People working at the Amsterdam office of US law firm A&O Shearman are unhappy about the deal signed between the firm and US president Donald Trump, the Financieele Dagblad reported on Tuesday.

The deal signed with Trump includes a commitment to carry out $125 million worth of pro bono work for government-agreed causes, and a personnel policy based on merit rather than “illegal” diversity, equity and inclusion “discrimination and preferences”.

But some staff say they are very unhappy with the deal and that it goes against the principles the company was founded on. The firm has profiled itself as one in which diversity and inclusion are high on the agenda, and lists this as a “strategic priority” on its website.

Company workers told the Financieele Dagblad they were “sorry and embarrassed” about the agreement with Trump, and felt “powerless” about what they see as a capitulation to the US government.

Some 500 workers in the US and abroad had signed a petition by Friday in a last-ditch attempt to persuade the firm to change its mind.

The Financieele Dagblad says the move is the first real test of the transatlantic merger and could lead to friction between the US and European partners.

Dutch-British law firm Allen & Overy merged with US firm Shearman & Sterling last year to create the new combine which has some 4,000 lawyers and offices across the globe.

Headhunter Scipio van der Stoel told the paper the deal could also pose a problem for the Amsterdam firm in terms of staff retention.

The company is also a main sponsor of the Dutch capital’s Pride celebrations and, a spokesman told the Financieele Dagblad, will continue to be so this year.