# Key Findings and Opposition Profile: Perkins Coie LLP **Main Takeaway:** Perkins Coie, the self-styled "Democratic super-law firm," has repeatedly leveraged its political-law practice to serve progressive clients—most notably the [[Hillary Clinton]] campaigns in 2016 and 2020—and deploy opposition research outfits like Fusion GPS to engineer narratives (e.g., the Steele dossier). Its work has triggered multiple federal challenges, sanctions, and even an unprecedented executive-order backlash from the [[Donald Trump]] administration, culminating in litigation that exposed the firm's partisan alignment and raised serious constitutional and ethical questions. ## Role in 2016 Clinton Campaign Perkins Coie served as **general counsel** for [[Hillary Clinton]]'s 2016 presidential campaign under [[Marc Elias]]. The firm: - [Retained Fusion GPS in April 2016](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steele_dossier)—paying it (via [[Marc Elias]]) to conduct opposition research on [[Donald Trump]], which subcontracted to [[Christopher Steele]]'s Orbis Business Intelligence and produced the so-called "Steele dossier". - [Billed the Clinton campaign and DNC over $12.4 million](https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/30/politics/clinton-dnc-steele-dossier-fusion-gps) for "legal and compliance services," including Fusion GPS fees of approximately $1.02 million plus $168,000 paid to Orbis; mischaracterized as legal work to evade FEC disclosure rules, resulting in FEC fines of $8,000 (Clinton campaign) and $105,000 (DNC). - Engaged [[Michael Sussmann]], a [former federal prosecutor and Perkins partner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sussmann), to present Alfa Bank allegations to [[FBI]] General Counsel [[James Baker]]—[later charged (and acquitted) by Special Counsel John Durham](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/mar/6/donald-trump-yanks-security-clearances-perkins-coie-michael-sussmann/) for allegedly lying about representing a client, indicating a coordinated effort to feed unvetted claims to federal authorities. - Enabled a secret "'firewall'" whereby key campaign principals ([[John Podesta]], [[Robby Mook]]) reportedly were unaware of Fusion GPS's engagement until media leaks—reflecting the firm's strategy of siloed, legally shielded opposition research. ### Legal and Ethical Sanctions - In 2021, [Senior attorneys at Perkins Coie were sanctioned by the Fifth Circuit](https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/ag-paxton-fifth-circuit-issues-sanctions-against-perkins-coie) for failing to disclose a prior denial in supplemental filings in Texas straight-ticket voting litigation, violating their duty of candor; ordered ethics CLE on candor. - Allegations of racial discrimination in "DEI" hiring quotas led to lawsuits; [[Donald Trump]]'s 2025 Executive Order cited such discriminatory quotas as justification for sanctions. ## 2020 Election and Post-Election Litigation Under [[Marc Elias]], Perkins Coie: - Served as lead counsel for the [[Joe Biden]] campaign and DNC in **64 post-election challenges** filed by the [[Donald Trump]] campaign; [achieved victories in 63 cases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Elias) (one minor loss reversed on appeal). - Filed extensive voting-rights suits, including defending vote-by-mail and challenging voter-ID laws, positioning itself as principal litigator against election-integrity measures favored by Republicans. - Allegedly coordinated pro bono "remedies" in state courts to overturn popular election laws, as characterized by [[Donald Trump]]'s Executive Order 14230. ## 2025 Executive Order and Litigation President [[Donald Trump]] [issued EO 14230 ("Addressing Risks From Perkins Coie LLP") on March 6, 2025](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/addressing-risks-from-perkins-coie-llp/), alleging that the firm: - Engaged in "dishonest and dangerous activity" by manufacturing a false dossier for [[Hillary Clinton]]'s 2016 campaign and "working with activist donors" (e.g., [[George Soros]]) to overturn election laws. - Racially discriminated via DEI policies and quotas. - Threatened national security by regulatory overreach. ### EO Provisions - Suspend all security clearances of Perkins Coie attorneys. - Bar firm employees' access to federal buildings/personnel. - Terminate federal contracts or require contractors to disclose ties to the firm. ### Litigation and Injunction - [Perkins Coie sued the DOJ on March 11, 2025](https://clearinghouse.net/case/46213/), challenging the EO as ultra vires, violating the Due Process, Equal Protection, First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, and