Paul Weiss, a prestigious New York law firm known for its historic commitment to social justice and progressive causes, has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, culminating in a controversial accommodation with the administration of former President Donald Trump. The firm’s shift from a leader in litigation against government policies to one cooperating with the White House has drawn widespread attention and internal dissent.

For decades, Paul Weiss cultivated a reputation as a defender of civil rights and an advocate for marginalized communities. Under the leadership of Brad Karp, who became chairman in 2008, the firm took on high-profile cases opposing the first Trump administration’s immigration policies, including efforts to reunite families separated at the border. Karp, described by colleagues as a people pleaser with deep social values, championed the firm’s pro bono and activist work. The firm also played a role in landmark civil rights cases and worked with organizations such as the A.C.L.U. on critical litigation around LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive freedoms.

However, beginning in the mid-2010s, Paul Weiss started to pivot toward corporate law, driven by the lucrative opportunities presented by private equity and mergers and acquisitions. This strategic reorientation was spearheaded by Karp and Scott Barshay, a partner hired from another major law firm to expand Paul Weiss’s corporate practice. Barshay, a driven dealmaker focused on increasing the firm’s profitability, reportedly viewed some social justice-oriented litigation as detrimental to client relations. Tensions surfaced internally, particularly highlighted by treatment of Lex Korberg, Paul Weiss’s first openly transgender partner and a prominent litigator on social justice cases. Sources said Barshay objected to Korberg’s involvement with clients after their transition, citing concerns about client discomfort. In 2023, the firm reached a confidential $3.5 million settlement with Korberg in response to these disputes. Paul Weiss has denied any discrimination, stating that Barshay was supportive of Korberg’s work.

This internal cultural shift coincided with an increasingly fraught relationship with the Trump administration during the latter’s second term. In March 2025, the administration issued an executive order targeting Paul Weiss, imposing severe sanctions that jeopardized the firm’s federal contracts, security clearances, and access to federal agencies. Unlike other law firms that challenged such orders in court and quickly obtained injunctions, Paul Weiss’s leadership opted to negotiate a settlement, agreeing to perform nearly $1 billion in free legal work supporting causes favorable to Trump’s administration. The deal was announced publicly by Trump, who touted the firm's compliance as a win, though the firm stated it maintained its independence and commitment to core legal principles.

The decision to capitulate ignited internal and external backlash. More than 100 former partners and associates condemned the move as a surrender undermining the rule of law and the firm’s longstanding values. Letters from descendants of the firm’s founding figures criticized the abandonment of foundational commitments to justice. Internally, associates expressed concern about the firm’s future direction and the departure of several prominent litigators ensued, including partners who left to form new firms. The firm also restricted pro bono actions that might antagonize the administration, turning down opportunities to represent clients challenging government policies such as abortion restrictions. Furthermore, Paul Weiss took down or altered portions of its website highlighting its work against hate groups and political violence, reflecting caution toward provoking the White House.

Compounding the firm’s turmoil, in early 2025, disclosures related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation implicated Karp in offering legal advice to Epstein beyond his official corporate ties, leading to questions about his leadership. Subsequently, Karp stepped down as chairman and was succeeded by Barshay. Despite ongoing debates over the firm’s identity and values, Paul Weiss’s corporate practice and profitability have continued to flourish.

The combined pressures of maintaining financial success in a competitive legal market while adhering to an activist legacy have created profound challenges for Paul Weiss. Its trajectory illustrates the complex balancing act facing institutions with deep historical commitments to social justice navigating shifting political landscapes and economic realities.