Two judges sharply questioned President Donald Trump’s executive orders against law firms in hearings Wednesday, signaling they are likely to strike down at least large parts of the directives.

Perkins Coie Hearing: Trump’s claim to “absolute power” to declare that Perkins Coie is a national security threat is reminiscent of the “Red Scare,” federal judge Beryl Howell said. Read More

WilmerHale Hearing: Judge Richard Leon, who also sits in DC’s federal district court, hours later called Trump’s order against WilmerHale “retaliatory.” Read More

Howell and Trump have sparred on and off for years, dating back to when the judge oversaw grand juries related to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into possible Russian interference in the 2016 election. The president attacked Howell as “highly biased” in a Truth Social post shortly before the hearing. Read More

Justice Department lawyer Richard Lawson returned to a familiar strategy, telling the judges he could not speak to questions about the orders or deals that Trump struck with other firms. The Florida lawyer and longtime ally to Attorney General Pam Bondi sat alone at the defense table, across from a team of lawyers from powerhouse Williams & Connolly in one courtroom and facing off with conservative legal superstar Paul Clement in another. Read More

Partner profits at Big Law firms grew faster than associate salaries in recent years, which says a lot about shifts in the Big Law talent market—and how firm leaders may think about responding to a recession, Roy Strom writes in his latest Big Law Business column.

“Firms are better prepared today to sacrifice profits to keep associates employed than they were heading into the pandemic recession,” Roy writes. But he notes that law firm leaders may face a challenge convincing equity partners to take a hit in order to keep associates employed. Read More

• Shawn Page, a Philadelphia attorney running for municipal court judge, has faced professional and financial controversies, including a public reprimand for mishandling a client’s case, a “not recommended” rating from a bar association, and around $200,000 in unpaid federal taxes. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Two more immigration attorneys were mistakenly sent deportation notices by Customs and Border Protection, despite both being US citizens. (Fortune)
• A Florida man was arrested after posing as an immigration attorney. A client reported Rafael Moreno to police, prompting an investigation in which Moreno again claimed to be a lawyer and offered legal help for a fee. (CBS Miami)

Read these and other legal industry stories in today’s Wake Up Call. Read More

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