Paul, Weiss: Signal Flashing Positive

A key metric for assessing where a law firm is and where it seems to be heading is its success in recruiting star lawyers. 

They, not the brandname of the firm, are what brings in business. And with the talent war increasing in intensity and money spent, that's what the media, clients and members of the legal sector monitor. 

Way back in 2021 in a Bloomberg Law interview partner/rainmaker Brad Karp explained that dynamic. Especially how critical it was to the business of practicing law. Firms without the financial resources to do that kind of high-stakes poaching could collapse. That's because they wouldn't be able to grow. 

Well, this signal of a law firm's overall health is flashing positive for Paul, Weiss right now. At least in its corporate department for capital markets. Law.com reports: 

"Peter Byrne [is] joining from Cooley as partner, and Tristan Van Deventer, joining as a partner from Ropes & Gray ... both based in New York ..."

This ability to bring in the talent - and often along with that their book of business - might siphon off some of the sustained reputational fallout. 

That kicked in when Paul, Weiss began transitioning from a progressive litigation firm to a hard-nosed corporate one. To many the emerging ethos seemed a shift from law as a public-serving institution to what might be an ATM machine for Profits-Per-Equity-Partner. 

Media such as BusinessInsider had a ball with that. With the narrative shaped, other popular media such as Vanity Fair ran with it. David Enrich published a book on the transformation - "Servants of the Damned." 

The negative force field hardened into a public relations catastrophe after the dealmaking with the Trump administration, disclosures from the Epstein files, internal turmoil and flight of litigation heavyweights. On August 2, 2026 was a flashpoint: Influential The New York Times dished a lot of dirt, old and new (such as the forced exit of a trans).

If Paul, Weiss continues poaching this positive signal flashing could distract the usual suspects from piling on. Isn't that the real story. That is, what it takes to win now. And it will be more so if large law firms such as Paul, Weiss seek investment from private equity to fund the talent war as well as implementing AI.

In coaching I motivate clients in reputational crises to go for wins. This is capitalism. Winners are forgiven. Eventually much is forgotten.

Careers. Forget all that. It’s about earning a good living, no matter what.

Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova, StreetSmart Coaching (janegenova374@gmail.com)


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