Brad Karp, the chairman of the prominent law firm Paul Weiss, stepped down from his position on Wednesday following the release of emails between him and infamous sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“Leading Paul, Weiss for the last 18 years has been the privilege of my professional career,” Karp stated in a statement. “Recent coverage has presented a distraction and has shifted the focus onto me that does not serve the firm’s best interests.”
Karp, who took on the role of chairman in 2008, will stay with the firm, where he “will continue to dedicate his full-time efforts to client service,” Paul Weiss announced in a statement.
Scott Barshay, previously head of Paul Weiss’ corporate department, has been appointed the firm’s chairman, effective immediately, as per the firm.
Karp had been with Paul Weiss for over four decades.
His departure as chairman occurs two days after the firm reported that “Mr. Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had a limited number of social exchanges via email” with Epstein, all of which he regrets.”
The emails were among millions of documents regarding Epstein that were disclosed last week by the Department of Justice.
Bloomberg noted that one email from Karp solicited Epstein’s assistance in securing a role for Karp’s son in a Woody Allen film.
In response to that Bloomberg report, Paul Weiss stated, “Paul Weiss was engaged by Leon Black, then the CEO of the firm’s long-time client Apollo, to resolve a series of fee disputes with Jeffrey Epstein that lasted several years.”
“The firm was against Epstein, and at no time did Paul Weiss or Brad Karp ever represent him,” the firm clarified.
The new chairman of the firm, Barshay, noted in a statement on Wednesday that Karp made “significant contributions” during his tenure.
“As Chairman of the firm, he transformed Paul, Weiss in an unparalleled manner to the immense benefit of our clients,” Barshay remarked.
“We are thankful to him for his exceptional commitment and service throughout his many years as Chairman.”
Karp signed off last March on a contentious agreement to deliver $40 million worth of legal services, at no cost, for causes championed by President Donald Trump. In turn, the president rescinded an earlier executive order targeting the firm.
