Farewell to Weil
Today the law firm of Weil Gotshal announced that it would wind down. I don't have any connections to the firm, though I did have one vignette to share that I wrote for another project. It concerns Greg Coleman, the first Texas Solicitor General.
In 2001, Coleman returned to Weil Gotshal to head his firm's Supreme Court practice. In 2006, Coleman took on a case that would change the face of constitutional law. He represented a municipal utility district from Northwest Austin, which challenged the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, known as the "preclearance requirement." This case had the potential to revolutionize voting rights, and bring our country closer to a colorblind Constitution. Unfortunately, Coleman's firm did not see things that way. As Senator Cruz recalled, "his partners at the firm lost their freaking minds." Coleman, who was dedicated to his client and the Constitution, left that firm and joined what would become Yetter Coleman LLP. In 2009, Coleman would argue two landmark Supreme Court cases that would set the stage for future constitutional restorations.
Farewell to Weil.