Brad Karp, the chairman of the prestigious law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, stepped down on Wednesday, following the release of Justice Department documents that included correspondence between him and Jeffrey Epstein. Karp cited that recent reports had become a distraction and not aligned with the firm’s best interests. As stated in a firm-released statement, his resignation took effect immediately.
Commonly referred to as Paul Weiss in the business world, the firm is highly regarded for its influence and elite legal services. Karp, who has dedicated his entire 40-year career to Paul Weiss, took on the role of chairman in 2008. Despite his resignation, the firm announced that Karp will not depart entirely; instead, he will focus full-time on client services.
The Justice Department documents, made public on Friday, reveal numerous email exchanges between Karp and Epstein, as well as Epstein’s assistant, spanning from 2015 to 2019. These emails addressed various subjects, including Karp arranging meetings with Epstein at his well-known New York City townhouse. They also indicated Karp’s involvement in assisting Epstein with his plea deal on charges related to sex trafficking. In a March 2019 email, Karp remarked on a draft motion, saying it was “in great shape.”
Another exchange from 2015 highlights Karp expressing his gratitude to Epstein, describing an unforgettable evening hosted by Epstein, calling it a “once in a lifetime” experience. Conversations also featured Karp asking Epstein to assist his filmmaker son in obtaining work with Woody Allen.
Paul Weiss steadfastly maintains that neither the firm nor Karp have represented Epstein. In light of recent revelations, Karp expressed regret over his interactions with Epstein. His transactions with Epstein were not the sole controversy he faced. Last year, Karp and the firm entered an agreement with the White House to provide $40 million in pro bono legal services for initiatives supported by President Donald Trump. This agreement was met with substantial criticism from both corporate and legal sectors, ultimately leading to Trump rescinding the related executive order.
Scott Barshay, a corporate lawyer within Paul Weiss, will succeed Karp as chairman. The firm has a distinguished history of representing high-profile companies, including Exxon Mobil and Facebook owner Meta Platforms. Moreover, it has been involved in notable mergers, such as WarnerMedia’s merger with Discovery.
Steve Kopack is a senior reporter with NBC News, focusing on business and economic matters.