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Corporate Law · Leadership Change · Legal Services · M&A
Scott Barshay has been appointed Chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, effective February 4, 2026, following Brad Karp's 18-year tenure, marking a significant cultural reset towards a corporate-centric, M&A-driven strategy for the storied Wall Street law firm.
Barshay, described by The Financial Times as “one of Wall Street’s most prolific dealmakers,” brings a track record of leading $121 billion in M&A transactions in 2023 and $100 billion in 2021, ranking him #1 in North America by MergerLinks. His career deal value exceeds $300 billion, including blockbuster transactions like Anheuser-Busch InBev’s $107 billion acquisition of SABMiller and Chevron’s $55 billion acquisition of Hess Corporation.
His appointment signifies a fundamental shift from a litigation-first firm to a corporate powerhouse, as he is the first M&A lawyer to chair Paul Weiss. This transition, following his 2016 move from Cravath Swaine & Moore, where he reportedly generated $100 million in fees in 2015, has seen him aggressively recruit top corporate rainmakers like Krishna Veeraraghavan and Neel Sachdev.
Industry observers, including Rick Rule, anticipate a merit-based, business-oriented leadership style focused on the bottom line, contrasting with the previous connection-based approach. Barshay's immediate challenge involves stabilizing the firm and preventing partner departures, while his long-term goal is to cement Paul Weiss's position as a top-tier M&A competitor against firms like Wachtell Lipton and Sullivan & Cromwell.
