The Exploding Influence of Professional Anonymous Networks Such as Reddit

  "Why is Brad Karp / Paul Weiss so revered lately?" Reddit Big Law, October 2024

Professional Anonymous Networks like Reddit, along with Blind, Fishbowl and Glassdoor, are growing dramatically in influence. Unlike establishment media and typical social media, they provide a range of expertise/opinion and genuine caring. Yes, they are a trusted source. 

Responders to this particular Reddit post list the usual reasons why the chair of Paul Weiss has become the prominent player whose influence, power, business savvy and thought leadership dominate Big Law. Those include a focus on changing strategy, attention to trends, an early understanding of the importance of hiring stars in the lateral market, network building, political connectiveness, ability to work the media, good looks and charisma. 

In essense, Karp is a celebrity CEO, much like JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon and Apple's Tim Cook. His persona carries none of the annoying ethos of being the typical argumentative closed-system way-too-verbal lawyer. 

To all that I would add this: Unlike first-generation lawyers, Karp is a third-generation one. His parents had been litigators and his mother's father had been one too. 

Therefore, right out of the gate he got it that focusing one-dimensionally on the nuts and bolts of law is just one aspect of success in the business. And often a narrow one. 

In his early days at Paul Weiss (this guy is a one-firm player) he was able to attract powerful mentors. When he was only 48 years old he was voted in as partner. That was in 2008 and he has been able to retain that position. 

Currently Karp is making aggressive moves in geographical expansion, lateral hiring and how to increase the revenue of the firm. It's the latter which pays for hiring star power in practices such as M&A and PE. In addition, he has intensified his reach into politics through being an early fundraiser for Kamala Harris. The media ran with that story of how law firms were getting into the game. Karp was continually mentioned. 

The Reddit post warns about over-reliance on the Apollo account. But there is also a comment that Karp is nurturing other Wall Street  relationships. Probably he is beating out Bill Clinton in being a master networker.

However, although Karp is revered as a leader there could be issues about the hands-on management style at Paul Weiss. 

I had been on retainer for communications assignments two months and then I pulled the plug. There was no real work to perform. No NDA. No contract. No metrics for performance. The experience to me was destabalizing. At the time I "reported" to former CMO Luke Ferrandino, now at Skadden. He seemed preoccupied with the demands put on him for his own own piece of action, not on how to use my skills to create value. 

Life is hard. Business is even more difficult these days. Get answers – and relief. Jane Genova is a results-driven intuitive coach, tarot reader and content-creator related to careers. Complimentary consultation (please text/phone 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)

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