The head of the prominent law firm Paul Weiss stepped down just hours after expressing regret over seeking assistance from Jeffrey Epstein to secure a job for his son with Woody Allen.
Brad Karp announced his resignation on Wednesday, following the Department of Justice’s recent revelations about his connections to Epstein, which were disclosed last Friday.
“Leading Paul, Weiss for the past 18 years has been the honor of my professional life,” Karp stated. “The current media attention has become a distraction that doesn’t serve the firm’s best interests.”
While the firm did not specify the reasons behind Karp’s resignation, they confirmed that partner Scott Barshay will assume the role of chairman.
Karp’s entire 40-year legal career was spent at Paul Weiss, where he had been serving as chairman since 2008.
Although stepping down from his leadership role, Karp will continue dedicating his efforts to client services within the firm.
Karp worked for private equity investor Leon Black for several years and negotiated a series of ‘fee disputes’ between Black and the pedophile.
The latest file drop from the Department of Justice featured dozens of emails between Karp and Epstein, including the lawyer asking Epstein for help getting his Cornell-graduate son an unpaid job working for Hollywood’s rich and famous.
Brad Karp (pictured) stepped down Wednesday following the revelations of his ties to Epstein’s in a Department of Justice release this past Friday
The chairman of major law firm Paul, Weiss resigned hours after saying he regretted asking Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) to help get his son a job working for Woody Allen
In June 2016, Karp pitched his son, David, to aid Woody Allen with an ‘upcoming film project.’ He wrote in the email: ‘He certainly doesn’t need to be paid and he’s a really good, talented kid.’
‘I will ask, of course,’ Epstein responded.
The powerful lawyer was invited to multiple dinners at Epstein’s New York City mansion and gushed about how he had such a great time that ‘I’ll never forget.’
In a statement obtained by the New York Times, Paul Weiss issued an apology on Karp’s behalf.
‘Mr Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had a small number of social interactions by email, all of which he regrets,’ it read.
Epstein texted Woody Allen about David in August 2016, according to the files.
‘Re David he’s 22 and worked on Scorsese production of Vinyl,’ he wrote. ‘He will do anything and does not need to get paid.’
Allen appeared to ignore several texts before finally responding with the number for his assistant, whom David met with later that month.
Epstein texted Woody Allen about David in August 2016, according to the files
David emailed Epstein after the meeting, thanking him profusely for setting it up.
‘She’s going to put me in contact with the assistant directors so I can function as an additional production assistant on days with big shoots,’ he said.
‘Thank you again for setting this up, it means a lot to me that you’ve taken such an interest in helping my film career.’
Earlier that year, David, who was 22 at the time, sent Epstein 20 questions that he had for the director in hopes of meeting him.
‘This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I can’t thank you enough for arranging this meeting,’ he wrote.
According to the Cornell Sun, David co-founded a film and production company in 2018 and now works as creative director.
Epstein’s assistant also arranged for David and Karp’s family to attend multiple screenings of Allen’s films between 2014 and 2018.
David exchanged emails with Epstein’s assistant before one of the screenings.
The firm gave no concrete reason for Karp’s departure but said partner Scott Barshay will take over for him as chairman going forward
Former CEO of Apollo Global Management Leon Black was represented by Karp and his firm for years
‘So excited for the screening,’ he wrote. ‘My girlfriend is out of town, but I will be there. Thank you so much!’
Karp attended a dinner with Allen and Epstein in 2015 and sent the disgraced financier an email of gratitude at its conclusion.
The lawyer thanked the predator for ‘an evening I’ll never forget.’
‘It was truly “once in a lifetime” in every way, though I hope to be invited again,’ said Karp per Bloomberg Law. ‘You are an extraordinary host — and your home…!!!’
‘You are always welcome,’ Epstein replied. ‘There are many, many nights of unique talents. You will be invited often.’
In response, Karp called the sex offender ‘amazing.’
But most of the files that mentioned Karp referred to phone calls, meetings and business dealings involving Black and Paul Weiss.
‘Paul Weiss was retained by Leon Black, then the CEO of the firm’s longtime client Apollo, to negotiate a series of fee disputes with Jeffrey Epstein that spanned several years,’ the firm said in a statement.
Karp with his wife, Roberta. Karp’s family was invited to multiple Woody Allen screenings
‘The firm was adverse to Epstein and at no point did Paul Weiss or Brad Karp ever represent him.’
Black paid Epstein almost $160 million between 2012 and 2017.
In July 2015, Karp conferred with Epstein on how to deal with one of Black’s mistresses.
The woman was allegedly demanding money from the investor and former CEO of Apollo Global Management.
Epstein suggested Black surveil the mistress. In another email, he questioned her visa status.
‘Is it possible for your contacts to 1 get her current visa status? 2. Is there a way for us to file something that would revoke a tourist visa?’ wrote Epstein.
‘Both good ideas; will work on this,’ Karp responded.
Karp’s law firm faced backlash last year after Paul Weiss offered President Trump $40 million in free legal services to help stave off executive orders accusing them of ‘illegal DEI practices.’
Just three months before his arrest, Epstein orchestrated the admission of Karp into the Augusta National Golf Club with the help of former White House strategist Steve Bannon, reported the Financial Times.
The club is one of the most elite in the country.
‘Need to work magic to get Brad Karp admitted to Augusta Golf Club,’ Epstein texted Bannon.
It’s unclear whether those plans ever came to fruition since Epstein was arrested on child sex trafficking charges in July 2019.
He died by suicide in his New York City jail cell the next month.
Karp cancelled a speaking event at the Wall Street Journal’s Invest Live in Palm Beach following the revelations from the files.
