Law firm Morrison Foerster, which reversed decision to represent trans man, agrees to pay £25,000 in damages and costs

International law firm Morrison Foerster (MoFo) has agreed to pay £25,000 in damages and cover legal costs to settle a discrimination claim brought by a trans man and the Good Law Project, after the firm abruptly reversed its decision to represent him.

The case, which has now concluded, stemmed from allegations that MoFo dropped the client due to internal concerns about potential backlash from US President Donald Trump, known for his hostility toward equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. According to the Good Law Project, a leak from within the firm revealed that a US-based partner had expressed unease about how Trump might react to MoFo representing a trans individual.

The claimants sought £25,000 in damages and a formal declaration that MoFo had engaged in unlawful discrimination. While the firm has agreed to pay the full amount and legal costs, it has not admitted liability. The settlement was accepted in part due to the financial risks of continuing litigation under civil procedure rules—risks similar to those faced by actor Hugh Grant in his phone hacking case against the Murdoch press.

In earlier correspondence, MoFo acknowledged that “the potentially controversial nature of issues raised by the litigation” influenced its decision to withdraw representation. However, when pressed to clarify what was controversial about the case, the firm’s solicitors declined to respond. They maintained that the decision was not discriminatory and denied any connection to US political dynamics.

Of the £25,000 settlement, £5,000 will go directly to the trans man, while the remaining £20,000 will be received by the Good Law Project. The organisation has pledged to donate that sum equally among four trans advocacy groups: Trans+ Solidarity Alliance, Equality for Trans Families, Trans Legal Clinic and the Gender Identity Research & Education Society (GIRES).