Thursday, February 5, 2026-Brad Karp, the longtime chairman of the elite U.S. law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, has stepped down from his leadership role after newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails sparked intense scrutiny and backlash.
Karp has led the firm as chairman since 2008 and was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in corporate law. The decision came after documents made public by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed years of email exchanges between Karp and Epstein, including social interactions and professional correspondence that critics say raised serious ethical questions.
Paul Weiss quickly appointed Scott Barshay, head of the firm’s corporate department, as the new chairman, signaling a rapid leadership transition to stabilize the firm’s reputation. In a statement, Karp acknowledged that the recent reporting had become a distraction that was “not in the best interests of the firm” and cited that as a key reason for relinquishing his top post.
Although Paul Weiss maintains that it never formally represented Epstein, the disclosure of personal and professional interactions — such as dinners and emails where Karp sought Epstein’s assistance on personal matters — intensified pressure on firm leadership.
Karp will remain at Paul Weiss as a partner focused on client service, but his resignation marks a significant moment in the ongoing fallout from the broader Epstein files release, which has already triggered public apologies and leadership changes across multiple industries.
The episode highlights how exposure of previously private associations with powerful but controversial figures can swiftly reshape careers and institutional leadership, especially for a firm known for advising major global corporations and high-profile clients.
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