Paul Weiss' Poaching "Sent Shockwaves through the Market" - Should It Be Called "Genius" or "Recklessness?

 "Paul Weiss has resurged as a private equity powerhouse in London in the eight months since snagging rainmaker Neel Sachdev, part of an intensifying recruiting war among elite US firms in the UK." - Bloomberg Law, April 4, 2024.

Rare is a gush article in Bloomberg Law. However, this interview with the partner Paul, Weiss poached from Kirkland & Ellis in August 2023 seems to merit gush. Not just it's about the leadership of giant in private equity at Paul, Weiss London - an analogue of Jamie Sprayregen in restructuring, who also left Kirkland & Ellis. But also it explains how the firm has physically built itself a presence in that location. There are more than 140 lawyers, including 21 partners. Leased are 87,000 square feet on 20 Air Street on London's West End. 

Already Sachdev has brought in as clients London Bain Capital and Apollo Global Management. His mission is for the private equity practice to "be a rocket ship of success." He co-leads the operation.

For this vision of a rocket ship of success, notes Rachael Gallagher of Sequoia in this Bloomberg article, Paul, Weiss made the kind of investment which "sent shockwaves through the market." Obviously, the architect of the Paul, Weiss expansion, both international and domestic, chair Brad Karp is a risk-taker. 

Karp's strategy could land him a legacy for creating unprecedented growth and global branding for Paul, Weiss. History could conclude, "The guy was an organizational genius." He could have hit his prime when he set aside actually doing litigation and essentially focused on resetting the firm for what is now known as the growth imperative in Big Law. Here is Roy Strom's article in Bloomberg Law on that today.

That is one scenario. 

Another could mirror the pickle growth-centric Dewey & LeBoeuf found itself in. Eventually it collapsed, in a way which also "sent shockwaves through the market." In a major 2013 article in The New Yorker, James Stewart chronicles that saga. Risk is indeed risky. 

Karp is becoming a more and more interesting player to analyze. Is he an authentic disrupter or is he reckless? Briefly I did contract assignments for Paul, Weiss. I couldn't figure him out. Currently I continue to struggle to connect the dots. 

In my coaching I tutor clients on how to control the message.

UPDATE:  Question about Paul Weiss' spending on poaching posted on Fishbowl Big Law.

In most cases you have only one shot in communications. Jane Genova is a communications coach and content-creator. Complimentary consultation (please text 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)

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