Goldman Sachs' top lawyer earned $25m last year as Epstein links drive exit

Goldman Sachs’ outgoing chief legal officer Kathy Ruemmler received a pay package worth $25 million in 2025, as she prepares to step down following scrutiny over her past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

The figure marks an increase from around $22 million the previous year and places Ruemmler among the highest-paid in-house lawyers in the US.

According to a company filing on Friday, her compensation package comprised a $1.5 million salary, $14 million in stock awards and an $8.5 million cash bonus.

Exit under scrutiny

Ruemmler announced in February that she would step down from her role, with her departure set to take effect in June.

The move followed scrutiny over her relationship with Epstein after the release of files detailing extensive correspondence and meetings between the two between 2014 and 2019 - years after Epstein’s first conviction and registration as a sex offender - and a period when she was a partner at Latham & Watkins.

The records include emails with a personal tone, with Ruemmler at one point writing that she “adored him” and referring to him as “Uncle Jeffrey”.

Earlier disclosures had also shown her seeking Epstein’s advice on career decisions, including discussions around a potential move to serve as US attorney general and approaches from rival law firms.

When announcing her departure, Ruemmler told the Financial Times the media attention was becoming “a distraction”.

Top of the market

Ruemmler is one of the most prominent lawyers in the US, having served as White House counsel under President Obama before joining Goldman Sachs in 2020 from Latham.

Her $25 million pay package puts her firmly in the top tier of in-house legal compensation, though still below some peers. Alphabet’s chief legal officer Kent Walker Jr received $30.2 million in 2024, while Apple’s general counsel Katherine Adams earned $27.2 million, according to analysis last year by Bloomberg Law.

The figures also highlight the scale of pay at the very top of the legal market - both in-house and private practice. Last week, Kirkland & Ellis reported record average partner pay of $11.1 million.