Tom Borman
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has parted ways with several litigation associates following its annual performance review cycle, possibly marking a structural change from the relatively recently annointed firm chair Scott Barshay (pictured).
According to reporting by The American Lawyer, the New York-based firm, which has long prided itself on avoiding public layoffs, including during the 2008 financial crisis and the 2022 financial correction, has now cut several litigation associates and explicitly tied the decisions to performance reviews. A legal recruiter familiar with the moves estimated the number at roughly 10, largely in litigation, though the firm has not disclosed an exact figure.
Paul Weiss issued a statement to Above the Law on May 6, 2026: “There were no layoffs. These were performance-based decisions based on the review process we conduct every year.”
The moves come as the firm’s litigation practice absorbs the departure of several prominent partners over the past year as we’ve reported here at LawFuel. Among the high-profile exits: litigation co-chair Karen Dunn (pictured above) and partners Bill Isaacson, Jeannie Rhee, and Jessica Phillips, who left in 2025 to launch their own boutique; former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, (pictured below) who joined Jenner & Block; and Supreme Court advocate Kannon Shanmugam, who moved to Davis Polk. Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson also retired after four decades at the firm.
Lawyers at Am Law 10–20 firms know the pattern well: when rainmaker partners depart, the matters and billable hours often follow. Associate staffing, calibrated to a busier litigation docket, can quickly feel misaligned. Rather than announce formal reductions, many firms use the annual (or semi-annual) review process to adjust headcount discreetly. But discrete or otherwise, most of us know the practice as something referred to in BigLaw circles as “stealth layoffs.”
Multiple Paul Weiss associates described the process to Above the Law and on Reddit’s r/biglaw forum in similar terms – the sudden negative feedback during the 2026 review cycle that was not corroborated by the partners or teams they actually worked with, despite consistently positive prior evaluations.
One affected associate recounted vague criticism focused on “attention to detail” that had never been raised before.
For associates, the episode underscores a structural reality at elite firms: even at Paul Weiss — historically viewed as litigation-heavy and relatively insulated from downturns — headcount discipline remains tight.
New firm chair Scott Barshay, (picturred above) an M&A partner, has been steering the institution toward a more transactional emphasis since assuming leadership, which has lead to firm chat about whether litigation would remain the firm’s “crown jewel” or become more of a supporting practice.
Is This a Catchy BigLaw Trend?
The concern about the layoffs is whether it is an ongoing issue in BigLaw.
The 2026 review season is unfolding against a broader industry backdrop of cautious headcount management. The American Lawyer noted that McDermott Will & Emery conducted similar associate cuts recently, and unnamed sources suggested other top firms may now feel more comfortable following suit without signaling financial weakness.
Whatever the reasons, associates need to treat every review cycle as potentially outcome-determinative. Documentation of positive feedback from supervising partners remains one of the strongest protections against sudden reversals when the hatchet gets wielded.
- Litigation groups that lose key rainmakers are the ones that face disproportionate staffing pressure. Associates in ltigation groups may want to monitor matter flow and consider discreet lateral outreach earlier rather than later.
- Not all is lost if the departure notice is given, particularly for alumni in top firms like Paul Weiss, who remain highly marketable.
- .Historical data shows associates who depart elite firms during quiet periods often land quickly at peer firms still hiring in litigation, especially those with active Supreme Court, white-collar, or complex commercial dockets.
- Paul Weiss has long prided itself on avoiding public layoffs, even during the 2008 financial crisis and the 2022 market correction. The firm’s continued adherence to that messaging while adjusting via reviews illustrates how top-tier firms balance brand reputation with business needs.
The story is still developing. Affected associates have been advised to reach out confidentially to legal media for potential further reporting.
