Chairman of major US law firm steps down after Epstein files release

Brad Karp, the chairman of prestigious US law firm Paul Weiss, has stepped down after emails released in the latest tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files revealed the lawyer's apparent communications with the late convicted sex offender.

The documents included dozens of email exchanges seemingly between Karp and Epstein, including correspondence that reportedly shows Karp discussing Epstein's pre-existing plea deal on sex trafficking charges.

Appearing in the documents does not imply any wrongdoing, and Paul Weiss has previously said that Karp "never witnessed or participated in any misconduct".

Announcing his resignation in a company statement on Wednesday, Karp said: "Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm."

The statement did not mention the Epstein files, and Karp has not commented since. The BBC has contacted Paul Weiss for further comment.

Scott Barshay, chair of the firm's corporate practice, has been appointed chairman.

"I step into this role with great confidence in Paul Weiss' continued success," he said in the Paul Weiss statement, adding that Karp had made "immense contributions" over his four decades at the company.

Karp, who was appointed chairman in 2008, will remain at the firm and "continue to focus his full-time attention to client service," the firm itself said in the same statement.

The latest batch of millions of files relating to Epstein released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) included numerous email exchanges between Karp and Epstein.

Correspondence in 2016 appears to show Karp asking Epstein whether he could help his son secure a role on a Woody Allen film production.

The documents also appear to show Karp appearing to discuss Epstein's pre-existing plea deal.

In an email sent in March 2019, four months before Epstein's arrest, a sender named as Brad Karp said: "The draft motion is in great shape." An analysis of the correspondence by Bloomberg said this discussion related to Epstein's efforts to protect the 2008 deal he had struck with prosecutors.

Paul Weiss has previously said that it never represented Epstein. Another statement from the company earlier in the week said that while Karp had known Epstein, "Mr Karp never witnessed or participated in any misconduct". The statement added that: "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."

Epstein was arrested in July 2019 and found dead in his New York jail cell in August of that year awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Karp's resignation comes less than a year after he agreed a deal with US President Donald Trump in which Paul Weiss would provide $40m (£29m) in free legal services for White House initiatives in return for the US president rescinding an executive order against the firm. Other firms also reached similar agreements with the Trump administration.

The lawyer, who has also been a fundraiser for the Democratic Party, is one of many rich and powerful figures whose links to Epstein have been detailed in the files released by the DOJ from its investigation into the disgraced financier.