Former SG Paul Clement on Leaving Kirkland & Ellis After It Decided to Withdraw from Second Amendment Cases

"We could not abandon ongoing representations just because a client's position is unpopular in some circles."

From Politico (Josh Gerstein); Clement won the right-to-carry case this morning, and Erin Murphy was on the briefs with him:

Former Solicitor General Paul Clement and Erin Murphy, a regular Supreme Court litigator, said they were launching their own firm after Chicago-based Kirkland & Ellis decided to step back from gun-related litigation.

"We were given a stark choice: either withdraw from ongoing representations or withdraw from the firm," Clement said in a statement. "Anyone who knows us and our views regarding professional responsibility and client loyalty knows there was only one course open to us: We could not abandon ongoing representations just because a client's position is unpopular in some circles."

Through a firm spokesperson, Kirkland confirmed its decision but did not explain its rationale for dropping gun cases.