In a polished Manhattan office, Brad Karp—chairman of powerhouse law firm Paul Weiss—once emailed Jeffrey Epstein with glowing thanks: “I can’t thank you enough for including me in an evening I’ll never forget… You are an extraordinary host—and your home…!!!” He even asked the disgraced financier for a favor: help landing his son a job on a Woody Allen film.
Now, newly surfaced emails from the 2026 Epstein files expose those cozy social ties, including group dinners and personal requests, all while Karp represented Epstein associate Leon Black. Karp says he deeply regrets the interactions, insisting he never witnessed misconduct.
The revelations cast a stark shadow over one of Wall Street’s most influential lawyers—raising uneasy questions about how deeply Epstein’s network reached into elite circles. What else might those emails reveal?
In a polished Manhattan office, Brad Karp—chairman of powerhouse law firm Paul, Weiss—once emailed Jeffrey Epstein with glowing thanks: “I can’t thank you enough for including me in an evening I’ll never forget… You are an extraordinary host—and your home…!!!” He even asked the disgraced financier for a favor: help landing his son a job on a Woody Allen film.
Newly surfaced emails from the 2026 Epstein files expose those cozy social ties, including group dinners and personal requests, all while Karp represented Epstein associate Leon Black. Karp says he deeply regrets the interactions, insisting he never witnessed misconduct.
The revelations cast a stark shadow over one of Wall Street’s most influential lawyers—raising uneasy questions about how deeply Epstein’s network reached into elite circles. What else might those emails reveal?
The documents, part of millions released by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, detail a yearslong correspondence between Karp and Epstein, beginning as early as 2013 and continuing until at least March 2019—just months before Epstein’s arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges. Karp met Epstein primarily through his representation of Leon Black, the Apollo Global Management co-founder and a longtime Paul Weiss client. Black had a contentious fee dispute with Epstein, which brought the two men into contact professionally.
Yet the emails show the relationship quickly turned social. In July 2015, following a dinner at Epstein’s Upper East Side mansion—where Karp met filmmaker Woody Allen—Karp wrote effusively: “It was truly ‘once in a lifetime’ in every way, though I hope to be invited again. You are an extraordinary host—and your home…!!!” Epstein replied warmly: “You are always welcome… There are many many nights of unique talents. You will be invited often.” Karp responded, calling Epstein “amazing.”
By 2016, Karp leveraged the connection for personal gain. He emailed Epstein requesting help for his son, David Karp (then a Cornell undergraduate and aspiring filmmaker), to work on Allen’s upcoming film Wonder Wheel. “He would love to work, in any capacity, with Woody… He certainly doesn’t need to be paid and he’s a really good, talented kid,” Karp wrote. The correspondence also included discussions of Allen movie screenings and other favors, such as potential assistance with Augusta National Golf Club membership.
Paul Weiss issued a statement clarifying that Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had limited social email interactions, all of which he now regrets. The firm emphasized that neither Karp nor Paul Weiss ever represented Epstein himself, and Karp never witnessed or engaged in any misconduct. “Mr. Karp met Epstein through his work representing a significant firm client,” the statement read.
Still, the emails paint a picture of casual familiarity that extends beyond business. They discuss topics ranging from sex misconduct allegations against prominent men in late 2017 to sharing documents related to stock sales and even gossip about Big Law leadership. In one instance, Karp reviewed or edited a defense of Epstein’s controversial 2008 Florida plea deal.
These details emerge amid broader scrutiny of Epstein’s web of influential contacts, from billionaires to politicians. The 2026 release—comprising over three million pages, videos, and images—has reignited debate about how Epstein cultivated access among the elite, often through philanthropy, introductions, and favors. For Karp, a figure who has guided Paul Weiss through high-stakes deals and political turbulence, the association now threatens reputational damage. He even canceled a scheduled speaking event on leadership shortly after the files surfaced.
The revelations underscore a persistent theme: Epstein’s ability to embed himself in powerful circles long after his 2008 conviction. While Karp insists the ties were incidental and regrettable, the emails highlight how personal requests and lavish praise blurred lines between professional necessity and social opportunism.
Victims of Epstein’s crimes continue seeking accountability, and the public grapples with what these connections imply about elite networks. The files offer no smoking gun of wrongdoing by Karp, but they serve as a reminder that Epstein’s influence lingered in unexpected places—and that even after his death, his secrets keep surfacing, forcing the powerful to confront uncomfortable associations.
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