The 3 million pages of materials in the latest government dump of Epstein files — “organized,” such as it is, in a clunky database — contain a dark look into the machinations of the ultra wealthy. The legal industry has not escaped scrutiny in the files, and it turns out the infamous Jeffrey Epstein was weirdly involved in the career choices of a prominent attorney.
Kathryn Ruemmler’s legal career is noteworthy by any measure. The former White House counsel under President Barack Obama, she was a partner at Latham & Watkins and co-chair of its white-collar defense group. In 2020 Ruemmler left Biglaw for the in-house world at Goldman Sachs, where she currently serves as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. But her relationship with Epstein has put quite the spotlight on her.
The Epstein files reveal thousands of communications between the pair. Ruemmler said of their connection, “I was a defense attorney when I dealt with Jeffrey Epstein. I got to know him as a lawyer and that was the foundation of my relationship with him. I had no knowledge of any ongoing criminal conduct on his part, and I did not know him as the monster he has been revealed to be.” But their relationship went beyond the typical attorney/client one.
Ruemmler called Epstein “Uncle Jeffrey” when she thanked him for the “boots, handbag, and watch” he gifted her. And she also turned to Epstein for career advice.
In 2015 Ruemmler reached out to Epstein when she was considering leaving Latham and heading to Hogan Lovells — forwarding him the “latest state of play” and the potential economics of a lateral move. And Epstein shared that intel with Paul, Weiss’s chair, Brad Karp.
Epstein emailed Karp in December 2015, telling Karp, “if you are really interested in Ruemmler we should t=lk sooner rather than later.”
Karp replied, “I’m certain we are.”
Epstein dished on the details of HoLove’s then-CEO Steve Immelt’s pitch to Ruemmler, “re the future – all major litigation will be global in scope. International regulators and regulation. He said he would build a dept around her. . blah blah.”
Ruemmler stayed at Latham, but it wasn’t the end of Epstein’s interest in Ruemmler’s career. In 2018, after Latham chair Bill Voge stepped down over a sexting scandal, Epstein emailed Karp asking “should ruemmler be chairman of the firm?”
Karp responded that the move would be “perceived very positively by the marketplace.” But there would be a downside, “Kathy taking this on would be a real mitzvah for Latham, but at a huge personal/professional cost to Kathy.”
Epstein was also involved in Ruemmler’s move in-house. Between 2018 and 2019 she sought a position at Facebook, something Epstein coached Ruemmler over. As reported by the Financial Times Epstein attempted to use his influence with Larry Summers — then-chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg’s mentor — on Ruemmler’s behalf:
“I suggest you prep for your meeting as a case. Read up mark, sheryl, prepare an opening and summary. Along with a case strategy. III help,” he wrote to her, days after the initial approach.
The emails also show Epstein lobbying Summers, who was close to Sandberg, at the time Facebook’s chief operating officer. “your friend sheryl could use ruemmlers help,” Epstein wrote to Summers in January 2019. Weeks later he wrote to Summers again, saying: “sheryl needs ruemmler.”
Ruemmler also shared with Epstein her concurrent job search at Google and her eventual job at Goldman.
Karp and Ruemmler both say they regret their relationship with Epstein.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
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