 43 per cent to 2,781, while financial services firms grew by 26 per cent to 367. New licences issued jumped 67 per cent compared to Q1 2024, highlighting ADGM's growing appeal to global businesses. This growth reflects Abu Dhabi's status as a trusted destination for investors, driven by ADGM's transparent regulatory framework, which directly applies English common law — a rarity in the region. This legal clarity, combined with strategic initiatives, has attracted top-tier firms like Skadden, Investindustrial, and Polen Capital to set up shop. The expansion to Al Reem Island has been a game-changer, with over 600 new businesses established and 500 existing companies transitioning to ADGM licences, bringing the total to 1,100 new entities. A revised fee structure, slashing commercial licence costs by 50 per cent to a flat Dh1,000, has made it easier for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to thrive. ADGM's workforce on Al Maryah Island grew by 17 per cent to over 29,000, with 3,509 new work permits issued for Al Reem Island businesses. New Employment Regulations introduced in Q1 enhance workplace protections while maintaining business flexibility, solidifying ADGM's appeal as a talent hub. The ADGM Academy furthered this by creating 800 job opportunities for UAE nationals across nine specialized tracks, supported by 23 global certifications. Strategic partnerships with Arab Youth and the Federal Tax Authority are empowering young talent and aligning with national goals. Globally, ADGM's outreach has strengthened its role as a financial bridge. In January, a delegation engaged hedge funds and private equity leaders at iConnections Global Alts Miami, highlighting Abu Dhabi's access to sovereign wealth capital. In February, ADGM joined a high-level mission to China, fostering ties as UAE-China trade is projected to boom. In April, meetings with Japanese financial institutions focused on wealth management and family businesses, signaling ADGM's growing influence in Asia. Innovation is at ADGM's core. A new mobile app launched in Q1 offers real-time regulatory updates, compliance tools, and networking features, while a digital platform for real estate transactions enables fully virtual processes—a first in the region. ADGM's focus on blockchain is evident through a partnership with Chainlink to develop compliant tokenisation frameworks and the integration of firms like Stacks Asia into its Distributed Ledger Technology framework, positioning Abu Dhabi as a blockchain hub. Sustainable finance is another priority, with the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration gaining 170 signatories, including Aquila Capital and PwC, promoting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. The ADGM Research Centre's six papers on AI's role in finance underscore its commitment to cutting-edge technology. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, ADGM chairman, said, 'ADGM's Q1 2025 performance reflects the trust global institutions place in us, boosting Abu Dhabi's status as a financial and innovation hub. As the world's safest and most dynamic jurisdiction for asset management, we're driving sustainable growth and digital transformation.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
ADGM Kicks Off 2025 with Strong First Quarter Performance
ABU DHABI, UAE, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ADGM, the international financial centre of the UAE capital, has accomplished another quarter of robust growth and increased global recognition, sustaining momentum from a record-breaking 2024. In Q1 2025, ADGM achieved significant growth across key metrics, supported by ongoing global investor confidence, regulatory enhancements, and the successful implementation of major initiatives within its expanded jurisdiction on Al Reem Island. Meanwhile, ADGM's focus and strategic initiatives to strengthen ADGM's standing as a leading international financial centre reaffirmed Abu Dhabi's position as a global financial powerhouse and a destination of choice for regional and global entities. Commenting on ADGM's growth momentum, His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, said, "ADGM's Q1 2025 performance marks the beginning of another landmark year. This is not just a reflection of ADGM's capabilities to deliver sustained growth, but also the trust it has gained among global and regional institutions, boosting Abu Dhabi's status as a global financial and innovation hub. As the world's safest and most dynamic jurisdiction for asset and wealth management, ADGM continues to expand and diversify with purpose, welcoming leading firms, deepening international partnerships, and driving digital and sustainable transformation across sectors. ADGM remains committed to contributing towards capital formation and innovation in alignment with the UAE's long-term economic vision." Diverse Growth Within The 'Capital of Capital' The asset management sector was a key indicator of ADGM's growth last year. During Q1 2025, AUMs grew 33% compared to Q1 2024. At the end of Q1 2025, 119 asset and fund managers managed a total of 184 funds out of ADGM. As the sole jurisdiction in the region to adopt the direct application of English common law, ADGM's transparency, stability, legal certainty and familiarity with its established regulatory framework have been a key driver to the growing number of global and regional entities setting up. As of Q1 2025, the total number of operational entities in ADGM increased 43% to 2,781, from the same period a year earlier, while the number of financial services entities increased to 367, indicating a 26% growth from Q1 