JD Journal » Keith Wetmore

Morrison Foerster Adds Partner in New York Office

joshua — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:34:00 +0000

Spencer Klein has joined the corporate practice of Morrison & Foerster as a partner in its New York office. Klein, who was previously with O’Melveny & Myers, will co-head MoFo’s mergers and acquisitions practice.

In addition to M&A issues, Klein’s practice also focuses on high-profile corporate governance matters. He is also a frequent advisor for U.S. and multinational companies across multiple industries.

Keith Wetmore, chairman of Morrison & Foerster, explained the addition in a press release.

“A core element of our strategy is the continued growth and development of our corporate and capital markets practices, particularly in New York,” Wetmore said. “The addition of Spencer advances our ambitions for corporate practice growth…and represents an important expansion of our strong M&A capabilities across the firm.”

Morrison & Foerster is a global firm with over 1,000 lawyers in technology and financial centers in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Morrison & Foerster Raise First-Year Salaries Back to $160,000

sara — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:23:18 +0000

Morrison & Foerster will return first year salaries to $160,000 after lowering them late last year. The firm lowered starting salaries to $145,000 beginning last October outside of New York and Asia. In a memo to associates on Tuesday Chairman Keith Wetmore said, “Although a great deal of uncertainty continues regarding how the economy will perform in 2010, we, like our most successful competitors, remain in demand. We are planning conservatively for 2010. However, if 2009 is a predictor, 2010 will provide opportunity despite its challenges.”

Morrison & Foerster was founded in 1883 and has over 1,000 attorneys. Headquartered in San Francisco, the firm has 16 offices in various locations throughout the world.

Morrison & Foerster Lower Incoming Associate Salaries in California

joshua — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:05:38 +0000

Morrison & Foerster is lowering the starting pay of its associates to $145,000 in California, while associates in New York and Asia will continue to receive the same pay. The firm is the first Big Law firm to lower California rates, which are generally the same as New York rates with associates in other offices receiving less. Firm Chairman Keith Wetmore noted that this is actually a return to the historical practice of major law firms paying associates in New York more than in other cities, in part due to higher billing rates.

Other firms have dropped salaries for first year associates this year, but they’ve kept New York and LA parallel.

Economic Meltdown Means Fewer New Partners in ’09

Erik Even — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:29:03 +0000

From Law.com: new partner candidates may have a tough time next year.

New partner announcements are starting to come in, and things aren’t looking so good. Thirteen Am Law 200 firms in California have announced new partners so far, and eight of those firmwide classes are smaller than last year.

“I anticipate a smaller class this year than last, and it’s a direct response to the decreased demand for legal services in the world,” said Keith Wetmore, chairman of Morrison & Foerster, which hasn’t yet announced its new partner class.

Chicago’s Mayer Brown and McDermott, Will & Emery named 43 and 42 new partners last year, respectively, but both named only 27 this year. Classes are also smaller at Cooley Godward Kronish; Fenwick & West; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Proskauer Rose; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; and Weil, Gotshal & Manges.