Overview
Brad Karp, the long-serving chairman of law firm Paul Weiss, announced his resignation this week after records released by the U.S. Justice Department exposed a series of communications with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The disclosures capped a period of upheaval that began in the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election and intensified after Mr. Epstein-related emails became public at the end of January.
Election season and ambitions
In November 2024, Karp joined other prominent Democratic fundraisers at voting-night events in Washington where attendees hoped for a Kamala Harris victory over Donald Trump. Earlier in the campaign, after Harris had supplanted incumbent Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee in July 2024, Karp launched an outreach to hundreds of corporate lawyers to raise funds on her behalf. One Paul Weiss partner worked directly to prepare Harris for her debate with Trump.
Despite those efforts, Trump won the election. His return to the presidency set off a chain of events that first rattled Paul Weiss and, following the Justice Department release of Epstein-related records, culminated in Karp stepping down as chairman. While Karp has not been accused of illegal conduct, the emails made public by the Justice Department undercut his authority at the firm in a matter of days.
Transformation of the firm under Karp
Karp became chairman of Paul Weiss in 2008. During his tenure he helped reshape the firm from a respected New York litigation practice into a global, high-fee legal powerhouse. Under his leadership the firm increased its prominence in both litigation and transactional work, recruited prominent dealmakers, and cultivated deep ties to Democratic political circles.
Paul Weiss lawyers and staff were notable for their outsize financial support for Democratic candidates during the 2024 cycle. The firm also committed pro bono resources to progressive causes and blended that work with recruitment of star financial services rainmakers alongside litigators who had served in Democratic administrations. That mix positioned Paul Weiss as both a defender of large financial clients and an active participant in politically charged litigation.
Political friction and the Trump administration
After Trump returned to the White House, the firm’s high-profile opposition to his administration made it a target. Paul Weiss attorneys had been involved in investigations and litigation related to Trump, including suits tied to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol and other matters that put the firm at odds with the president. On the day of that riot, Karp said he watched in horror as the events unfolded in Congress.
In March following Trump’s reelection, the president signed an executive order that effectively blacklisted Paul Weiss from federal buildings and government contracts, part of a set of directives aimed at law firms he viewed as antagonistic. Fearing that the order would provoke client departures and jeopardize the firm’s longevity, Karp sought to negotiate a resolution.
Karp attended a White House meeting that included a protracted discussion of golf before substantive talks began. Robert Giuffra of Sullivan & Cromwell, who participated by phone, later assisted in finalizing an agreement to rescind the executive order. The deal called for $40 million of free legal work for causes the president supported. Eight other firms later reached similar arrangements, collectively pledging nearly $1 billion in work to avoid comparable executive actions; meanwhile, four other targeted firms sued the administration and secured court rulings striking down the directives as unconstitutional.
The settlement drew criticism inside Paul Weiss, particularly from lawyers aligned with the Democratic Party. At least a dozen partners, including the partner who had advised Harris for the debate, departed the firm in the aftermath. For some inside Paul Weiss, Karp became the symbol of a perceived retreat from the firm’s prior posture.
Epstein records and the resignation
A bipartisan congressional push resulted in the Justice Department releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Among the documents made public were emails showing extensive communications between Karp and Epstein. Those disclosures led Karp to step down as chairman this week.
In emails disclosed at the end of January, Karp thanked Epstein for a 2015 dinner described as a "once in a lifetime" event with filmmaker Woody Allen. The exchanges included requests from Karp for Epstein’s assistance in securing a position for his son on a film production. Other messages showed Karp and Epstein discussing a woman seeking money from Leon Black, the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, whom Karp had represented. Additional emails referenced Epstein’s 2008 non-prosecution agreement in which he pleaded guilty to prostitution charges in Florida, including soliciting an underage girl.
The released correspondence indicates that Karp and Epstein remained in contact as recently as early 2019, months before Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges and his subsequent suicide in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial.