2024. The number of new licences grew in Q1 2025, representing an increase of 67% from Q1 2024. Notable firms establishing a presence during this period include Skadden, Investindustrial, NewVest, Arcapita, Polen Capital, Seviora, Olive Gaea, TON, and Aquila Group. These firms represent a range of sectors and position ADGM as the preferred premier international hub for asset management, sustainable finance, legal services, and digital innovation. Strategic Human Capital Growth One of ADGM's strategic focuses under the 'Capital of Capital' concept has been human capital. Efforts towards this have resulted in the workforce on Al Maryah Island surging to over 29,000 individuals, a 17% growth compared to the same quarter last year. Furthermore, a total of 3,509 new ADGM work permits have been issued to businesses establishing on Al Reem Island. In line with its focus on human capital, ADGM also introduced new Employment Regulations, aimed at enhancing workplace protections while preserving business agility. ADGM's Global Outreach and Strategic Engagements ADGM's international engagement efforts remained strong throughout Q1 2025, further highlighting its role as a global bridge for the growth of Abu Dhabi's financial sector. In January, an ADGM delegation returned to iConnections Global Alts Miami to deepen its relationship with hedge funds, private equity firms, and venture capital leaders. The delegation held bilateral meetings in New York and Washington and participated in a headline panel discussion titled "Abu Dhabi: The Capital of Capital", showcasing the emirate's strategic access to USD 1.7 trillion in sovereign wealth capital and its investor-friendly ecosystem. In February, ADGM participated in the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development's (ADDED) high-level delegation to China, aimed at deepening bilateral economic ties between the two countries. With the UAE-China trade projected to reach USD 200 billion by 2030, ADGM is reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a vital gateway for Chinese capital into the region. At the beginning of April, a high-level delegation from ADGM travelled to Japan, where they conducted nearly 30 strategic bilateral meetings with leading financial institutions. The discussions focused on key sectors, including private banking, wealth management, and family businesses, reflecting the commitment of Japanese companies to fostering international partnerships and expanding their footprint in the region. Al Reem Island Integration During Q1 2025, ADGM completed its jurisdictional expansion to Al Reem Island, which delivered strong results. By Q1 2025, over 600 new businesses had set up on Al Reem Island, and more than 500 existing Al Reem-based companies had migrated to an ADGM licence. Currently, a total of 1,100 new entities operate within ADGM's expanded jurisdiction. ADGM's Strategic Moves for Blockchain Innovation and Tokenisation Frameworks Reinforcing its position as a regulatory pioneer in digital assets, ADGM in March signed an MoU with Chainlink, the industry standard for onchain finance. The partnership will enable the development of compliant tokenisation frameworks by leveraging Chainlink's infrastructure and expertise. Additionally, ADGM welcomed Stacks Asia and Bitgrit to its ecosystem in Q1 2025, which will leverage ADGM's world-leading Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundations framework. These efforts are boosting Abu Dhabi's profile as a rising blockchain innovation hub at both regional and global levels. ADGM's Continued Growth in Sustainable Finance The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration now boasts 170 signatories, spanning banks, asset managers, investment funds, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Some of the recent names that became signatories include Aquila Capital, Century Financial, Oryx Global Partners, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Olive Gaea. Driving Innovation Through Technology ADGM officially launched its all-in-one mobile application to enhance the digital experience for businesses, employees, and residents in Q1 2025. The app offers real-time regulatory updates, compliance tools, licence renewals, and exclusive networking features. It also introduced a groundbreaking digital platform for real estate transactions, enabling fully virtual sell-and-purchase workflows involving buyers, sellers, and financial institutions—a regional first that reflects ADGM's commitment to tech-driven transformation. Logo - View original content: SOURCE ADGM
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
ADGM Kicks Off 2025 with Strong First Quarter Performance
ABU DHABI, UAE, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ -- ADGM, the international financial centre of the UAE capital, has accomplished another quarter of robust growth and increased global recognition, sustaining momentum from a record-breaking 2024. In Q1 2025, ADGM achieved significant growth across key metrics, supported by ongoing global investor confidence, regulatory enhancements, and the successful implementation of major initiatives within its expanded jurisdiction on Al Reem Island. Meanwhile, ADGM's focus and strategic initiatives to strengthen ADGM's standing as a leading international financial centre reaffirmed Abu Dhabi's position as a global financial powerhouse and a destination of choice for regional and global entities. Commenting on ADGM's growth momentum, His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, said, 'ADGM's Q1 2025 performance marks the beginning of another landmark year. This is not just a reflection of ADGM's