Powerful Wall Street law firm Paul Weiss faced heavy criticism on Friday over a deal it struck with the White House to escape an executive order imperiling the firm's business, even as some lawyers said the firm faced few other options.

The capitulation by one of the top U.S. firms reflects deep worries that being threatened by the president could lead to financial ruin.

Trump is directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to target lawyers and law firms “who engage in frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation against the United States.”