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Mayer Brown Lays Off 55 Lawyers & Staff

Erik Even — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:16:02 +0000

Chicago’s Mayer Brown has laid off 55 lawyers and support staff from its London office. A breakdown of the layoffs has not been released.

From the announcement:

In recent weeks, Mayer Brown has undertaken various actions to respond to the ongoing global economic crisis, which is impacting our clients, our profession and the firm. As part of that process, our London office today began a redundancy consultation that we expect will result in the departure of up to 55 lawyers and support staff. The action in London is part of a review of our global operations. We have not yet determined what that will mean for each office and practice…

We are carefully weighing our decisions and considering a number of options, with full recognition that these decisions could affect the careers and lives of people whose contributions to the firm we value.

Could?

In January, the firm said it would hire 100 for its Los Angeles office. However, the firm has frozen associate salaries.

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.

Polsinelli Shughart Lays Off 9 Attorneys, 16 Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:20:27 +0000

Kansas City law firm Polsinelli Shughart, the result of a merger last month, has laid off nine attorneys and 16 staff members.

Chairman Russell Welsh said the layoffs were from various practices, and were both “economy related” and the result of redundancies due to the merger.

Four of the lawyers laid off were the firm’s Kansas City HQ.

Polsinelli Shughart PC is the result of a merger between Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus and Shughart Thomson & Kilroy. The firms had combined revenue of about $174 million in 2008. Polsinelli ranked fifth and Shughart sixth on the Kansas City Business Journal’s most recent list of the top area law firms.

Baker Botts Lays Off Attorneys

Erik Even — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:49:56 +0000

Baker Botts has laid off a number of attorneys today, but refuses to reveal numbers.

The fired attorneys are being offered a three-month severance package.

The firm imposed a hiring freeze last year.

Do you know how many people Baker Botts laid off today? Send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1840 in the Republic of Texas, Baker Botts LLP is an international law firm of around 800 attorneys. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the firm has a major list of energy related clients.

Sidley Austin Lays Off 89 Attorneys, 140 Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:19:47 +0000

Looks like we spoke too soon.

From Sidley Austin:

In addition to routine departures, 89 associates and staff attorneys and approximately 140 staff in our U.S. offices have been told their jobs are being eliminated. We have provided these lawyers and staff with financial and other assistance to help with their transitions. All affected individuals have been notified. The London office has also today announced a period of redundancy consultation.

Sidley Austin LLP, formerly known as Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, is one of the oldest law firms in the world. It is the sixth-largest US-based corporate law firm with over 1,800 lawyers, annual revenues of more than one billion dollars, and offices in 16 cities worldwide.

Proskauer Rose Lays Off 23 Attorneys

Erik Even — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:34:57 +0000

New York’s Proskauer Rose today laid off 23 attorneys. Staff seem to have emerged unscathed.

In December, Proskauer laid off 35 associates and 25 staffers; and a few weeks ago the firm reported a drop in profits. In February, the firm poached a bankruptcy group from Winston & Strawn.

If you have any information about these layoffs, send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1875, Proskauer Rose, formerly known as Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn, is one of the United States’ largest law firms, with offices in (deep breath!) New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Boca Raton, Chicago, Newark, New Orleans, São Paulo, London, Hong Kong, and Paris.

Pepe & Hazard Lays Off 5 Lawyers, 7 Staff

Erik Even — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:48:39 +0000

Connecticut’s Pepe & Hazard is laying off five attorneys and seven staff members.

The 61-attorney firm says the move “is the direct result of the current economic downturn that is affecting businesses and employers across the nation.”

In January, Pepe & Hazard laid off two attorneys and two staff members, and in December announced a pay freeze .

The firm has also announced it will not be increasing billable hourly rates for clients this year.

Pepe & Hazard LLP has offices in Hartford, Southport and Waterbury, Connecticut, and in Boston.

Update: Chadbourne & Parke Lays Off 25 Lawyers

Erik Even — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:55:03 +0000

Chadbourne & Parke has confirmed that the firm laid off 25 associates and counsel across its 13 offices worldwide today.

The associates affected were primarily in the firm’s transactional practices. All those laid off have been informed, and will be privately offered severance packages.

Chadbourne is delaying the start date for its incoming associate class until January 2010. The 28 associates affected will receive a $13,000 stipend to cover bar preparation costs and other expenses.

