Four top lawyers at Paul Weiss said Friday they would depart from their roles as partners at the law firm to form their own practice. "We were disappointed not to be able to tell each of you personally and individually the news that we have decided to leave Paul, Weiss to start a new law firm," Bill Isaacson, Jeannie Rhee, Jessica Phillips and Karen Dunn said in an email message to the firm late Friday afternoon, according to theNew York Times. The four are widely respected for their legal ventures, which span from representation of corporations including Alphabet, Apple and Amazon to campaign prep for former Vice President Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Their move comes weeks after Paul, Weiss opted to provide$40 millionin pro bono work on causes backed by the administration and to hire an outside expert to audit its hiring and employment practices. "We are grateful to Bill, Jeannie, Jessica and Karen for their many contributions to the firm. We wish them well in their future endeavors," the firm said in a statement to The Hill. Brad Karp, the chair of Paul Weiss, led the firm in solidifying their agreement with President Trump resulting in a lifted executive order that would have stripped the law firm of its security clearances. Several other law firms targeted by the executive actionsought similar deals,agreeing to the Trump administration's terms in an effort to bypass retaliatory measures. Critics slammed the deal as a "horrible message" being sent both to the legal profession and the public's belief in the justice system. Prominent attorneyMark Zaidsaid at large by Paul, Weiss made a "decision to simply capitulate in fear rather than stand up for the rule of law and the ethical principles that guide lawyers." Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
