Harvard Law Faces Backlash Over Brad Karp Appointment Amid Epstein Ties

Brad Karp's latest Harvard Law engagement is drawing student protests over his Epstein-linked past.

Brad Karp, the former chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, is at the center of controversy following his recent involvement with Harvard Law School. Karp stepped down from his law firm post on February 4, 2026, after emails surfaced showing his close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein between 2015 and 2019.

• In July 2015, Karp attended a dinner at Epstein's Manhattan residence and later sent him a glowing note: "I can't thank you enough for including me in an evening I'll never forget. It was truly 'once in a lifetime' in every way, though I hope to be invited again."
• Karp's emails also reveal that in 2016 he requested Epstein's help obtaining a job for his son with a Woody Allen film, and in 2015 discussed potential legal strategies—such as deportation—against a woman causing issues for Epstein's associate Leon Black (The Guardian).

On April 15, 2026, Karp appeared virtually in Professor Annette Gordon-Reed's "Legal Professions" course, where he defended Paul, Weiss's $40 million pro bono legal settlement with the Trump administration in 2025. He told students that the partnership voted unanimously to pursue a settlement to protect the firm's business interests (The Harvard Crimson).

• During the session, a student displayed an image of Epstein in silent protest. Other students, like third-year Jackson S. Faulkner, publicly questioned how Karp's Harvard involvement aligns with the university's values of egalitarianism and respect for all.
• Professor Gordon-Reed clarified that students could ask any questions except those involving Epstein-related firm client matters.

The episode reflects ongoing friction within elite legal circles over the reputational and ethical dimensions of leadership appointments, raising critical questions for law schools and law firms alike.