McDermott is reportedly parting ways with client and Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen
Michael Cohen/a katz(Shutterstock.com).
Michael Cohen and his lawyers at McDermott Will & Emery are reportedly going their separate ways.
The law firm is expected to end its representation of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer after a privilege review of seized documents is complete, anonymous sources tell ABC News, the Wall Street Journal, the National Law Journal, the New York Times and USA Today. ABC was the first with the report.
Cohen hasn’t been charged in the investigation into his business dealings. In an email to Vanity Fair, Cohen denied telling friends he expects to be arrested.
Cohen hasn’t hired new lawyers yet. A source tells the Journal that Cohen hasn’t decided whether he will cooperate with prosecutors, but sources told ABC that Cohen is likely to cooperate with investigators.
The McDermott lawyers representing Cohen are Stephen Ryan and Todd Harrison. A source tells the Times that the split is primarily over payment of Ryan’s legal bills.
Above the Law offers its speculation on possible reasons for the split. If Cohen were planning to cooperate, he wouldn’t need lawyers as expensive as those at McDermott, the blog says. Another possibility is that Cohen can’t afford to pay McDermott. A third scenario is that McDermott “is embarrassed and no longer wants to be associated with Trump world,” the blog says. Another possibility is Cohen plans to represent himself.
McDermott did not immediately respond to the ABAJournal.com request for comment.
