Paul Weiss Chair Brad Karp to Step Down After Epstein Links | FT
- Brad Karp, chair of the law firm Paul Weiss, is stepping down and will be replaced by Scott Barshay, a top deals lawyer.
- The Thursday, February 5, 2026, announcement follows a report earlier this week detailing communications between Karp and Epstein.
- The revelations stem from recently released files related to Epstein, who was arrested on federal child sex trafficking charges in 2019.
Paul Weiss Chair Brad Karp to Step Down After Epstein Ties Revealed
Brad Karp, chair of the law firm Paul Weiss, is stepping down and will be replaced by Scott Barshay, a top deals lawyer. The move comes after recent revelations concerning Karp’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The , announcement follows a report earlier this week detailing communications between Karp and Epstein. The Financial Times reported that Karp told Epstein he was “amazing” after Epstein arranged a dinner with Woody Allen.
The revelations stem from recently released files related to Epstein, who was arrested on federal child sex trafficking charges in 2019. Just three months before his arrest, Epstein was reportedly focused on securing a meeting with Karp, according to a post on Facebook.
Karp’s communications with Epstein have drawn scrutiny, with one exchange highlighted in reports showing Karp’s effusive praise following a dinner arranged by Epstein. According to a post on Reddit, the first major article detailing Karp’s comments with an appropriate headline was published three days ago, on .
The situation involving Karp is part of a broader pattern of connections between Epstein and prominent figures in business and law, as highlighted by recent disclosures. The New York Times reported that documents referencing executives like Elon Musk, Howard Lutnick, and Bill Gates underscore the extensive network of high-profile individuals linked to Epstein.
Further complicating the matter, reports indicate that Karp’s role in representing Apollo’s Leon Black also brought scrutiny to his interactions with Epstein. According to documents from ALM, Karp described himself as “naive” in reflecting on his communications with Epstein.
Apollo chief Marc Rowan also consulted with Epstein, according to reports from the Financial Times. These disclosures have prompted questions about the extent to which prominent figures were aware of Epstein’s activities and the nature of their relationships with him.
Paul Weiss did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Karp’s departure.