capabilities to deliver sustained growth, but also the trust it has gained among global and regional institutions, boosting Abu Dhabi's status as a global financial and innovation hub. As the world's safest and most dynamic jurisdiction for asset and wealth management, ADGM continues to expand and diversify with purpose, welcoming leading firms, deepening international partnerships, and driving digital and sustainable transformation across sectors. ADGM remains committed to contributing towards capital formation and innovation in alignment with the UAE's long-term economic vision.' Diverse Growth Within The 'Capital of Capital' The asset management sector was a key indicator of ADGM's growth last year. During Q1 2025, AUMs grew 33% compared to Q1 2024. At the end of Q1 2025, 119 asset and fund managers managed a total of 184 funds out of ADGM. As the sole jurisdiction in the region to adopt the direct application of English common law, ADGM's transparency, stability, legal certainty and familiarity with its established regulatory framework have been a key driver to the growing number of global and regional entities setting up. As of Q1 2025, the total number of operational entities in ADGM increased 43% to 2,781, from the same period a year earlier, while the number of financial services entities increased to 367, indicating a 26% growth from Q1 2024. The number of new licences grew in Q1 2025, representing an increase of 67% from Q1 2024. Notable firms establishing a presence during this period include Skadden, Investindustrial, NewVest, Arcapita, Polen Capital, Seviora, Olive Gaea, TON, and Aquila Group. These firms represent a range of sectors and position ADGM as the preferred premier international hub for asset management, sustainable finance, legal services, and digital innovation. Strategic Human Capital Growth One of ADGM's strategic focuses under the 'Capital of Capital' concept has been human capital. Efforts towards this have resulted in the workforce on Al Maryah Island surging to over 29,000 individuals, a 17% growth compared to the same quarter last year. Furthermore, a total of 3,509 new ADGM work permits have been issued to businesses establishing on Al Reem Island. In line with its focus on human capital, ADGM also introduced new Employment Regulations, aimed at enhancing workplace protections while preserving business agility. ADGM's Global Outreach and Strategic Engagements ADGM's international engagement efforts remained strong throughout Q1 2025, further highlighting its role as a global bridge for the growth of Abu Dhabi's financial sector. In January, an ADGM delegation returned to iConnections Global Alts Miami to deepen its relationship with hedge funds, private equity firms, and venture capital leaders. The delegation held bilateral meetings in New York and Washington and participated in a headline panel discussion titled 'Abu Dhabi: The Capital of Capital', showcasing the emirate's strategic access to USD 1.7 trillion in sovereign wealth capital and its investor-friendly ecosystem. In February, ADGM participated in the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development's (ADDED) high-level delegation to China, aimed at deepening bilateral economic ties between the two countries. With the UAE-China trade projected to reach USD 200 billion by 2030, ADGM is reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a vital gateway for Chinese capital into the region. At the beginning of April, a high-level delegation from ADGM travelled to Japan, where they conducted nearly 30 strategic bilateral meetings with leading financial institutions. The discussions focused on key sectors, including private banking, wealth management, and family businesses, reflecting the commitment of Japanese companies to fostering international partnerships and expanding their footprint in the region. Al Reem Island Integration During Q1 2025, ADGM completed its jurisdictional expansion to Al Reem Island, which delivered strong results. By Q1 2025, over 600 new businesses had set up on Al Reem Island, and more than 500 existing Al Reem-based companies had migrated to an ADGM licence. Currently, a total of 1,100 new entities operate within ADGM's expanded jurisdiction. ADGM's Strategic Moves for Blockchain Innovation and Tokenisation Frameworks Reinforcing its position as a regulatory pioneer in digital assets, ADGM in March signed an MoU with Chainlink, the industry standard for onchain finance. The partnership will enable the development of compliant tokenisation frameworks by leveraging Chainlink's infrastructure and expertise. Additionally, ADGM welcomed Stacks Asia and Bitgrit to its ecosystem in Q1 2025, which will leverage ADGM's world-leading Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundations framework. These efforts are boosting Abu Dhabi's profile as a rising blockchain innovation hub at both regional and global levels. ADGM's Continued Growth in Sustainable Finance The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration now boasts 170 signatories, spanning banks, asset managers, investment funds, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Some of the recent names that became signatories include Aquila Capital, Century Financial, Oryx Global Partners, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Olive Gaea. Driving Innovation Through Technology ADGM officially launched its all-in-one mobile application to enhance the digital experience for businesses, employees, and residents in Q1 2025. The app offers real-time regulatory updates, compliance tools, licence renewals, and exclusive networking features. It also introduced a groundbreaking digital platform for real estate transactions, enabling fully virtual sell-and-purchase workflows involving buyers, sellers, and financial institutions—a regional first that reflects ADGM's commitment to tech-driven transformation. Logo - View original content: SOURCE ADGM
