Simpson Thacher Lands Commerce Department Work After Trump Deal

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett is handling work for the US Department of Commerce, a department official confirmed.

“We’re still working out final deal terms and conditions at the moment,” the official said.

A spokesperson from Simpson Thacher did not respond to requests for comment.

Along with other Big Law firms, Simpson last spring struck a deal with the White House to provide free legal services to evade a punitive executive order.

Paul Weiss, Kirkland & Ellis and Skadden Arps Meagher & Flom were already tapped to provide legal work to the department, according to a New York Times report.

Simpson Thacher has no reported contracts with the federal government over last five years, according to Bloomberg Government data.

The Commerce Department has taken an active role in tariff negotiations and recently steered the United States’ purchase of a 10% stake in Intel Corp., which Skadden guided.

The firms that struck deals with President Donald Trump earlier this year pledged to work on issues of common interest with the president, including supporting veterans, combating antisemitism and ensuring “fairness” in the US justice system.

Simpson Thacher was among the group of nine firms, including A&O Shearman, Cadwalader, Latham & Watkins, Milbank LLP, and Willkie Farr & Gallagher that committed a total of $940 million in free legal services purportedly for work on such causes.

Earlier this year, Simpson Thacher affirmed its commitment to pro bono work, challenging a Texas law requiring schools to display the Ten Commandments and a Mississippi electoral map that allegedly discriminates against Black voters.