JD Journal » layoffs staff

Major Layoffs at Dechert Today

Erik Even — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:10:15 +0000

Today Dechert, which laid off 63 lawyers and 62 staff in March, let go a significant number of associates, plus paralegals, staff attorneys and legal secretaries.

The firm has not made any official announcement or released precise numbers, but blawgs with sources inside the firm suggest that 25 associates were let go.

If you have any details about layoffs at Dechert, please — send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1975, Dechert LLP is an international law firm of more than 1,000 lawyers with top-ranked practices in corporate and securities, complex litigation, finance and real estate, and financial services and asset management

In 2006, Philadelphia’s Dechert was ranked 37th largest law firm in the world based on revenue. In 2007, the National Law Journal ranked the firm 25th largest in the United States based on number of attorneys.

Clifford Chance to Lay Off New York Litigation Associates

Erik Even — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:31:44 +0000

Mark Kirsch, head of Clifford Chance’s US litigation practice, has left the firm, leaving the 29 associates in the firm’s New York litigation group under threat of layoffs.

The group and its associated staffers have been informed that layoffs are coming, but no numbers have been revealed.

Kirsch will be replaced in his position by Juan Morillo.

In March, Clifford Chance today laid off 24 of its New York associates.

Clifford Chance LLP is the largest law firm in the world, both by number of lawyers and revenue, and part of the UK’s “Magic Circle” of leading law firms. It is a prestigious international practice with its principal office in London.

Mayer Brown Finds Work for Laid Off Associates

Erik Even — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:23:52 +0000

When Mayer Brown laid off 45 lawyers and 90 staff in April, it promised “placement opportunities with pro bono organizations and corporate legal departments for some associates.”

The firm has come through on its promise for nine former associates, who have been placed in year-long, in-house jobs at seven Mayer Brown corporate clients. The law firm will pay the lawyers a $60,000 salary plus benefits.

The firm also placed five laid-off associates at public interest organizations.

Mayer Brown is one of the largest global law firms both by number of lawyers and revenue. The firm has over 1,800 lawyers in key business centers across the Americas, Asia and Europe

Stealth Staff Layoffs at K&L Gates

Erik Even — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:31:20 +0000

K&L Gates, which admitted to laying off 36 associates and 79 staff in March, has cut a rumored 20 staffers since then, including some informed today.

The firm will not make an official statement, but the report is circulating in the blawgosphere.

If you know anything about layoffs at K&L Gates, please send us a confidential tip!

K&L Gates LLP is a US law firm with over 1700 attorneys worldwide, and is ranked as the 10th largest law firm in the world.

Tipster: Miller Canfield Layoffs?

Erik Even — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:59:17 +0000

A JDJournal tipster reports that at least one lawyer has been laid off from Miller Canfield.

Unfortunately, there is no further information at this time. If you now anything about the situation at Miller Canfield, please — send us a confidential tip! Be sure to put “Miller Canfield” in the subject.

The firm recently opened a new office in Mexico.

Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone was established in Detroit in 1852 and has offices in Michigan, Illinois, Florida, New York, Canada, Poland, Mexico and China.

Schnader Harrison Cuts Attorneys, Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:26:28 +0000

Philadelphia’s Schnader Harrison laid off partners, associates and staff in March.

Three partners were let go, along with five associates and “less than 10″ staff – I assume that means “nine.” The firm has no plans for further cuts.

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP was founded in Philadelphia in 1935 by former Pennsylvania Attorney General William A. Schnader. Today, the firm has more than 200 attorneys in seven offices nationwide.

Rumor: Staff Layoffs at Kirkland & Ellis

Erik Even — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:38:18 +0000

According to rumors repeated by reliable blawgs, Kirkland & Ellis is laying off an undisclosed number of support staff today. It is said no lawyers will be affected.

All laid off employees will be notified by the end of the day today. Severance has not been mentioned.

The cuts are said to affect the Chicago, New York and Washington DC offices.

If you know anything about layoffs today at Kirkland & Ellis, please send us a confidential tip!

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a Chicago-based law firm that practices in the US and internationally. As of 2008, it was the seventh largest law firm in the US and the 11th largest in the world by revenue. It has offices in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Munich, Hong Kong, and Palo Alto.

Labor Bureau Says Legal Industry Lost 25,000 Jobs in Recession

Erik Even — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:05:47 +0000

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 34% of the legal services jobs created since the 2001 recession have been lost in the current downturn.

Since the recession began in December 2007, the legal industry has lost an estimated 24,900 jobs.

In March 2009 alone, the industry lost 2,700 jobs. Last week, JDJournal recorded the layoffs of 455 lawyers, 219 staff; the week before that, 91 lawyers and 177 staff; and the week before, 574 lawyers and 812 staff.

Mayer Brown Cuts 45 Lawyers, 90 Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:09:49 +0000

Mayer Brown, which just cut 55 lawyers and staff in London, today let go 45 lawyers and 90 staff in the US.

From the press release:

Following the completion of an extensive review of its global operations, Mayer Brown announced today that it has made job reductions in its offices in the United States affecting 45 lawyers and 90 administrative staff…

The firm is also taking other measures:

* Postponement of the start date for most new first-year associates to January 19, 2010, with those affected receiving a $5,000 monthly stipend and subsidized medical benefits during their deferral period;

* Alternatives to full-time work schedules for lawyers in situations where this fits the needs of the individual and the practice; and

* Placement opportunities with pro bono organizations and corporate legal departments for some associates, who will receive a monthly stipend from the firm for one year and subsidized medical benefits.

Mayer Brown is one of the largest global law firms both by number of lawyers and revenue. The firm has over 1,800 lawyers in key business centers across the Americas, Asia and Europe.

The Week in Law Firm Layoffs

Erik Even — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:12:52 +0000

This week in law firm layoffs:

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher: 36 staff

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom: undisclosed lawyers, 50 staff

Bose McKinney & Evans: 10 lawyers, 15 staff

Clifford Chance: 24 lawyers

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge: 25 lawyers, 35 staff

Dechert LLP: 63 lawyers, 62 staff

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges LLP: undisclosed

Saul Ewing: 7 lawyers, 7 staff

Goldberg Kohn: 9 lawyers, 14 staff

Wolf Block: 317 lawyers, undisclosed staff

Total this week: 455 lawyers, 219 staff.

Last week: 91 lawyers, 177 staff

The week before: 574 lawyers, 812 staff

Edwards Angell Defers Start Dates, Cancels Summer Program

Erik Even — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:04:15 +0000

Yesterday, Edwards Angell announced the layoffs of 25 lawyers and 35 staff, or 15% of the firm’s workforce.

Today the firm announced will delay the start dates for its incoming first year associates to March 1, 2010.

Deferred first years will get a $10,000 stipend plus bar expenses.

The firm has also canceled its 2009 summer associate program. Edwards Angell will be paying $5,000 each to the nine students affected.

Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP is an American law firm based in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm is number 97 on the list of the world’s largest law firms by 2006 revenue. The firm was formed by the 2005 merger of Edwards & Angell LLP and Palmer & Dodge LLP.

Quinn Emanuel Holds Layoffs Today

Erik Even — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:05:32 +0000

Quinn Emanuel has confirmed it laid off “a handful” of people for lack of work today.

Rumors in the blawgosphere say six people were let go. The firm denied a rumor that up to 25 were sacked.

There are no further details available at this time. If you know anything about what’s going on at Quinn, send us an anonymous tip!

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges LLP was founded in 1986 by John B. Quinn. It is headquartered in Los Angeles, California with major offices in San Francisco, the Silicon Valley, and New York.