Texas has recently been fighting to protect its residents in some big lawsuits, keeping top law firms busy (and well-paid) as the Lone Star state takes on major battles.
A prominent international law firm involved in some high-profile litigation against Google has been criticized for its history of supporting progressive causes and its financial contributions to liberal politicians in Texas.
The Norton Rose Fulbright Law Firm, which recently secured a billion-dollar settlement from Google, is now facing questions about whether its legal work is intertwined with a broader left-leaning political agenda.
The firm, retained to represent Texas in lawsuits involving Google’s handling of privacy data, will soon receive a huge payout from the trial. The case against Google drew in a whopping $1.375 billion settlement, the largest of its kind, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
However, beyond its courtroom successes, Norton Rose Fulbright’s public record reveals a deep engagement with social justice initiatives, DEI efforts, and political activism that some critics could describe as “far-left” or “woke.”
As part of its pro bono outreach, Norton Rose Fulbright highlights its collaboration with the “Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund,” including a case involving a six-year-old male student who allegedly “identified as female.” The firm worked to secure the biological boy’s right to use the girls’ bathroom at school, according to the Windy City Times.
“We have worked closely with the TLDEF for the successful resolution of several high-profile lawsuits filed by transgender individuals who faced discriminatory actions. Among them are the cases of Chase Culpepper, who was forced to remove her makeup before she was allowed to take her first driver’s license photo in South Carolina because her gender marker indicated she was a male, and Coy Mathis, who was denied access to the female restrooms at her elementary school because although she lived as a female, she was born a male,” The firm’s website reads.
The firm also highlighted a global initiative launched in 2021 to combat “systemic racism” and promote “social justice” worldwide.
In addition, Norton Rose Fulbright encourages all of their employees to display “preferred pronouns.”
Notably, the firm’s political action committee has also donated tens of thousands of dollars to several well-known liberal Democrats in Texas, including county commissioners and city officials associated with progressive platforms, per OpenSecrets.org.
Some could argue this blurs the line between impartial legal counsel and political activism.
However, things get even more confusing on the money level.
Norton Rose Fulbright’s contract with certain Texas government entities reportedly includes rates that are significantly higher than what the firm charges other state agencies, according to The Texas Voice. Senior attorneys working on the Google lawsuits can charge as much as $900 an hour, and those fees can be multiplied under contingency fee arrangements.
Reuters also reported that Norton Rose Fulbright’s 2022 agreement with Texas allows the firm to collect up to $3,780 an hour, or 27% of any successful recovery in the biometric privacy lawsuit against Google.
These legal arrangements have become more common in recent years but continue to attract criticism, particularly from those wary of “pay-to-play” practices in government contracts.
However, even the firm acknowledges on its own website the necessity to tread lightly on DEI topics, writing, “In light of recent discourse around the terms, ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion,’ we are making changes to our US-based, people-focused information to refocus our efforts on the substance of the ideals as they are reflected by our programs and support for our people.”
The Dallas Express reached out to Norton Rose Fulbright, but they did not respond for comment or clarification on their DEI standings by the time of publication.