yahoo news | White-collar lawyers’ newest gig: Representing people in the Epstein files by undefined
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yahoo news | White-collar lawyers’ newest gig: Representing people in the Epstein files by undefined
The public release of Jeffrey Epstein’s email files has sparked a sudden hiring boom among elite white‑collar attorneys. Scores of people whose names appear—whether they are high‑profile figures, peripheral contacts, or even individuals with a common name—are turning to criminal‑defense and reputational‑damage lawyers to navigate intense media scrutiny and potential professional fallout. Institutions ranging from universities to corporate boards are also retaining top law firms to conduct internal investigations, verify employee identities, and assess any undisclosed ties to Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The wave of legal work has become a niche industry at a time when many in the white‑collar bar feared a dry spell amid shifting federal priorities.
Prominent examples illustrate the breadth of the response. Medical influencer Peter Attia, model Naomi Campbell, and Epstein’s former accountant Richard Kahn have each secured high‑profile counsel to counter embarrassing or potentially defamatory references in the files. Academic and cultural organizations—Bard College, Barnard College, and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics board—have hired firms such as WilmerHale, Cleary Gottlieb, and O’Melveny & Myers to vet communications, review donor relationships, and produce recommendations on policy and conflict‑of‑interest practices. Even the World Economic Forum engaged independent counsel to investigate its leadership after the scandal surfaced.
The surge in legal activity reflects both the immediate need for damage control and longer‑term concerns about accountability. Congressional oversight committees are actively seeking testimony from anyone named in the documents, prompting many to pre‑emptively secure representation. Lawyers themselves have become newsmakers, from seasoned Clinton‑era advisor Cheryl Mills to the outspoken Michael Levy, who famously warned his client Les Wexner during a deposition. As the investigation continues, the reliance on white‑collar counsel underscores how the fallout from the Epstein files has reshaped the landscape of reputation management and corporate‑governance scrutiny.
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