Cision Canada
a day ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
ADGM Kicks Off 2025 with Strong First Quarter Performance
ABU DHABI, UAE, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ -- ADGM, the international financial centre of the UAE capital, has accomplished another quarter of robust growth and increased global recognition, sustaining momentum from a record-breaking 2024. In Q1 2025, ADGM achieved significant growth across key metrics, supported by ongoing global investor confidence, regulatory enhancements, and the successful implementation of major initiatives within its expanded jurisdiction on Al Reem Island. Meanwhile, ADGM's focus and strategic initiatives to strengthen ADGM's standing as a leading international financial centre reaffirmed Abu Dhabi's position as a global financial powerhouse and a destination of choice for regional and global entities. Commenting on ADGM's growth momentum, His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, said, "ADGM's Q1 2025 performance marks the beginning of another landmark year. This is not just a reflection of ADGM's capabilities to deliver sustained growth, but also the trust it has gained among global and regional institutions, boosting Abu Dhabi's status as a global financial and innovation hub. As the world's safest and most dynamic jurisdiction for asset and wealth management, ADGM continues to expand and diversify with purpose, welcoming leading firms, deepening international partnerships, and driving digital and sustainable transformation across sectors. ADGM remains committed to contributing towards capital formation and innovation in alignment with the UAE's long-term economic vision." Diverse Growth Within The 'Capital of Capital' The asset management sector was a key indicator of ADGM's growth last year. During Q1 2025, AUMs grew 33% compared to Q1 2024. At the end of Q1 2025, 119 asset and fund managers managed a total of 184 funds out of ADGM. As the sole jurisdiction in the region to adopt the direct application of English common law, ADGM's transparency, stability, legal certainty and familiarity with its established regulatory framework have been a key driver to the growing number of global and regional entities setting up. As of Q1 2025, the total number of operational entities in ADGM increased 43% to 2,781, from the same period a year earlier, while the number of financial services entities increased to 367, indicating a 26% growth from Q1 2024. The number of new licences grew in Q1 2025, representing an increase of 67% from Q1 2024. Notable firms establishing a presence during this period include Skadden, Investindustrial, NewVest, Arcapita, Polen Capital, Seviora, Olive Gaea, TON, and Aquila Group. These firms represent a range of sectors and position ADGM as the preferred premier international hub for asset management, sustainable finance, legal services, and digital innovation. Strategic Human Capital Growth One of ADGM's strategic focuses under the 'Capital of Capital' concept has been human capital. Efforts towards this have resulted in the workforce on Al Maryah Island surging to over 29,000 individuals, a 17% growth compared to the same quarter last year. Furthermore, a total of 3,509 new ADGM work permits have been issued to businesses establishing on Al Reem Island. In line with its focus on human capital, ADGM also introduced new Employment Regulations, aimed at enhancing workplace protections while preserving business agility. ADGM's Global Outreach and Strategic Engagements ADGM's international engagement efforts remained strong throughout Q1 2025, further highlighting its role as a global bridge for the growth of Abu Dhabi's financial sector. In January, an ADGM delegation returned to iConnections Global Alts Miami to deepen its relationship with hedge funds, private equity firms, and venture capital leaders. The delegation held bilateral meetings in New York and Washington and participated in a headline panel discussion titled "Abu Dhabi: The Capital of Capital", showcasing the emirate's strategic access to USD 1.7 trillion in sovereign wealth capital and its investor-friendly ecosystem. In February, ADGM participated in the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development's (ADDED) high-level delegation to China, aimed at deepening bilateral economic ties between the two countries. With the UAE-China trade projected to reach USD 200 billion by 2030, ADGM is reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a vital gateway for Chinese capital into the region. At the beginning of April, a high-level delegation from ADGM travelled to Japan, where they conducted nearly 30 strategic bilateral meetings with leading financial institutions. The discussions focused on key sectors, including private banking, wealth management, and family businesses, reflecting the commitment of Japanese companies to fostering international partnerships and expanding their footprint in the region. Al Reem Island Integration During Q1 2025, ADGM completed its jurisdictional expansion to Al Reem Island, which delivered strong results. By Q1 2025, over 600 new businesses had set up on Al Reem Island, and more than 500 existing Al Reem-based companies had migrated to an ADGM licence. Currently, a total of 1,100 new entities operate within ADGM's expanded jurisdiction. ADGM's Strategic Moves for Blockchain