No Longer Unthinkable: The Public Face, Heart, and Number-One Rainmaker for Paul Weiss Brad Karp Could Move On To A Next

 

It was palpable. In the 28 months I have been following the head of Paul Weiss (a top 10 elite law firm) Brad Karp what was coming through was this: This man is getting tired.

Oh, it was subtle. He continued responding in real time with detailed responses when I sent an email at midnight Pacific time but 3 AM New York Time. The passion was a bit depleted, though. It was as if his internal wiring was flicking on a lower wattage.

Now, Casey Sullivan is reporting in Insider that Karp, a legend at Paul Weiss, might retire when his contract expires in May 2023. He is 63 years old. The firm’s retirement age for that position is 67.

Right now, Karp has indicated that the decision is really in the hands of the partners. And the partners might put the squeeze on Karp to re-up.

The reality of a Karp departure is this: That could be a severe challenge for the firm.

To the world Karp is the face of Paul Weiss.

He is a key rainmaker (bringing about 20 new accounts annually).

In the dogfight ethos of Big Law he is the heart. With grace, charm, and caring, he delivers the message that a law firm is about people.

The media outlets know him well and he can easily land placements which could have cost those not so embedded the high fees charged by public relations agencies.

He has presence in the corridors of power, be they Washington DC or what makes New York City New York City. Yes, he has even been a registered lobbyist.

But those such as myself who have treasured professional relationships with Karp hope that he does a Next. That is, move on to a position with fewer moving parts. Or at least different ones. Operating a large law firm is formidable for any leader. It’s more so for one such as Karp who treasures the institution. He has a very old-fashioned love of what Paul Weiss is – and the future possibilities he can unleash in it.

Respected, well-connected, socially astute, and with a wide-ranging intelligence he could become the US Ambassador to X, the successor to the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, a DC player, or a professor at a top law school.

When he was in college he did toy with the idea of running for Congress. Should he do that I would volunteer my ghostwriting/speechwriting skills. Sure, that could require as much commitment as heading a law firm. But it would be a new game. That’s exciting. The internal wiring would return to full wattage.

A book I recommend to Karp and the partners at Paul Weiss is “Necessary Endings” by executive coach Henry Cloud. It zeroes on the pain of letting go of the known. Obviously, the need to change is resonating currently. Although the book had been first published in January 2011, it continues to rank high on Amazon – 34,119.

If Karp wants to sort out, available to him are unlimited complimentary intuitive coaching sessions (janegenova374@gmail.com or text at 203-4687-8579).