Several major law firms, including Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft; A&O Shearman; Latham & Watkins; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; and Kirkland & Ellis, have clarified their agreements with President Donald Trump to Democratic lawmakers. These firms stated that their deals with the president do not restrict the types of clients they represent pro bono or otherwise, nor do they change their operations. The agreements also resolved an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigation into the firms. The firms' responses were in reaction to inquiries from Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Jamie Raskin, who sought details on the terms of the pro bono deals reached with the president. The firms emphasized their commitment to merit-based hiring and pro bono work, asserting their independence in choosing clients. Some have described Trump's demands as 'more primeval scream' than a 'real threat'. Some law firms, including Gibson Dunn and Perkins Coie, have reportedly shied away from pro bono immigration cases due to fears of repercussions from the Trump administration, a phenomenon described as 'anticipatory obedience'. This has led to a chilling effect on Big Law's pro bono activities, with some firms either acting as ghostwriters on lawsuits or withdrawing from immigration cases altogether.