Apollo, Paul Weiss and Epstein: how a star client brought down a Big Law boss Apollo’s Leon Black asked lawyer Brad Karp to settle a fee dispute with Jeffrey Epstein. It was the start of a years-long relationship

Great deep dive into how US law firm's entanglement with Jeffrey Epstein brought down its boss - led by the amazing @kayewiggins.ft.com

www.ft.com/content/064e...

I dunno. I’d like to think he woke up chanting double double toil and trouble, how do I make the oil price tumble

Everyone needs an editor

How Deutsche Bank rolled out the red carpet for Jeffrey Epstein [FREE TO READ] German lender waved through convicted sex offender’s millions despite compliance concerns

Terrific reporting by colleagues: a bank gone horribly wrong as.ft.com/r/b32d4c15-1... @bondhack.ft.com @ortenca.bsky.social @costasmourselas.bsky.social

Epstein trustee document contradicts Jes Staley testimony Signed 2014 contract shows former Barclays boss would be paid $250,000 a year for role

Former Barclays boss Jes Staley repeatedly denied he acted as a trustee for Jeffrey Epstein's estate during his testimony in court last March.

Documents released by the DOJ appear to show otherwise.

www.ft.com/content/f459...

“I would love to take photos of you in a Snow White costume. You can get it from the costume store,” Jeffrey Epstein wrote to a woman three weeks before Jes Staley's now infamous email: “that was fun. Say hi to Snow White”

Our scoop below 👇

Nigel Farage attended Davos on a pass sponsored by the family office of Iranian billionaire Sasan Ghandehari, which told the WEF that the Reform UK leader had advised the company since 2018. W @ortenca.bsky.social and Anna Gross

as.ft.com/r/9d784a9c-e...

A spokesperson for Farage “categorically deny that Nigel Farage has ever been an adviser to HP Trust”.

Farage attended as “an honorary and unpaid adviser” to the businessman’s “impact investment portfolio” a lawyer for Ghandehari told the FT

Sasan Ghandehari’s HP Trust paid for Farage to attend Davos and told the World Economic Forum he had advised them since 2018

New on FT:

as.ft.com/r/169805cf-5... Nigel Farage attended Davos as adviser to Iranian billionaire

Ukraine’s G7 allies to press Donald Trump in crunch talks at Davos [FREE TO READ] Leaders of Italy, Germany, France, Canada and UK will seek US president’s personal endorsement on security guarantees

💥 Kyiv's G7 allies to descend on Davos in bid to force Donald Trump to personally endorse US security guarantees to post-ceasefire Ukraine, as European capitals worry he is yet to agree steps drawn up by his administration

w @mjruehl.bsky.social & @ortenca.bsky.social

as.ft.com/r/4d68cc30-b...

The flashy Utah-based leasing firm that lent billions to First Brands [FREE TO READ] Onset Financial called itself a ‘dominant force’ in financing everything from chickens to helicopters. It ended up as First Brands’ biggest creditor

And if you're not an FT subscriber, this gift link is good for 300 clicks.

Story with the great Jill R Shah, @ericgplatt.ft.com and @ortenca.bsky.social

on.ft.com/43GYfOR

The secretive First Brands founder, his $12bn debt and the future of private credit Patrick James borrowed billions — even after presiding over a string of failed businesses

A few short weeks ago, Patrick James was scarcely known outside the murkier corners of credit markets. Now, with billions of dollars apparently missing, he is at the centre of a $12bn nightmare on Wall Street.

Full story w/ @ortenca.bsky.social and @ericgplatt.ft.com 👇

www.ft.com/content/8373...

A lot more exclusive detail on Point Bonita's fund structure, beyond those that Jefferies disclosed today, in update to story (w/ @ericgplatt.ft.com and @ortenca.bsky.social) on.ft.com/42soiJ9

Jefferies earned undisclosed fees on First Brands ‘side letter’ financing [FREE TO READ] Lenders to bankrupt car parts group believe arrangement may have breached loan covenant

BREAKING: Jefferies earned undisclosed fees on financing it provided to First Brands Group, in an arrangement other lenders say may have violated terms of their own credit agreement with the bankrupt car parts company.

Full story w/ @ericgplatt.ft.com & @ortenca.bsky.social here: on.ft.com/430jWZT

First Brands-linked entities file for bankruptcy [FREE TO READ] Rapid unravelling of heavily indebted car parts supplier has caught credit markets off guard

🚨BREAKING NEWS ON FIRST BRANDS GROUP'S OFF BALANCE SHEET DEBT🚨

Entities tied to First Brands and its founder Patrick James have filed for bankruptcy protection, compounding issues at the car parts supplier whose troubles have roiled credit markets.

Story w/ @ortenca.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4nfPEul

Carlos Alcaraz surges past Jannik Sinner to win the U.S. Open 🏆

It is Alcaraz’s sixth Grand Slam title and his second at the U.S. Open.

The result takes him back to world No. 1, ending Sinner’s 65-week stay at the top of the tennis world rankings.

Milan’s expat ‘explosion’ brings new buzz to Italy’s financial centre Favourable tax regime is drawing wealthy newcomers and changing the city’s dynamic

Milan’s expat ‘explosion’ brings new buzz to Italy’s financial centre on.ft.com/4mK03hM

Trump Says He Is Removing Lisa Cook From Federal Reserve Board

Trump has taken an unprecedented step in trying to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook. The law stipulates that a president can only remove an official if there is "cause," a term that is vague and has no precedent www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/u... @tonyromm.bsky.social @bencasselman.bsky.social @nytimes.com

We wanted to know if the money that the EU has put into rearmament is turning into production capacity — and the answer is: yes. Industry is rearming.

The FT View: The longer it has continued, the more it has borne the hallmarks of a vengeful assault by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government to destroy the very fabric of Palestinian society. https://on.ft.com/3UBv3Us

Devastating

A THIRD of the population is not eating for multiple days in a row

Gazans Are Dying of Starvation

Gazans Are Dying of Starvation www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/w...

The competition for junior talent on Wall Street reached a new peak this summer.

This week on Behind the Money, @sindap.bsky.social and @ortenca.bsky.social explain why, and what this means for Wall St's top investment banks and private equity firms.

🎧: podfollow.com/behind-the-m...

When a pension fund makes a hedge fund size bet - was it for the Italian national interest? Rpt by Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli and @ortenca.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/c4ad...

BCG modelled plan to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from Gaza Consulting firm had multimillion-dollar role in contentious new aid scheme for shattered enclave

And this from over the weekend

on.ft.com/4nzTQFU BCG modelled plan to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from Gaza

Tony Blair’s staff took part in ‘Gaza Riviera’ project with BCG Former UK prime minister’s institute participated in meetings on plan to turn shattered enclave into trading hub

Absolute must read from @stephenfoleyft.bsky.social

on.ft.com/46fh6Tx Tony Blair’s staff took part in ‘Gaza Riviera’ project with BCG

Can HSBC cut its way to growth? - FT Big Read from @ortenca.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/61e8...