About Yotam
Yotam Barkai is an attorney based in New York who combines an academic background in ethics and public policy with legal training from one of the nation’s top law schools. He took a straight path through competitive academic programs, then translated that foundation into a legal career in the city where much of his work unfolds. He is known among colleagues for a measured approach and attention to detail.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University in 2004, where he studied Ethics, Politics, and Economics. After Yale, he attended New York University School of Law and received his J.D. in 2010. Those years shaped his analytical style. Courses in economic reasoning and ethical theory inform how he frames legal questions; the intensive legal curriculum at NYU provided practical training and doctrinal breadth.
After law school Barkai entered private practice in New York. He is admitted to the New York bar and practices at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. His time at the firm has involved collaborating with teams on matters that require a careful reading of statutes and contracts, and an ability to manage complex factual records. He has worked alongside litigators and corporate lawyers in a large-firm setting where coordination among specialists is the norm.
Colleagues describe his work style as deliberate. He approaches factual investigation methodically and places emphasis on clear legal writing. Those habits carry over into courtroom preparation and client memoranda. In team settings he has contributed to strategy sessions and to drafting key filings. He also participates in the firm’s internal seminars and case reviews, helping newer lawyers understand procedural mechanics and firm practice standards.
Outside of specific casework, Barkai’s background in Ethics, Politics, and Economics gives him a broader lens for assessing policy implications of legal decisions. He applies that perspective when the legal issues raise questions about regulatory design, compliance tensions, or institutional incentives. He balances that wider view with the practical demands of meeting deadlines and advising clients on immediate legal choices.
As of 2026 he remains at Paul Weiss, where he continues to handle matters in New York state and federal courts while advising clients on legal and procedural issues arising in their business and regulatory matters. His current practice focuses on representing clients in complex commercial and regulatory disputes in New York.