The firm does not anticipate any more layoffs.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP has some 400 lawyers and tax advisers in 13 offices in nine countries.

K&L Gates Lays Off 36 Associates, 79 Staff

Erik Even — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:15:06 +0000

The rumors were true. K&L Gates has laid off 36 associates and 79 staff.

Today, with regret, we announce a reduction in workforce involving 36 associates and 79 staff in the United States. In addition, six lawyer posts are being considered for redundancy in the London office. These reductions (including the possible reductions in London) represent 4.9% of our associate lawyers and 4.3% of our staff. Each of the affected individuals will be personally notified today and informed of transitional arrangements.

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.

Arent Fox Lays Off 13 Associates, 15 Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:58:29 +0000

Do you work for Washington DC law firm and lobbying group Arent Fox?

Are you sure?

After careful analysis and consideration following this review, we have made the difficult decision to downsize our associate, legal support and administrative ranks, resulting in the reduction of 13 associates and 15 staff members. These reductions will impact each of the Firm’s three offices.

Those three offices are in Washington, New York City and Los Angeles.

In January, Arent Fox froze associate salaries.

Founded in 1942, Arent Fox LLP, formerly Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin & Kahn, was ranked by the National Law Journal in 2007 as the 137th largest in the US.

Armstrong Teasdale Lays Off 30 People

Erik Even — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:45:15 +0000

Last week, Armstrong Teasdale let go of about 30 people, including seven attorneys.

Further details are not available at this time. If you have any pertinent info, please send us a confidential tip!

Armstrong Teasdale LLP is a law firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. It was founded in 1901 by Thomas Harper Cobbs and John E. Bishop. Since its founding, the firm has grown to nearly 269 lawyers with 11 national and international offices in Jefferson City and Kansas City, Missouri; Belleville and Edwardsville, Illinois; Overland Park, Kansas; Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada; San Francisco, California; Washington, DC; and Shanghai, China.

Stinson Morrison Hecker Lays Off 30 Staffers

Erik Even — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:36:59 +0000

Kansas City’s Stinson Morrison Hecker let 30 people go on Monday.

No attorneys were affected.

“We were going to do this over a period of time, but we decided that with the economy the way it is, there was no reason to prolong it,” said managing partner Mark Foster.

Foster said those laid off included secretaries, record clerks and people responsible for billing and collections. The layoffs were spread out among the firm’s offices in Kansas City, Overland Park, St. Louis, Wichita and Phoenix.

Stinson, which has no plans for further layoffs, is the fourth largest firm based in Kansas City with about 340 attorneys.

Schiff Hardin Lays Off Support Staff

Erik Even — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:38:39 +0000

Chicago’s Schiff Hardin cut some of its administrative staff this week, as a result of “increased technological efficiencies.”

Schiff Hardin dismissed 11 “unassigned floating secretaries” who were no longer needed at the firm, because there was not work for them to do as a result of “technological advancements,” said spokesperson David Milberg.

The firm, with 432 non-lawyer employees following the reduction, has about three to four lawyers assigned to each secretary.

Schiff Hardin, which notified all employees of the cuts today, said the economic downturn didn’t play a role in the workforce reduction.

Schiff Hardin has more than 400 attorneys practicing out of seven offices nationwide.

ATL: Dechert Lays Off 10 Staff Attorneys

Erik Even — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:13:07 +0000

Above the Law reports that Phillie’s Dechert, which recently announced that its profits and revenues are down, is laying off staff attorneys today.

Our sources tell us that Dechert will lay off 10 staff attorneys today. The number accounts for about 1/4th of the firm’s total staff attorney force.

Dechert laid off 19 attorneys two weeks ago [on Black Thursday], and 72 staffers back in December. So this news should not be particularly surprising.

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. Dechert has offices throughout the US and Europe.

Via ATL.

ATL: Kaye Scholer Lays Off At Least Five Attorneys

Erik Even — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:45:50 +0000

Tipsters tell Above the Law that at least five lawyers were laid off from Kaye Scholer on Friday, including some first- and second-year associates.

The firm conducted layoffs in the Corporate and Finance department on Friday. The number of affected attorneys is not known, but is believed to be at least five…

Kaye Scholer has been utilizing the “stealth layoff” approach quite heavily since December / January. I was given notice to look for another job a few weeks ago, and I personally know of about 10 others that [have been] “asked to leave” since then.

