The chairman of one of America's most prestigious law firms has been named in the latest tranche of documents released by the US Department of Justice concerning the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Brad Karp, who has led the elite firm Paul Weiss since 2008, appears in email correspondence that reveals personal requests made to the convicted sex offender.
Elite Law Firm Leader's Epstein Connections
Paul Weiss stands as one of the world's largest and most profitable legal practices, generating annual revenues of $2.6 billion. Karp, recognised as one of the United States' foremost litigators and corporate advisers, features prominently in the documents published last Friday by federal authorities.
Personal Favours and Professional Discussions
The correspondence reveals multiple interactions between Karp and Epstein, with the lawyer using his official work email address. In one particularly revealing exchange from July 2016, Karp asks Epstein for assistance securing his son a position on a Woody Allen film production.
"Can I raise a personal issue with you concerning my son David?... He would love to work, in any capacity, with Woody on his upcoming film project, if that's a possibility. He certainly doesn't need to be paid and he's a really good, talented kid," Karp wrote in the email.
This request followed an earlier message from July 2015 in which Karp thanked Epstein for what he described as a "once in a lifetime" evening, expressing hope for future invitations to Epstein's residence. Epstein responded warmly, assuring Karp he would "be invited often" to what he characterised as "many many nights of unique talents."
Visa Inquiry and Legal Representation
Further correspondence shows Epstein asking Karp in July 2015 about potentially revoking an unnamed woman's tourist visa, to which Karp responded "Both good ideas; will work on this." These communications occurred after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea to state charges of soliciting prostitution with a minor and his subsequent year-long prison sentence.
Separate email chains reveal Epstein's attempts to secure Karp membership at The Augusta National Golf Club, America's most exclusive golf institution, with assistance from former White House strategist Steve Bannon. Karp did not participate directly in this particular exchange.
The Paul Weiss chairman had previously appeared in earlier Epstein document releases due to his representation of Leon Black, co-founder of Apollo Global Management. A firm spokesperson clarified that "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 spokesperson emphasised that "at no point did Paul Weiss or Brad Karp ever represent him."
Previous Controversy Surrounding Trump Deal
Karp found himself at the centre of significant controversy fourteen months prior to these revelations when Paul Weiss agreed to provide $40 million in complimentary legal services to the White House following President Trump's executive orders targeting law firms. Unlike other legal practices that reached agreements with the Trump Administration, Karp issued a statement on behalf of Paul Weiss expressing gratification that the President had withdrawn the relevant executive order.
The chairman faced substantial backlash for this arrangement, including public protests and heckling incidents in November 2025. His statement at the time indicated the firm looked forward to "an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his administration," a position that drew criticism from various quarters within the legal community and beyond.
The emergence of these Epstein-related emails adds another layer of scrutiny to one of America's most powerful legal figures, raising questions about professional boundaries and personal associations within elite circles.
