Karen Dunn and Other Top Lawyers Depart Paul Weiss to Start Firm

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: New York Times

May 23, 2025 Updated 8:41 p.m. ET


Four top partners at Paul Weiss announced late Friday that they were leaving the law firm, a major blow to the firm in the wake of its decision to cut a deal with President Trump to head off an executive order that would have restricted its business. The partners — Karen Dunn, Bill Isaacson, Jeannie Rhee and Jessica Phillips — said they would form their own law firm.

Ms. Dunn is a prominent Democratic lawyer, having overseen debate preparation for former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during their presidential campaigns. She has also been a key partner at Paul Weiss, representing Alphabet, Apple, Uber and Amazon.

Ms. Rhee served as a top prosecutor in Robert S. Mueller III’s special counsel investigation and oversaw the firm’s Washington office. Mr. Isaacson is considered one of the country’s top antitrust lawyers. Ms. Phillips clerked for Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. of the Supreme Court. “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,” the lawyers said in an email to the firm late Friday afternoon.

Two other prominent lawyers at Paul Weiss — Jeh Johnson, a former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Steven Banks, the leader of the firm’s pro bono practice — also announced recently that they were departing. Since the firm’s chairman, Brad Karp, reached the deal with Mr. Trump in March, Paul Weiss has been widely criticized by its own associates, lawyers at other firms and Democrats for capitulating to the president. After Paul Weiss, eight other firms made similar deals.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/business/karen-dunn-paul-weiss-partners.html

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[JohnSJ]

1. Excellent. We need more lawyers to stand for the Constitution, instead of

those cowards who bent their knee to the sociopath. They are a disgrace to the legal profession.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I had no idea what happened to Jeh Johnson

as he disappeared out of the news cycle. Now I know!

[erronis]

3. Perhaps Paul Weiss isn't as sharp as they pretended to be. Client rates will be dropping.........

Hard to charge top $$$ when you're a 2nd tier law firm.

[unblock]

4. Unfortunately, a lot of openly magat businesses seem to do fine.

The business they lose by pissing of lefties is more or less made up with more magats. In this case, some clients may assume they get some advantage for having a "connection" with the White House, I.e., that they bought better results for their clients.

[appmanga]

7. Don't think these former partners walked away...

...with empty saddlebags. There will be clients coming along with them for sure.

[LisaM]

8. They will also be able to attract top talent.

Attorneys from some of the other firms that struck deals will be looking for a new home. (They'll probably also take a lot of talented staff).

[wolfie001]

5. Bail the fuck out before the mid-terms

[Martin68]

6. Couldn't happen to a nicer law firm...

[tulipsandroses]

9. Someone aptly mentioned, why would you hire a firm to defend you that gave in to a bully?

Dumb move. Kudos to Ms. Dunn and others.