Brad Karp, the chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, was named the New York Law Journal attorney of the year at a ceremony Wednesday night at Tribeca 360.

Karp was recognized for the pro bono work he did last year on issues such as curbing gun violence, championing reproductive rights and fighting the administration's policy of separating children from their parents at the border. He was also honored for his successful stewardship of Paul Weiss and his victories in the courtroom.

Exhorted by Karp, Paul Weiss lawyers boosted their pro bono commitments in 2017, spending a record 100,563 hours on pro bono matters last year, up 35.6 percent from 2016.

Karp successfully guided Paul Weiss to its 10th record-breaking year of profits. Profits per equity partner, now $4.56 million, and revenue, now $1.3 billion, more than doubled in 2017, a record unmatched among U.S. firms, according to the firm.

Karp took a lead role in forming the Firearms Accountability Counsel Task Force, a partnership between the private bar and the gun violence protection movement. He continues to advocate nationally on the issue, writing a New York Times op-ed in March, “Stop Shielding Gun Makers.”

Among Karp's successes in the courtroom was the highly favorable resolution of a criminal money-laundering investigation for Citibank. He continues to lead the NFL's defense of the historic class-action concussion case.

He was one of three finalists for the award. Stanley Brown, senior counsel at Hogan Lovells, was recognized for leading a group of attorneys who fought for affordable housing in Garden City. Bill Carmody, who heads Susman Godfrey's New York office, was honored for securing favorable court rulings in Uber's momentous trade secrets litigation with Waymo and other courtroom successes.

The New York Law Journal also honored seven attorneys who had the most impact on the legal community and the practice of law over the course of their careers. They are Evan Chesler, chairman of Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Howard Ganz, a partner at Proskauer Rose; Marcia Goldstein, a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges; Eileen Nugent, of counsel to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Lee Richards, founding partner of Richard Kibbe Orbe; Jim Rosini, a partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth; and A. Paul Victor, a partner at Winston & Strawn.

At the Professional Excellence Awards, the NYLJ also gave awards to rising stars, distinguished leaders and in-house lawyers.

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