Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Commonly known as Paul, Weiss, is an American multinational white-shoe law firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1875, the firm has grown to become one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the United States.
Key Information
- Headquarters: 1285 Sixth Avenue, New York City
- Number of offices: 10
- Number of attorneys: 1,226
- Major practice areas: Litigation and corporate law
- Chairman: Brad S. Karp
- Revenue: US$2.6 billion (2024)
- Profit per equity partner: US$7.5 million (2024)
History
Paul, Weiss traces its roots back to 1875 when Samuel William Weiss and Julius Frank started a general commercial practice in New York. The firm has since undergone several mergers and name changes, eventually becoming Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison in 1950.
Throughout its history, Paul, Weiss has been known for its progressive stance on diversity and inclusion:
- In 1946, it became the first major New York law firm to have a female partner, Carolyn Agger.
- In 1949, William Thaddeus Coleman Jr. became the first person of color hired as an associate at a major New York City law firm.
- In 1993, Jeh Johnson became the firm’s first African-American partner.
Notable Cases and Clients
Paul, Weiss has represented numerous high-profile clients and been involved in significant cases:
- Represented one of the Scottsboro boys in the 1930s
- Conducted an internal investigation for Fox News regarding Roger Ailes in 2016
- Represented major financial and tech companies such as Blackstone Group, Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Google, and Amazon
Recent Developments
In March 2025, Paul, Weiss agreed to contribute $40 million of pro bono legal services in support of the second Trump administration‘s goals and to not pursue diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, in exchange for the lifting of Executive Order 14237. This decision has sparked controversy and criticism from those who accuse the firm of compromising its values.
Discover more from The Stewardship Report
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.