The Scott Barshay Era at Paul, Weiss: London Office Hit Again

 It's in a relatively small orbit that global private capital star lawyers travel. 

This time two navigated in the London galaxy from Paul, Weiss to Clifford Chance. This is the second time Paul, Weiss' London operation recently had been poached. All that is happening on Scott Barshay's watch. 

As many know, Barshay has been credited with helping make that sphere of influence a powerhouse. Although in existence since 2001, the London location was essentially small change.

UK's Nonbillable reports:

"Taner Hassan, most recently head of European leveraged finance at Paul Weiss, will join in London. Silvia Menendez, who left Clifford Chance as a senior associate in 2024 before becoming a partner at Paul Weiss, will return to the firm as a partner, working across London and Madrid."

Meanwhile, last April, the head of Paul, Weiss' European M&A Will Aitken-Davies lateraled to Kirkland & Ellis' London Office. His stay at Paul, Weiss was short. It was only in 2023 that he come there from Linklaters.

These departures register a significant negative metric for the Barshay era.

Barshay's agenda - controversial, of course - was to overhaul what has been a litigation powerhouse into a transactional one. Although there had been high-profile departures of litigation stars their exits could almost be evaluated as wins for Barshay's focus. However, the exits from the London office, which has been a high profit corporate center, sounds an alarm. Is Barshay losing traction in being able to establish and grow a gobal corporate law firm?

In contrast, the leader he replaced at Paul, Weiss - Brad Karp - has navigated to where he needs to be eight months after he had stepped down from the chair role.

Overall, Karp has effectively reset his identity back to being a brilliant lawyer. Going going almost gone is the branding of being a kind of celebrity CEO. But, an aura remains. That's been from his nine-figure book of business, derived from representing Apollo, Citi and the NFL.

In coaching, I hammer that business happens in the now. The past isn't prologue. The future, until it becomes the present, is just someone's fantasy.

The issue intensifies: Can Barshay lead? We know that he can mange. 

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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