Brad Karp, the longtime chair of the influential law firm Paul Weiss, has officially stepped down from his leadership position. As reported on Wednesday, Karp’s resignation follows mounting scrutiny over his connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, especially after the U.S. Department of Justice released a substantial number of emails detailing Karp’s personal and business interactions with Epstein.
In a statement issued by the firm, Karp acknowledged that “recent reporting” had become a distraction that was detrimental to the firm’s interests. Although he did not provide immediate further comment, he has expressed regret over his past dealings with Epstein.
Karp has been at the helm of Paul Weiss since 2008 and is credited with steering the firm’s annual revenues to surpass $2.6 billion by 2024. Throughout his tenure, he has established himself as a defender of Wall Street while also advocating for various social justice initiatives. Notably, Karp played an active role as a Democratic fundraiser, contributing to Kamala Harris’s campaign during her unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2024 against Donald Trump.
His connections to Epstein were reportedly established through his work for Leon Black, the co-founder and former chair of Apollo Global Management. Karp’s firm also faced backlash for its controversial agreement in March to contribute a substantial amount of pro bono legal services to causes aligned with the White House. This decision came as a means to counter an executive order from Trump that threatened to limit Paul Weiss’s access to government contracts and operations based on its political affiliations and its efforts in promoting racial diversity.
Karp defended the arrangement, claiming that the executive order posed an existential threat to the firm. Following this incident, eight other law firms entered similar agreements with the administration, collectively pledging almost $1 billion worth of work. In contrast, four other rival firms directly challenged Trump’s executive orders in court and achieved favorable rulings against them.
Taking over as chair is Scott Barshay, a partner who previously led the firm’s corporate department. Paul Weiss, known for its robust client base, represents numerous major financial institutions, including Apollo and Citigroup, in various transactions and litigation matters.
