Paul, Weiss Finally Catches a Break with Media, Scott Barshay Developing Leadership Skills

 That last line of the April 5th The Wall Street Journal article about Paul, Weiss reads:

"The firm is making more money than it ever has"

And that's likely the exact message new chair Scott Barshay wants to transmit, both internally and to all external constituencies. The culture shift he has rapidly established is about financial performance.

Barshay keeps reinforcing that meme straight-off-the-shoulder. Without apology. Recall that The New York Times journalist David Enrich castigated Big Law's growing one-dimensional focus on Profits Per Equity Partner in his 2022 book "Servants of the Damned." Such a shame, was the takeaway, that the once-noble profession has mutated into a kind of ATM for money-hungry partners.  

Since the money issue is nothing new, this should be obvious: Paul, Weiss finally has caught a break in the media through this article. For about a year it has been hammered in legacy media as well as social and professional networks.  

Overall, the article is positive. And it has reach. Reddit has already picked it up.

So, maybe in terms of reputational rehab, Paul, Weiss is moving the needle.  

For instance, it's mentioned that stick-to-the-knitting Barshay is taking the time to visit all the law firm's offices. That could mean he is recognizing the need for leadership skills and is developing them. His signature is for a no-nonsense perfectionist focus on work. He doesn't suffer fools gladly. That got him far as a hand-on lawyer. But, it has been his ability to guide a firm in crisis that has been the question. If he can't achieve that there could be partner and client flight. 

More positives. In addition, there isn't a rehash of the details of former chair Brad Karp's association with Jeffrey Epstein. Actually there's some redemption for Karp in that it made explicit that Barshay was a power presence in the decision to cut a deal with the Trump administration to lift the Executive Order. It also notes that Barshay, unlike Karp, is a Republican. An easy read-in: Karp and the other progressive partners might have been pushed by Barshay to negotiate, not file a lawsuit. 

As we all know all too well, in boarding a private jet and being the front man on that March 2025 White House pro-bono deal, Karp wound up absorbing the heat. Criticism was severe and few bought Karp's justification that had the deal not been done quickly the firm could have gone out of business. The guy was badly wounded even before disclosures from the Epstein files. Since stepping down Karp has been low-profile. This article helps reset the narrative and in the right direction. Now Karp can start building his post-chairmanship story.

If Barshay continues making progress on the leadership learning curve he will be able to cement power. Clearly, in this new era for Paul, Weiss he is positioned as the sun god. All ambitious eyes turn toward him. That should include Karp's. His comeback includes aligning with Barshay. Who knows, Barshay could develop into a great leader for the current ethos of Big Law. 

In coaching I guide transitions. 

Earning a Good Living in 2026 Involves Mental Combat. The enemy is usually your own thinking.

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