U.S. law firm Perkins Coie has hired outside lawyers from Williams & Connolly in response to President Donald Trump's executive order last week punishing the firm over its prior work for Hillary Clinton and its internal policies promoting diversity and inclusion.

The retaliatory aim of the Order is intentionally obvious to the general public and the press because the very goal is to chill future lawyers from representing particular clients,” the suit

The 43-page complaint asks a Washington, D.C., federal court to immediately stop implementation of Trump’s executive order, pending the firm’s preliminary injunction motion.

President Donald Trump’s strike this week against a Democratic-linked law firm came years after it faced allegations of aiding unethical and, in some cases, illegal efforts to weaponize the Justice Department against Trump.

US firm Perkins Coie has hit back against US President Donald Trump in a lawsuit alleging the unlawfulness of an executive order issued on March 6, reported Reuters.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order suspending security clearances for employees of law firm Perkins Coie and targeting the firm's business with federal contractors, citing its diversity practices and political activities.

The order against the firm, which did work for Democrats during the 2016 campaign, represents an escalation of efforts to punish groups the president sees as aiding his enemies.

President Trump suspends security clearances for Perkins Coie employees, marking a significant change for the Seattle law firm.