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DOJ's Lead Prosecutor on Law Firm Appeals to Exit Role End of May

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10

Why it matters

Abhishek Kambli, the Deputy Associate Attorney General who led the Trump administration's defense of executive orders targeting four major law firms, announced his departure from the DOJ effective end of May 2026. Kambli joined the department in February 2025 and oversaw litigation defending orders that barred Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey from federal contracts, buildings, and employment based on their representation of administration opponents. All four firms challenged the orders in federal court; all won injunctions on constitutional grounds. The DOJ appealed to the D.C. Circuit, then abruptly moved to dismiss those appeals on March 2, 2026—only to reverse course the next day when Kambli filed to withdraw the dismissal motion.

The status of the D.C. Circuit appeals remains unclear. The court has not ruled on the DOJ's conflicting filings, and the litigation record does not indicate whether the appeals are still active or what briefing schedule, if any, is in place. Kambli's departure timing—announced the week of May 8, 2026, while the appeals languish—suggests possible internal disagreement over litigation strategy, though the DOJ has not commented on his reasons for leaving.

Attorneys at firms facing similar exposure should monitor the D.C. Circuit docket closely. The pending appeals could resolve the constitutional questions surrounding the orders, or the government could attempt another dismissal. The firms have retained former Solicitor General Paul Clement for the appellate fight, and over 500 firms have filed amicus briefs supporting the defendants. Kambli's exit may signal shifting priorities within the administration's legal strategy on this high-profile constitutional clash.

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