Following the disclosures, Karp released a statement saying that "recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm." The firm also said he regretted his interactions with Epstein and "never witnessed or participated in misconduct." The firm noted that Karp will remain at Paul Weiss continuing to serve clients.
Karp did not respond to requests for comment. The firm likewise did not expand on the statement beyond announcing his resignation.
Leadership transition
Scott Barshay, whom Karp recruited in 2016 to strengthen the firm’s mergers and acquisitions practice and expand corporate work, has been named chairman. Barshay’s elevation follows Karp’s long record of recruiting prominent practitioners to broaden Paul Weiss’s capabilities in dealmaking and transactional law.
Historical context and legacy
Founded in 1875 by Samuel William Weiss and Julius Frank, the firm had built a reputation as a defender of civil liberties. In the 1940s Paul Weiss became the first major New York firm to name a female partner. The firm played a role in civil rights litigation, assisting Thurgood Marshall in the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
Karp’s association with Paul Weiss began in 1983 when he joined as a summer associate and he spent his entire career at the firm, advancing to head the litigation department before being elected chairman in 2008. Under his guidance the firm became a principal defender for the financial industry, representing clients such as Citigroup and JPMorgan while maintaining strong connections to the Democratic establishment.
Observers and colleagues have noted Karp’s skill at building consensus and attracting high-profile rainmakers, which helped elevate Paul Weiss into a top-tier firm with loyal institutional clients across litigation and transactional practices. In recruiting Barshay, Karp aimed to increase the firm’s footprint in private equity and deal work.
At the same time, some legal ethicists and observers argue that the very changes that boosted Paul Weiss’s market position also created vulnerabilities. Reliance on institutional clients, close engagement with political actors, and quick settlement to blunt executive action were all cited as factors that later contributed to reputational strain.
Clients, reputation and ongoing work
Karp’s roster of representations has included major Wall Street banks and the National Football League. The firm said Karp will continue to serve clients even after resigning as chairman. The precise impact of his resignation on client relationships and the firm’s future strategy remains to be seen as Paul Weiss navigates the fallout from the released records.
Legal controversies tied to client work
Karp represented Leon Black, and Epstein became involved in fee disputes with Black. Communications between Karp and Epstein about Black and other matters were among those that contributed to the decision to step down. The firm said Karp met Epstein through his representation of Black.
Broader implications
Those close to the firm described the episode as a cautionary tale about how leadership can be compromised when proximity to executive power and controversial figures intersects with a firm’s institutional identity. Critics say the settlement with the administration and the subsequent disclosures created a perception of accommodation that conflicted with the firm’s historical posture of resistance and public interest work.
What remains uncertain
The public disclosures document interactions and communications but do not include accusations of wrongdoing by Karp. How the firm will reconcile internal divisions, restore confidence among departing and remaining partners, and manage client relationships in the wake of the revelation are open questions grounded in the events made public so far.
Summary
Brad Karp resigned as chairman of Paul Weiss after the Justice Department released emails showing extensive communications with Jeffrey Epstein. His resignation followed turmoil that began with the 2024 election, a controversial agreement to rescind a Trump administration executive order, and the departure of several partners. Karp will remain at the firm serving clients while Scott Barshay assumes the chairmanship.
Key points
- Paul Weiss’s chairman, Brad Karp, stepped down after Justice Department disclosures revealed emails with Jeffrey Epstein, though he has not been accused of misconduct.
- Karp’s leadership had transformed Paul Weiss into a global, high-fee firm with strong Democratic ties and expanded dealmaking capacity, but a settlement to rescind a Trump executive order drew internal criticism and partner departures.
- The firm has named Scott Barshay as Karp’s successor; Karp remains at Paul Weiss to serve clients.
Risks and uncertainties
- Reputational risk for Paul Weiss stemming from the disclosed communications could affect client relationships in the financial services and corporate sectors.
- Internal division following partner departures and public criticism may create operational and retention challenges for the firm’s litigation and transactional practices.
- Legal and political scrutiny related to high-profile settlements with the administration and the released records could continue to produce public distraction and potential downstream effects on the firm’s business.