Brad Karp, chairman of the major corporate law firm Paul Weiss, resigned from that role on Wednesday following public disclosure of emails between him and Jeffrey Epstein.
“Leading Paul, Weiss for the past 18 years has been the honor of my professional life,” Karp said in a statement. “Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm.”
Karp was appointed chairman in 2008 and has been with Paul Weiss for more than four decades.
Karp to Remain at the Firm
Despite stepping down as chairman, Karp will continue working at Paul Weiss.
He “will remain at the firm, where he will continue to focus his full-time attention to client service,” the firm said in a statement.
Paul Weiss also announced that Scott Barshay, previously chair of the firm’s corporate department, was appointed chairman, effective immediately.
Emails Linked to Epstein Disclosure
The resignation came two days after the firm acknowledged Karp’s past contact with Epstein.
Paul Weiss said that “Mr. Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had a small number of social interactions by email with Epstein, all of which he regrets.”
Those emails were part of millions of documents related to Epstein that were released last week by the Department of Justice.
Bloomberg Report and Firm Response
Bloomberg reported that one email from Karp asked Epstein for help securing a job for Karp’s son on a Woody Allen movie.
In response to that reporting, Paul Weiss said:
“Paul Weiss was retained by Leon Black, then the CEO of the firm’s longtime client Apollo, to negotiate a series of fee disputes with Jeffrey Epstein that spanned several years.”
The firm added:
“The firm was adverse to Epstein, and at no point did Paul Weiss or Brad Karp ever represent him.”
Praise From the New Chairman
Barshay, in a statement on Wednesday, said Karp made “immense contributions” during his tenure.
“As Chairman of the firm, he transformed Paul, Weiss in an unprecedented way to the great benefit of our clients,” Barshay said.
“We are grateful to him for his extraordinary dedication and service over his many years as Chairman.”
Past Controversy Noted
The article also notes that last March, Karp signed off on a controversial agreement to provide $40 million worth of legal work, at no charge, for causes supported by President Donald Trump.
In return, the president rescinded an executive order he had previously issued targeting the firm.
