Brad Karp Resigns as Paul Weiss Chairman Over Epstein Ties

Brad Karp, the longtime chairman of the prominent New York law firm Paul Weiss, resigned from his leadership role on Wednesday amid scrutiny over his communications with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Scott Barshay, a partner who previously led the firm's corporate department, will assume the position immediately.

In a statement released by the firm, Karp described his 18-year tenure as "the honor of my professional life" but said recent reporting had created a distraction that was not in the firm's best interests. He did not respond to requests for additional comment. The firm confirmed that Karp regrets his interactions with Epstein and will remain at Paul Weiss as a partner, focusing on client service.

The resignation follows the release of more than three million pages of Epstein-related documents by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 30. The files, which include emails from 2019 and earlier, reveal a series of personal and professional exchanges between Karp and Epstein. According to the documents, Karp attended dinners with Epstein and sought his assistance in arranging opportunities for his son related to Woody Allen film productions, including...