constituting a bill of attainder. - Judge [[Beryl Howell]] granted a TRO, then on [[May 2, 2025]] [permanently enjoined enforcement](https://www.npr.org/2025/05/02/nx-s1-5385355/perkins-coie-trump-executive-order-law-firms), finding the EO "retaliatory," "vague," and infringing **First Amendment** [free-speech and associational rights](https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/perkins-coie-v-u-s-department-of-justice-2025/), **Fifth Amendment** due-process, and **Sixth Amendment** right to counsel. - [[DOJ]] [appealed to the D.C. Circuit on June 30, 2025](https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/justice-department-trump-executive-order-perkins-coie-appeal/), ensuring [ongoing litigation](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/us/politics/trump-perkins-coie.html). ## Fusion GPS, Steele Dossier & Crossfire Hurricane - Perkins Coie (via [[Marc Elias]]) orchestrated Fusion GPS's hiring in April 2016 to continue opposition research begun in the Republican primary; Fusion subcontracted [[Christopher Steele]], whose 17‐memo dossier alleged unverified claims of Trump–Russia collusion. - The dossier—leaked by BuzzFeed in January 2017—formed part of the [[FBI]]'s Crossfire Hurricane investigation, though [[[DOJ]] IG and subsequent Durham reviews](https://www.justice.gov/storage/120919-examination.pdf) found insufficient predication and no corroborating internal intelligence, raising questions of political bias and procedural failures. - Perkins Coie attorneys provided "media pitches" of dossier allegations, exemplifying the firm's strategy of using legal privilege for opposition research dissemination. ## 5. Overlap of Lawyers & Information Flow Key figures illustrate institutional overlap: - **[[Marc Elias]]**: Perkins partner (1993–2021), Clinton 2016 general counsel, overseer of 2020 litigation; founded Democracy Docket in 2020. - **[[Michael Sussmann]]**: Partner (2005–2021), handled Alfa Bank research; indicted for lying to [[FBI]] in 2016—acquitted 2022. - **[[Matthew Gehringer]]**: Perkins GC who [disclosed Fusion GPS engagement](https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/24/politics/fusion-gps-clinton-campaign) in court filings, highlighting firm's legal-shield strategy. - **[[James Baker]]**: [[FBI]] General Counsel (2014–2017), [met with Sussmann on Alfa Bank claims](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/18/marc-elias-clinton-campaign-sussmann-00033404); later Twitter GC—testified on [[Michael Sussmann]]'s representation, indicating flows of information from Perkins Coie into [[FBI]] leadership. Multiple billing records and internal communications at Perkins Coie confirm that [dossiers and media strategies were billed](https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/25/conflicting-evidence-michael-sussmann-fbi-meeting-00035080) to "business development" or "confidential project" accounts, obscuring their political nature. These practices facilitated the funneling of opposition research into federal investigative channels and the media, blurring lines between legal counsel and political advocacy. ## 6. Legal Analysis of Potential Criminal Culpability - No Perkins Coie attorneys have been criminally charged beyond [[Michael Sussmann]]—whose [acquittal indicates difficulty](https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/former-perkins-coie-partner-is-acquitted-on-lying-charge-in-special-counsel-prosecution) of proving material false-statement violations absent concrete evidence. - The firm's billing mischaracterizations prompted FEC civil penalties but no [[DOJ]] enforcement. - [[Donald Trump]]'s EO litigation reinforced constitutional protections; no evidence suggests successful criminal referrals against Perkins Coie or [[Marc Elias]] beyond politically motivated investigations. - State AG [[Ken Paxton]]'s 2021 sanctions against [[Marc Elias]] and Perkins Coie in Texas voting-rights litigation reflect aggressive state-level action but not criminal convictions. - Bar and professional disciplinary challenges remain remote given acquittals and reversals; no formal ethics investigations against current Perkins Coie attorneys are public. ## Conclusion Perkins Coie's evolution into a megaphone for Democratic-aligned litigation and opposition research has invited unprecedented pushback—culminating in sanctions, executive orders, and landmark constitutional rulings. While no criminal convictions have persisted, the firm's blend of legal advocacy, political warfare, and media operations underscores perennial ethical tensions when law firms serve as de facto political operatives.