Biglaw

Facing Backlash, Mayer Brown Dumps Client

But not everyone is happy.

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(Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)

Last week, the Biglaw firm Mayer Brown came under fire for its most recent representation of the University of Hong Kong. The university is trying to get a work of art — the Pillar of Shame sculpture by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt designed to commemorate the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in Beijing — removed from its campus. The play is being called an “attack on art” and reportedly shows the firm is “complicit in the suppression of human rights.”

Not a good look for the firm. Particularly one that likes that like to tout its human rights expertise.

So, maybe it really wasn’t a surprise that the firm has backed away from its client in this particular representation:

“Going forward, Mayer Brown will not be representing its longtime client in this matter. We have no further comment,” the law firm said in a statement.

But proving you can’t please all the people all the time, there’s now backlash to the backlash. In a social media post, former Hong Kong chief executive Chun-ying Leung said Mayer Brown caved to political pressure in withdrawing its representation, calling for a “China-wide boycott” and saying:

From here on, no client in Hong Kong or Mainland China, particularly those with Chinese government connections, will find Mayer Brown dependable.

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At least this stance — which 30 NGOs signed an open letter asking for — is more in line with the values the firm proclaims.

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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