Chris Kise (Photo by MARCO BELLO/AFP via Getty Images)
Biglaw partnership is seen as a pinnacle of the legal profession, the brass ring that so many strive for. So, people generally don’t give that up — unless they’re about to be called “Your Honor.” But that’s exactly what former Foley & Lardner partner Christopher Kise did when he left the firm to go work for Donald Trump in his battle with the federal government over the Mar-a-Lago raid. The move has left folks wondering whether this was a smart play.
There’re lots of reasons this representation could go awry, but chief among them is Trump’s penchant to just… not pay his attorneys. But in this Kise was clever, securing a $3 million payment ahead of time, courtesy of Trump’s Save America PAC.
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Despite getting paid, reports emerged earlier this week that Kise was “sidelined” in the Mar-a-Lago investigation. Though a spokesperson said Kise remains an “important member of President Trump’s legal team,” it’s not a great look. No one wants to have to defend their role on a team less than a month after signing on. Hell, NFL fans gave Ryan Leaf more of a grace period.
There was the… I don’t know what to call it… gaff? Misunderstanding of the Espionage Act?
https://t.co/TdfJxIl5lZ pic.twitter.com/lvOdL8YPpK
— Joe Patrice (@JosephPatrice) September 29, 2022
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Though maybe Kise shouldn’t feel too bad about that one — it’s only one of several instances detailed by Just Security of Team Trump admitting to the “former President Donald Trump’s knowledge and involvement in retaining government records.” Of course, Kise *is* an attorney and should have a much more keen grasp on the potential repercussions for his client based on what he admits in court.
Of course, Kise’s representation of the former president is really still in its infancy. There’s so much more that can still go wrong. Just ask Kise’s onetime partner at Foley, Cleta Mitchell.
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).