Innovation and Tokenisation Frameworks Reinforcing its position as a regulatory pioneer in digital assets, ADGM in March signed an MoU with Chainlink, the industry standard for onchain finance. The partnership will enable the development of compliant tokenisation frameworks by leveraging Chainlink's infrastructure and expertise. Additionally, ADGM welcomed Stacks Asia and Bitgrit to its ecosystem in Q1 2025, which will leverage ADGM's world-leading Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundations framework. These efforts are boosting Abu Dhabi's profile as a rising blockchain innovation hub at both regional and global levels. ADGM's Continued Growth in Sustainable Finance The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration now boasts 170 signatories, spanning banks, asset managers, investment funds, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Some of the recent names that became signatories include Aquila Capital, Century Financial, Oryx Global Partners, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Olive Gaea. Driving Innovation Through Technology ADGM officially launched its all-in-one mobile application to enhance the digital experience for businesses, employees, and residents in Q1 2025. The app offers real-time regulatory updates, compliance tools, licence renewals, and exclusive networking features. It also introduced a groundbreaking digital platform for real estate transactions, enabling fully virtual sell-and-purchase workflows involving buyers, sellers, and financial institutions—a regional first that reflects ADGM's commitment to tech-driven transformation.
New York Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Trump Allies Look to Benefit From Pro Bono Promises by Elite Law Firms
President Trump has tossed around many ideas about how elite law firms can fulfill their commitments to provide free legal work for causes he supports, among them fighting antisemitism, negotiating coal leases, hammering out trade deals and defending police officers accused of misconduct. Greta Van Susteren, the conservative media personality and lawyer, had her own idea of how one of those elite firms, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, could make good on the pro bono promises. She wanted the large law firm to help a friend of a friend sue a local Michigan judge. So Ms. Van Susteren gave the head of Skadden's pro bono practice a call about her friend's friend, a 47-year-old veteran, who she said had been unfairly issued a protective order in his divorce proceeding that violated his civil rights. Skadden, Ms. Van Susteren said, initially told her that it could not represent this person and later offered in an email to play 'some sort of support role' in the case. The current Newsmax host, who formerly worked for Fox News, was not satisfied. Ms. Van Susteren took to X, the social media site, to blast Skadden, calling it 'disgraceful,' and tagged Mr. Trump. 'I was annoyed, ' Ms. Van Susteren said in an interview. 'I wanted them to actually help this veteran.' Earlier this year, the Trump administration agreed to spare Skadden and eight other large law firms from executive orders that could have crippled their businesses in exchange for commitments from those firms to collectively provide nearly $1 billion in pro bono legal work and represent clients from all political points of view. Now individuals and organizations allied with Mr. Trump are starting to request that the firms make good on the free legal work they committed to perform, according to 11 people briefed on the outreach, including some who requested anonymity to discuss internal law firm business. In an email to Ms. Van Susteren, reviewed by The New York Times, Skadden wrote that her request to help the veteran was one of 'many outreaches for assistance' the firm had received 'in the wake of our agreement with the White House.' Veterans, in particular, are reaching out to large firms like Skadden, Kirkland & Ellis, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, having learned about the deals through media coverage and Mr. Trump's posts on Truth Social. Kirkland anticipated that news of its deal with Mr. Trump last month would lead to an influx of individual requests for legal help from the public, so the firm set up a separate email address for people looking for legal assistance, according to two people familiar with the matter. The firm also was concerned that lawyers and staff working on pro bono matters could receive threats and harassment from the public, another person briefed on the matter said. At Paul Weiss, which was the first major firm to reach a deal with Mr. Trump, many of the requests have come from veterans, one of the groups that the president suggested the firms could help. Some veterans have viewed the deals as an open invitation to ask for free legal work. In recent months, several have called Paul Weiss's pro bono department asking for help on a range of issues, including their rental leases and medical benefits, two people with knowledge of the requests said. Such requests are highly unusual for a large firm like Paul Weiss. Like many other elite law firms, it has typically relied on public interest groups to first review any pro bono requests before an internal law firm committee formally approves them. The idea is to make sure that pro bono resources are directed toward cases that will have a large impact. Just two months after striking the deals with Mr. Trump, law firms are in uncharted territory. They are trying to make good on their pro bono commitments to Mr. Trump while not giving up their autonomy to choose cases or alienating their