logo
Microsoft swaps law firms in shareholder case, hiring Trump adversary

Microsoft swaps law firms in shareholder case, hiring Trump adversary

Time of India02-05-2025
By Mike Scarcella and Tom Hals
Microsoft
is switching the law firm representing it in a shareholder case from one that has settled with the
Trump administration
to one that is fighting it.
Court documents showed Microsoft has hired
Jenner & Block
to replace
Simpson Thacher
in a Delaware Chancery Court lawsuit over its $69 billion purchase of
Activision Blizzard
. The filings did not give a reason.
Microsoft, without elaborating, said in a statement to Reuters that Simpson Thacher continues to represent it on other matters.
Representatives for the firms did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Jenner and three other firms are suing President Donald Trump's administration over his executive orders that stripped their security clearances, restricted their access to government buildings and sought to cancel federal contracts held by their clients.
Wall Street firm Simpson Thacher is among nine firms that have collectively pledged nearly $1 billion in free legal services to the White House since Trump launched his pressure campaign on firms that he accused of "weaponizing" the legal system against him.
Companies can have many reasons for switching legal teams, including to save money or avoid attorney-client conflicts. Jenner has represented Microsoft in other cases, court filings show.
The New York Times first reported Microsoft's change in counsel.
Jenner's lawsuit against the Trump administration called the executive order an "unconstitutional abuse of power" that sought to drive away its clients.
It said the order was retribution for its past employment of a prosecutor involved in the U.S. special counsel probe into Russian contacts with Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
A former top lawyer at Microsoft and dozens of other current and former general counsels at major U.S. companies said in a court brief backing Jenner and other firms that Trump's orders force companies "to choose counsel to avoid the President's retribution rather than based on independent business judgment, experience, skill, or expertise."
Simpson Thacher represented Microsoft in its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, maker of the popular video game "Call of Duty." The deal, announced in 2022, was the largest-ever in the gaming industry.
The lawsuit in Delaware claimed Activision improperly approved a draft merger agreement and not the final version. Microsoft in 2024 asked a judge to validate the acquisition and deny a $15 million fee request from lawyers who represented an Activision shareholder.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'South Park' co-creator jokes he's 'terribly sorry' over premiere that drew White House anger
'South Park' co-creator jokes he's 'terribly sorry' over premiere that drew White House anger

New Indian Express

time27 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

'South Park' co-creator jokes he's 'terribly sorry' over premiere that drew White House anger

Earlier in the day, the White House issued a statement on the 27th season premiere, which aired Wednesday night. 'This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention,' White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in the statement. 'President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak.' Later in the panel, Parker said they did get a note from their producers on Tuesday night's episode. 'They said, 'OK, but we're gonna blur the penis,' and I said, 'No you're not gonna blur the penis,'' Parker said. The premiere also took aim at Paramount and its $16 million recent settlement with Trump just hours after Parker and Stone signed a five-year deal with the company for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets report the deal was worth $1.5 billion. In the episode, Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ – the actual person – in its elementary school. Jesus tells them they ought to settle. 'You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount,' Jesus says. 'Do you really want to end up like Colbert?' CBS and parent Paramount Global canceled Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' last week, days after Colbert sharply criticized Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a '60 Minutes' interview. CBS and Paramount executives said it was a financial decision to axe 'The Late Show.' The efficiency of 'South Park' production, and the brinksmanship of its creators, allow it to stay incredibly current for an animated series. 'I don't know what next week's episode is going to be,' Parker said at Comic-Con. 'Even just three days ago, we were like, 'I don't know if people are going to like this.''

Avoid travel to 7 provinces: India's advisory on Thailand amid clash with Cambodia
Avoid travel to 7 provinces: India's advisory on Thailand amid clash with Cambodia

India Today

time32 minutes ago

  • India Today

Avoid travel to 7 provinces: India's advisory on Thailand amid clash with Cambodia

The Indian Embassy in Thailand on Friday issued an advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid travel to seven provinces amid escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border. The advisory follows a sharp intensification of armed clashes in long-disputed areas, where tensions have been simmering for months.'In view of the situation near the Thailand-Cambodia border, all Indian travellers to Thailand are advised to check updates from Thai official sources, including the TAT Newsroom,' the embassy said in a advisory coincided with a stark warning from Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who told reporters the situation had worsened significantly. "The current situation involves acts of intrusion and aggression that are causing harm to the people's lives. The situation has intensified and could escalate into a state of war. At present, it's a confrontation involving heavy weapons," the Prime Minister authorities have advised against travel to more than 20 locations across several provinces, including Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and clashes broke out along the border on Thursday, leaving at least 16 people dead and many more injured. Among the dead were children and a soldier, while 15 soldiers and 30 civilians sustained injuries. Tens of thousands have been forced to flee their fighting has involved gunfire exchanges, shelling, and rocket attacks, with Thailand launching airstrikes on Cambodian territory. On Friday, the Thai military reported multiple engagements across four border Thai army claimed Cambodian forces used heavy artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, prompting what it described as 'appropriate supporting fire' in to Thailand's Health Ministry, more than 58,000 people have been displaced in the affected provinces, while Cambodian authorities said over 4,000 people had been evacuated from areas near the marks the second major armed confrontation since a Cambodian soldier was shot dead in May. The latest flare-up came just hours after both nations downgraded diplomatic ties in the wake of a landmine explosion that injured Thai troops.- EndsTune InTrending Reel

Why did Donald Trump warn tech giants like Google and Microsoft against hiring Indians?
Why did Donald Trump warn tech giants like Google and Microsoft against hiring Indians?

Hindustan Times

timean hour ago

  • Hindustan Times

Why did Donald Trump warn tech giants like Google and Microsoft against hiring Indians?

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at major American technology companies for outsourcing manufacturing to China and employing workers in countries like India. US President Donald Trump gestures during an event in Washington DC, July 23, 2025(REUTERS) Speaking at the AI Summit in Washington, Trump declared that such practices would no longer be tolerated under his administration. 'Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India and slashing profits in Ireland, you know that,' Donald Trump said. 'All the while dismissing and even censoring their fellow citizens right here at home. Under President Trump, those days are over.' The remarks came as the President signed three executive orders aimed at boosting the US artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Among these was a sweeping White House action plan titled the America's AI action plan, designed to secure US leadership in global AI development. 'America first' strategy Trump urged technology giants like Google and Microsoft that are based in US to adopt a more patriotic approach to their operations, aligning with what he described as national interests. 'We need US technology companies to be all in for America. We want you to put America first. You have to do that. That's all we ask,' news agency PTI quoted Trump as saying. He further called for 'a new spirit of patriotism and national loyalty in Silicon Valley and long beyond Silicon Valley.' Framing AI development as essential to economic and military supremacy, Trump declared: 'America is the country that started the AI race, and as president of the United States, I'm here today to declare that America is going to win it.' He added, 'Winning this competition will be a test of our capacities unlike anything since the dawn of the space age.' Trump's recent comments criticising American tech companies for outsourcing jobs and hiring foreign workers have sparked concern among the global tech community, particularly in countries like India. While no formal policy changes have been announced as of now, industry experts say the President's remarks could influence the hiring decisions of major tech firms that depend on skilled talent from India. Indian professionals working in areas such as software development, data science, and artificial intelligence in the US may now face growing uncertainty.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store