Paul, Weiss Can't Get a Break: Rumored "Stealth Layoffs" in Litigation and Why We Weep

 Paul, Weiss' reputational troubles can be dated back to 2021.

That's when two determined investigative journalists Max Frumes and Sujeet Indap bulldozed beyond the law firm's formal warnings about "defamation." They published expose "The Caesar's Palace Coup." 

The primary focus was the firm's client Apollo and its strategies to protect its investment in the casino. The book, which also did ink plenty about Paul, Weiss, was a best-seller. Also hot was the media detailing how that law firm had been a busy bee in those defamation threats, including penning one for the publisher. Journalists, not a well-paid group, stick with journalists. When journalist David Enrich published expose on Big Law per se "Servants of the Damned" he devoted five juicy pages to that attempted defamation stuff. That was in 2022.

All that buzz buzzed. In addition, it broke loose internal rants about how Apollo as a major Paul, Weiss client had been hardening the firm's culture.

Nothing since was the same with the media or with the growing influence of social media and professional anonymous networks like Reddit.

The targeted Paul, Weiss took the brunt of criticism about cutting a deal with the Trump administration to lift an Executive Order in 2025. Symbol of that infamous negotiation was chair Brad Karp. He was the spear carrier who took a private jet to the Oval Office and personally met with Donald Trump.

Then came the vomiting up of all those emails between Karp and convicted pedo Jeffrey Epstein.

Of course, there was partner flight.

In an attempt to right the ship there was an internal coup. Transactional rainmaker Scott Barshay usurped the role from Karp. Obvious was that the power in the firm has shifted from litigation to corporate. A Reddit post puts it this way:

"Standard evolution of law firm, generally. Any law firm that has enough corporate partners in it end up looking down at litigation because they don't bring in the same level of money. Eventually they punt the litigation partners / section and effectively get rid of the department in favor of just the higher corporate and MnA work." 

Now this: Reports of stealth layoffs on Reddit and by Abovethelaw in litigation. Essentially a "stealth layoff" is an economically driven decision to cut manpower. But it's positioned and packaged as done for individual performance reasons. Everyone sees through that ruse and such terminations can damage the firm's brand.

One comment on Reddit reads:

"Laid off PW assoc here--can confirm.  They're doing it as bogus performance-based sendoffs - bogus because most affected folks are getting negative feedback in the annual review that none of the individual teams are corroborating.  And it's happened to many of us"

Why this story can also have legs? 

Well, pop culture embraced the trial lawyer. Karp himself admitted he grew up absorbing "Perry Mason." "LA Law," "Boston Law" and "The Good Wife" are burned into the collective memory bank. "TV Court Trials" is a separate category on streamer Tubi. Many of the novels by lawyers such as Scott Turow ("Presume Innocent") were made into hit films. Filing a lawsuit is a universal fantasy among us ordinary folk.  

So, here Paul, Weiss is: Can a law firm which was once known as a litigation powerhouse maintain a goodwill branding with a diminished litigation practice? Won't it be treated as an entity that has lost its soul?

In this era of theatrical PR there could be a mock funeral, with a coffin featured, in front of the firm's Mid-Manhattan headquarters. We can weep for what was. The firm that Karp joined as a lifer no longer exists. As a long-term Paul, Weiss watcher, I hope that he finds his way to another path. We used to really like the guy.

In coaching, I hammer the importance of being likable. 

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

Complimentary consultation. No Pressure. Solid Guidance. Contact Jane Genova janegenova374@gmail.com.


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