staff, who want to work on legal issues that broadly serve the public's interest. But the firms are unsure about how to satisfy the terms of their pro bono commitments, or how to keep track of the work that might qualify as part of those commitments, according to three people briefed on the matter. While Mr. Trump has suggested certain issues and causes the law firms could help with, a White House official said the administration has not made any direct requests of the law firms to provide pro bono work to a particular group or individual. The White House official said he was not aware of Ms. Van Susteren's outreach and declined to comment on it. Still, some interest groups are trying to seize this unusual moment to obtain free legal work. One of them is the Oversight Project, a conservative group affiliated with the Heritage Foundation. The group has sent letters to dozens of big law firms, including some that settled with the White House, asking each of them to provide up to $10 million in pro bono legal work to support litigation brought by conservative groups. Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, said some law firms had rejected his request without giving reasons. But he said some firms were continuing to talk to his organization 'in good faith.' The Oversight Project focuses on investigating government activities that it believes are examples of the weaponization of the legal process. Steven Banks, a lawyer who headed up pro bono for Paul Weiss before leaving a few weeks ago, said Mr. Trump and his allies were stretching the definition of pro bono legal services. Last month, Mr. Trump issued an executive order that said law firms could be enlisted to defend police officers who were 'unjustly' treated in performing their jobs. (William Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, a coalition of police unions and associations, said he was not aware of any law enforcement group seeking pro bono help from one of the law firms that settled with the White House.) Mr. Banks, who once ran the Legal Aid Society in New York, said he understood how some veterans might have gotten the wrong impression that Mr. Trump's deals with law firms guaranteed them the right to free legal help from one of these big firms. Even before the deals were announced, most big law firms routinely did work on veterans issues, such as working with groups that advocate for Gold Star families — survivors of service members who died on active duty. But simply being a veteran is not enough to qualify for free help, since pro bono resources typically go to those who have limited incomes or who have an issue that involves the government threatening someone's rights or civil liberties, Mr. Banks said. 'Pro bono is about representing the less powerful against the more powerful,' he said. At many large law firms, pro bono work can be an important tool to recruit lawyers who want to be part of a firm that does public interest work in addition to representing high-paying corporations. But some large firms have begun to decline pro bono assignments that could be seen as challenging the administration's policies on issues like immigration to stay on Mr. Trump's good side. At Kirkland, a group of junior attorneys have said they won't abide by the pro bono terms of their firm's deal with Mr. Trump. The lawyers have let it be known internally that they do not want to work on any matters that count toward fulfilling the firm's commitment to provide free legal work as part of the agreement with the White House, according to three people briefed on the matter but not authorized to talk publicly about internal firm issues. Skadden's deal with the White House in late March to provide $100 million in pro bono work caught the attention of Chuck Lang, a high school friend of Ms. Van Susteren's. In an interview, he said he had hoped she could use her connections to the White House — her husband works in the administration — to assist his veteran friend in Michigan. Mr. Lang said that the veteran, who believed his civil liberties had been violated, fit the definition of someone deserving of pro bono legal assistance. The veteran, Mr. Lang explained to Ms. Van Susteren, wanted help suing a judge who he said had wrongly issued a protective order against him in a divorce proceeding because his former wife works for the judge and is her friend. Under the protective order, Mr. Lang said, the veteran could not see his children without supervision or own a firearm. The veteran, Mr. Lang said, had spent over $200,000 in legal fees and supervision costs. Suing a sitting judge under any circumstance is tough. But Ms. Van Susteren said she was hoping that Skadden would be up for the challenge. Skadden suggested that the veteran first hire a local lawyer, outlining the firm's reasoning in an April email to Ms. Van Susteren, which was reviewed by The Times. 'As we are sure you can appreciate, there are times when the legal needs of a prospective client are best addressed by other counsel who possess more specialized expertise or local experience,' Skadden explained in the email. The veteran, the email continued, would be 'best served with local counsel and our firm playing some sort of support role.' In a separate email to the veteran, which was reviewed by The Times, Skadden said once he had found a local lawyer that person should 'reach out directly to us to discuss how we can best support their efforts.' Ms. Van Susteren said Skadden should have provided more help. 'Most people don't know how to find lawyers and need extra help,' she said in an interview. 'That task is something that they could have helped him do.'
