US Agency Head Fired by Trump Gets Partnership at Foley Hoag

Hampton Dellinger, the fired head of the US Office of Special Counsel, has joined the DC office of Foley Hoag as a partner, the firm announced Wednesday.

Dellinger said he will represent private industry in court challenges to presidential orders. He said he’s impressed the firm represents clients challenging the Trump administration, such as an environmental group fighting climate change funding cuts.

“The firm has been undeterred to take on any legal matter, no matter who is on the other side,” he said in an interview.

Dellinger transitions to private practice following an unsuccessful court effort to preserve his position as head of the agency tasked with safeguarding federal employees from retaliation.

President Joe Biden appointed him to a five-year term leading the Office of Special Counsel and the Senate confirmed him last year. The Trump administration fired Dellinger in February without explanation, according to his complaint.

Hampton Dellinger

He won a temporary restraining order and summary judgment after challenging the termination, but the DC Circuit sided with the Trump administration on appeal. Dellinger said he decided not to bring the case to the conservative-leaning US Supreme Court because of the length of time it would take to get a ruling.

The Office of Special Counsel didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

For Foley Hoag, the hire adds to a string of recruits the firm touts. They include former White House counsel Greg Craig and life sciences attorney Jay Reilly in DC and former US Department of Health and Human Services attorney Caroline Farrell in New York.

In his search for a post-government gig, Dellinger said it “made a difference” to him that Foley Hoag has shown a willingness to challenge President Donald Trump and support those who have been targeted by his administration.

Foley Hoag was among a handful of Big Law firms that signed onto a court brief opposing the Trump administration’s sanctions against Perkins Coie. The firm was one of five targeted with Trump executive orders that withdrew security clearances and barred federal building access for firm personnel.

Before joining OSC, Dellinger was an assistant attorney general for legal policy at the Department of Justice. He referred to OSC as a “formerly independent” agency.

“Now that the president can dismiss employees at his will, I don’t think we can call it an independent agency,” he said.