A law firm that represented multiple women who accused former Jeffrey Epstein associate Leon Black of sexual misconduct alleged in a Manhattan civil suit on Monday that the powerful financier deployed “multiple frivolous and malicious lawsuits” as retaliation for representing these accusers.
Wigdor LLP claimed Black, who co-founded and formerly chaired Apollo Global Management, tried “to use his billions to buy his own form of justice” and “to weaponize the civil justice system to silence and destroy those who seek to hold him to account for alleged sexual assault”. Black has emphatically denied all wrongdoing.
Lawyers for Black also strongly disputed the claims made in Wigdor’s suit. “This lawsuit is another bogus attempt by Wigdor to attack Mr Black under false pretenses,” said Black’s attorney, Susan Estrich of Estrich Goldin.
One of the three lawsuits cited by Wigdor involved Black accuser Guzel Ganieva, who sued him in June 2021 alleging that he “violently sexually assaulted” her for years. Black sued Ganieva and Wigdor, who represented her at the time, that October, claiming they “conspired to harm” him; this civil action was dismissed. Ganieva’s civil suit against Black was also dismissed.
Wigdor’s suit against Black, filed in New York county supreme court, cites recently disclosed Epstein investigative files that appear to show Epstein plotting with the powerful Wall Street lawyer Brad Karp to try to arrange Ganieva’s deportation. While Epstein and Karp’s discussions did not result in deportation, these 2015 emails also reveal discussions about coordinated surveillance on Ganieva and whether she could be jailed.
Epstein on 29 July 2015 wrote to Karp: “Is it possible for your contacts to 1 get her current visa status ? 2. Is there a way for us to file something that would revoke a tourist visa?”
Several hours later, Karp responded: “Both good ideas; will work on this.”
These messages indicated that the woman was bothering an Epstein associate with the name “Leon”. Epstein said on 16 August 2015: “can you tell me for certain that if leon decides enough is enough, ( she has not responded to an email from him that says i am checking on you). that you and lorin can have her arrested.!! fed extortion, high bail. . maybe deportation?”
While Lorin’s surname is not mentioned in these documents, a lawyer with the name Lorin Reisner, who went to the white-shoe firm Paul Weiss approximately a year before these Epstein-Karp exchanges, had previously led the Manhattan federal prosecutor office’s criminal section. Karp suggested in an email that “Lorin’s” connections might move the needle in regards to Ganieva.
“I’ll check again with lorin, but my strong belief is that the answer is yes. Especially with the referral coming from the most recent head of the sdny usao,” Karp said on 16 August 2015.
Karp stepped down from his top role at Paul Weiss earlier this year after his correspondence with Epstein surfaced.
Neither Karp, Reisner nor Paul Weiss immediately responded to a request for comment. They also did not respond to prior requests for comment on the Guardian’s 10 February story detailing Epstein and Karp’s communications about deportation.
Wigdor claims Black’s lawsuits violate New York state’s anti-Slapp (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law, which is designed to protect individuals and organizations from frivolous lawsuits. The complaint states that of the three lawsuits Black filed against the firm, two were dismissed and one is still pending.
Wigdor alleges that Black’s lawsuits tried thwarting accusers’ rights to free speech and that the firm suffered reputational harm due to Black’s lawsuits. “Punishing lawyers for the clients they represent subverts not only the administration of justice but also the principle of equality under the law, and, thus, the American legal system,” the complaint states.
Black’s ties to Epstein have drawn renewed attention in recent months as he was repeatedly mentioned in the recently released Epstein files. For example, Black appears on a page titled “PROMINENT NAMES” in an FBI presentation about Epstein’s case.
It remains unclear for whom this presentation was made, and the slideshow does not indicate whether authorities verified any allegations against these men. Black has not been charged with any crimes related to Epstein.
Estrich also noted last month that Black “asked for an independent investigation of his relationship with Epstein”.
“The Dechert law firm investigated and reviewed more than 60,000 documents, interviewed more than 20 people and concluded that Mr Black paid Epstein for estate planning and tax advice and that he had no awareness of Epstein’s criminal activities,” Estrich said.
Estrich also previously said: “There is absolutely no truth to any of the allegations against Mr Black.”
Under Black’s name, the document referenced allegations that Epstein had reportedly “told [name redacted] to give Black a massage while Black was naked”. An accuser “stated another female gave Black a massage and he made her perform oral sex”.
Black’s team said Wigdor’s suit was an effort to redeem itself for unsuccessful lawsuits against Black.
“The facts are quite simple. Wigdor has abused the legal system, manipulated the media, and they are desperate to avoid being held accountable for their own failings,” said Estrich.
“There have only been three lawsuits filed against Mr Black all by Wigdor and all have failed – one case has been dismissed, the other withdrawn, and the Jane Doe case is facing a motion for case terminating sanctions. Wigdor was fired by Guzel Ganieva and ceased representation of Jane Doe in an attempt to avoid being sanctioned.”
Asked for comment on Black’s statement, Raymond Audain, the attorney representing Wigdor, said: “This case is about whether wealthy individuals can weaponize the justice system to silence not just their accusers, but also the attorneys who represent them.”
“While too many foundational American institutions have been coopted and corrupted by billionaires, our courts have, thankfully, remained guarantors of equal justice,” said Audain, a partner at Giskan Solotaroff & Anderson. “Retaliating against lawyers for representing survivors subverts not just the principle of equality under the law, but also the American legal system.”
In January 2023, Black agreed to pay $62.5m to the US Virgin Islands, as to be released from any possible legal claims related to local authorities’ investigation of Epstein’s sex trafficking in the territory. The Senate finance committee said in March 2025 that they had encountered documents indicating that Black, who claimed he had hired Epstein for tax and estate planning advice, paid him $170m.
Epstein in 2008 landed a sweetheart plea deal with Florida prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to state-level prostitution charges and was able to avoid federal prosecution amid numerous allegations that he abused teen girls at his Palm Beach manse.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex-trafficking charges. He died in jail awaiting his Manhattan federal court trial.
