Paul Weiss president Brad Karp resigns

Brad KarpPresident of a major corporate law firm Paul WeissHe resigned from that post on Wednesday after an email dispute between him and a notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was made public.

“It has been the honor of my professional life to lead Paul, Wes for the past 18 years,” Karp said. statement. “The recent report has created a distraction and focus on me that is not in the best interest of the firm.”

Karp, who was named chairman in 2008, will remain at the firm, where he will “focus his full-time focus on client service,” Paul Weiss said in a statement.

Scott Bershe, who was president of Paul Weiss’ corporate division, has been named president of the firm, effective immediately, according to the firm.

Karp has been at Paul Weiss for more than four decades.

“Mr. Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had brief social interactions with Epstein via email,” the firm said, resigning as chairman two days later, “all of which he regrets.”

The emails were among millions of documents related to Epstein released last week Department of Justice.

Bloomberg reported that an email from Karp asked Epstein to help get Karp’s son a job in a Woody Allen film.

Paul Weiss responded to that Bloomberg article, saying, “Paul Weiss was retained by Leon Black, CEO of the company’s longtime client Apollo, to negotiate a series of fee disputes with Jeffrey Epstein.”

“The firm was hostile to Epstein and was never represented by Paul Weiss or Brad Karp,” the firm said.

Barshe, the firm’s new chairman, said in a statement Wednesday that Karp made “tremendous contributions” during his tenure.

“As president of the firm, he transformed Paul, Wes, in an unprecedented way to the great benefit of our clients,” Barshe said.

“We are grateful to him for his extraordinary dedication and service over the years as president.”

Karp signed a controversial deal last March to provide $40 million worth of legal work, free of charge, to causes supported by the president. Donald Trump. The president, in turn, rescinded an executive order he had previously issued targeting the firm.