Ex-HUD Legal Chief Klubes Rolls Out DC-Focused Defense Boutique

The former top lawyer for the federal housing agency is launching a white-collar litigation boutique.

Klubes Law Group will focus on congressional investigations, consumer financial services enforcement, and other defense work, according to founder Benjamin Klubes. The Big Law alum most recently was acting general counsel for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Biden administration.

“It’s an extension of what I did traditionally, given the emphasis of this administration on really using a lot of different tools of the Justice Department and other government agencies to advance their agenda frequently in an illegal and unconstitutional way,” Klubes said in an interview.

The Washington-founded firm is one of several smaller shops launched by former Big Law partners since President Donald Trump reentered the White House. A group of Paul Weiss partners left in May to start Dunn Isaacson Rhee, weeks after veteran Winston & Strawn trial lawyer Abbe Lowell left announced the opening of his own boutique.

Klubes was a partner at Skadden for more than seven years before joining Buckley LLP and later moving to HUD. He said his new firm will engage in work that many Big Law firms are balking at, including certain pro bono matters and litigation that may be adverse to the interests of the Trump administration.

He forsees work from clients seeking help responding to actions by the administration, like those impacted by grant cutoffs and diversity and equity-focused false claim act enforcement. He also expects to work with state attorneys general offices as they step up enforcement in areas de-emphasized under Trump.

Klubes is launching the firm as its only full-time attorney. He said he is actively recruiting for associates and partners, especially among the federal agency lawyers who have swamped the DC market. HUD is one of many federal agencies that has lost scores of its attorneys amid buyouts and workforce slashing this year.

“It’s a bit of a buyer’s market and it gives folks an opportunity to do some work,” Klubes said.