Brad Karp has stepped down as chairman of the prominent law firm Paul Weiss. His Brad Karp Paul Weiss resignation follows the release of old emails linking him to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Specifically, the messages became public last week as part of a Department of Justice document dump containing millions of Epstein-related records.
In a statement, Karp said leading Paul Weiss for 18 years was “the honor of my professional life.” Moreover, he acknowledged that recent media coverage had become a significant distraction. Because of this, he concluded that the attention placed on him no longer served the firm’s best interests.
That said, Karp will remain at Paul Weiss as a partner. The firm confirmed he will now focus full-time on client work. Meanwhile, Scott Barshay—previously head of the corporate department—has taken over as chairman immediately.
The controversy stems from a limited number of social interactions between Karp and Epstein. According to Paul Weiss, Karp attended two group dinners in New York and exchanged a few emails with Epstein years ago. Importantly, the firm stressed that Karp regrets these contacts.
One email, reported by Bloomberg, showed Karp asking Epstein for help getting his son a job on a Woody Allen film. In response, Paul Weiss provided additional context. The firm had represented Leon Black—then CEO of longtime client Apollo—in fee disputes with Epstein. Furthermore, it emphasized that it was legally adverse to Epstein and never represented him. “At no point did Paul Weiss or Brad Karp ever represent him,” the firm stated clearly.
Barshay praised Karp’s legacy in his announcement. He called Karp’s contributions “immense” and credited him with transforming the firm “in an unprecedented way.” Additionally, he expressed deep gratitude for Karp’s long service and dedication.
This is not the first controversy involving Karp. Last March, he approved a $40 million pro bono legal package for causes backed by President Donald Trump. In return, Trump rescinded an executive order targeting Paul Weiss. Consequently, that deal drew sharp criticism from legal ethics experts and firm clients.
Now, the Brad Karp Paul Weiss resignation marks a turning point for the firm. It reflects growing scrutiny over elite professionals’ past associations—even if those ties were limited or occurred years ago. Therefore, the leadership change aims to restore focus on the firm’s core mission: serving clients with integrity and independence.
Ultimately, the Brad Karp Paul Weiss resignation underscores how reputational risks can reshape even the most powerful institutions. Indeed, in today’s climate, past connections matter—and accountability reaches the highest levels.
