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Coach
yeah man. just think of the timing; maybe in a year it’s different, but joining in the middle of the “oops! we’re run by a sex trafficker’s friend” looks pretty rough socially. people may well judge you for it. And if you can land PW, you can land an equally good firm.
Was going to reconsider . . . Then Brad personally sent me an email that said "you're amazing!"
Subject Expert
Only if Karp is walked out today with his personal property in a box.
Subject Expert
I would not want to work at any organization where a person like Brad Karp holds (or is allowed to hold) any significant authority. But that’s just me.
I’m at another V10 and have full confidence our female managing partner and other top leadership have zero skeletons in the closet even approaching this level of f-ed up. Do I love everything they do? Definitely not but thankful this is not something I have to worry about and I’m confident if one of our rainmakers pops up in the next round of file drops, they’ll be promptly pushed out by that same leadership.
Subject Expert
Yep.
In what world do you think mid levels at PW get to sleep?
Mentor
Yes - regardless of the Epstein stuff, you don’t want a firm with this little backbone
Coach
Well, they found it.
Hot take: No, not really. I would assume Karp will be out of a job shortly, and it’s not like the other partners at PW knew he was into freak-activities, so I wouldn’t pass up a good opportunity at a top shop solely because of the leader being a creep (it’s not like the firm is some hive mind and all the partners working there knew about it). Wouldn’t worry about people virtue signaling either and saying they would judge you, that’s silly and you should do what’s best for you, not some anonymous stranger on the internet who does not have your best intentions at heart.
I will change my answer if Karp isn’t out of job soon, however.
Coach
And he is.
I would not unless I had another offer that was just as good. While it’s certainly not a great time to be Karp, in my view it’s unlikely the firm as a whole will suffer tremendously.
Community Builder
Yeah - I mean - A13 nails it. If you think that the firm leadership at just about every firm doesn’t have real ugly skeletons in their closets, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. You’re talking about men and women whose ability to make 25M a year relies on their ability to cozy up to, socialize with and relate to people worth billions. What exactly do you think the .0001% does with their time, money and privilege? Emailing a sex offender to get your kids an internship from woody Alan is the least of it.
I don’t even want to begin to imagine what W&C leadership has done and seen to hold Saudi Aramco for so long (or any firm with middle eastern oil ties for that matter).
You are getting paid the money you do to do the bidding for the worst of the worst. [insert something about throwing stones and glass houses]
Subject Expert
Totally false. I just retired after 15 years at a V20 with exemplary management and an exceptional a deserved reputation for ethical conduct and no compromise. P, W’s leaders have revealed themselves to be both gutless and tolerant of exceptionally bad judgment from partners. I would touch that place with a 50 foot pole.
Coach
Corporate probably shouldn't be as big a deal, but it's hardly a good look. Barshay has already been essentially running the firm, including settling with Trump. Plenty to dislike on both sides I'm sure.
Subject Expert
If your moral compass says it’s fine to cavort with a convicted sex trafficker, violate his ethical obligations by disclosing client confidences to said trafficker, help said trafficker surveil his victims, and lie to his firm about what he did, then your moral compass is pretty fu€ked up. But you do you.
Are clients pissed about this? That could impact things. Isn’t Apollo a big client?
Mentor
The one where Karp got on the wrong side and accidentally did the bidding of Epstein instead of the firm’s real client?
Based on the morals of firm leadership? My assumption is that all firms are biglaw firms are led by people like Karp. They just care about money, we’re all just here for money, and I make my decisions based on money. I’ll never meet firm leadership, don’t want to and don’t care. As long as I get my check everyone else can do the virtue signaling and I won’t care a bit, nor will anyone else in my life.
Subject Expert
Bleak
I don’t buy the crocodile tears from PW. Sending effusive notes like “You’re amazing” to rich, well-connected, morally repugnant financiers was precisely what the other PW partners elected Karp to do.
In 2015, I don’t think many PW partners cared whether Epstein was a sexual predator—except insofar as his prior conviction made him radioactive to do business with. At the time Karp wrote those emails, Epstein was still very much a member of the “club.”
Any Wall Street firm that isn’t run by people who’ve compromised at least some of their values for access to money and power is instead run by psychopaths who never had any values to begin with.
Exactly!
Maybe Im jaded, but is this an "as opposed to" a different job kinda deal? Or just play time?
Yes, I would love to be considered.
Yes.
yes I would join PW as mid level addocitate at the time.
If the position can be taken on remote and if possible, part time engagement, I will greatly consider.
Since they capitulated. Not actively looking atm, but I’m fairly confident I can land another firm if I can land P,W.
Coach
No. But that’s because I assume every similarly situated leader of law or finance is/was involved in the same nonsense.