Paul Weiss chairman resigns as DOJ-released Epstein emails roil firm

Brad Karp stepped down as chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP effective immediately, the firm said on Wednesday, after emails included in a mass Department of Justice release showed personal communications with Jeffrey Epstein. The firm named Scott Barshay, previously chair of its corporate department, as chairman effective immediately, and said Karp will remain at the firm focusing on client work.

The DOJ disclosure comprised millions of documents related to Epstein; the released material includes email exchanges involving Karp that extended as recently as 2019. The firm acknowledged Karp "attended two group dinners in New York City and had a small number of social interactions by email, all of which he regrets." In a statement Karp said, "Leading Paul, Weiss for the past 18 years has been the honor of my professional life," and 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 emails released by the Justice Department include a July 22, 2015 message attributed to Karp: "Jeffrey, I can’t thank you enough for including me in an evening I’ll never forget. It was truly ‘once in a lifetime’ in every way, though I hope to be invited again. You are an extraordinary host – and your home….!!! Thanks, again. See you soon. Brad" The reply in the file reads: "you are always welcome. . there are many many nights of unique talents. you will be invited often."

Paul Weiss is among the country's most prominent corporate law firms, employing more than 1,000 lawyers and reporting annual revenues in excess of $2.6 billion in 2024. The firm represents major financial institutions and corporations and has been involved in high-profile mergers and litigation. Karp, who has spent more than four decades at Paul, Weiss and who has led the firm since 2008, built a reputation as both a defense lawyer for Wall Street clients and a public advocate on social justice issues.

The leadership upheaval comes as the firm faces renewed scrutiny over its relationships with powerful clients and figures. Paul Weiss noted the firm had been retained by Leon Black to negotiate disputes involving Epstein; the firm framed those engagements as legal work. The transition also follows earlier controversy over a public pledge the firm made to provide tens of millions of dollars in pro bono legal services connected to a White House directive, a decision that prompted fierce backlash and was later rescinded at the administration level.

Beyond the immediate governance consequences, the episode raises broader questions about institutional accountability and the ripple effects of elite networks tied to a convicted sex offender. For survivors and advocates, disclosures of social and professional ties between high‑profile lawyers and Epstein underscore longstanding concerns about barriers to justice and the normalization of access for the well connected. Public health experts view sexual violence as a community and public health issue; erosion of trust in institutions charged with upholding law and ethics can complicate efforts to promote reporting, care, and prevention.

Paul Weiss says Karp will remain in a full-time client-service role while Barshay assumes the chairmanship. The firm and Karp have signaled regret for the interactions revealed in the documents and framed the change as a step to limit distraction to the firm's work; questions remain about the content and context of the released emails and how the firm will address broader reputational and ethical concerns.