At the associate meeting, [managing partner] Barry Willner told everyone that associate numbers would be “about the same” in 2009 as in 2008. Given that there has been almost no attrition and a sizable incoming class, you can do the math to figure how many people had been told to leave.

Via ATL.

Faegre & Benson Lays Off 58 Staffers

Erik Even — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:38:55 +0000

Faegre & Benson has announced the layoffs of 58 staffers.

With regret, we will reduce by 58 the number of Legal Administrative Assistants, Administrative Department Staff, and Paralegals in our U.S. offices. Tomorrow will be the last day at the firm for the individuals impacted by this decision.

An additional nine members of our staff accepted the Voluntary Separation Package offered earlier in the month. Their last day will be Friday, February 27.

We want to express our thanks and appreciation to each of these individuals for their hard work and dedication. We wish them well. They will be missed.

Faegre & Benson is the largest law firm in Minnesota and one of the largest in the Us. The firm employs more than 525 lawyers throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Faegre was established in Minneapolis in 1886 as Cobb & Wheelwright.

Kramer Levin Lays Off 18 Lawyers, 21 Staff

Erik Even — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:50:41 +0000

New York’s Kramer Levin has confirmed it laid off 18 lawyers and 21 staff members.

From managing partner Paul Pearlman:

It is not surprising that the economic downturn confronting the country has touched virtually every industry, including the legal community… While our firm ‘s performance in 2008 was relatively strong and our size and practice diversity provides us with a solid platform to be successful in these difficult times, we have nevertheless felt the impact of the prevailing economic conditions… As a result, 18 attorneys and 21 staff have recently been asked to leave the firm. These decisions were based on a variety of factors, including firm, departmental and individual performance. Those affected have been informed of our decisions.

Founded in 1968, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP is a law firm with offices in New York City and Paris.

Update: DLA Piper Lays Off 180

Erik Even — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:38:53 +0000

Two days ago, we reported that DLA Piper would let go 30 lawyers and 100 staffers.

Today the firm announced that the bad news is even worse. DLA Piper has cut about 80 associates and 100 non-legal staffers across all of its offices.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the country, with about 3,800 lawyers firm-wide.

The firm would not give regional breakdowns, but said that cuts took place in every major office and practice area in the US.

Dechert Lays Off 19 Lawyers

Erik Even — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:34:19 +0000

Today Philadelphia’s Dechert is laying off 19 attorneys due to a “reduction in demand.”

The layoffs are just the latest cuts at the firm, which employs more than 1,000 lawyers. In December, Dechert laid off 72 staff members in the US. Another 15 were put up for anticipated cuts in London that month.

Today’s layoffs are spread throughout its 11 US offices and affect both associates and counsel. The affected lawyers will receive a severance package.

In 2006, 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 US based on number of attorneys.

Nixon Peabody Lays Off 20 Attorneys, 36 Staff

Erik Even — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:05:47 +0000

Today Am Law 100 firm Nixon Peabody announced the layoffs of 56 attorneys and staff.

Prudent management of our business requires that we downsize our associate, legal support, and administrative ranks, with the result that 20 attorneys will be leaving the firm, and we will be reducing our staff by 36 people through a combination of staff reductions and the
creation of new positions.

It is unknown if any of the 20 attorneys are from the group of 90 ex-Thelen lawyers that Nixon Peabody acquired last year.

Nixon Peabody LLP is one of the largest multi-practice law firms in the US, with offices in seventeen cities in the United States and one in London, and more than seven hundred attorneys in twenty-five major practice areas.

Via ATL.

Wilson Sonsini Lays Off 45 Associates, 68 Staff

Erik Even — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:51:50 +0000

Palo Alto, California’s Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is eliminating 45 associate and 68 staff positions. CEO John Roos alerted firm employees yesterday.

Wilson Sonsini stated that its decision was economic and not based on worker performance.

The firm is freezing associate pay, but still will hand out associate bonuses.

In addition to Palo Alto, Wilson Sonsini has offices in Austin, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Shanghai. Prior to the reductions, the firm had about 620 attorneys. The firm specializes in business, securities, and intellectual property law.

Cooley Godward Lays Off 52 Attorneys, 62 Staff [Update]

Erik Even — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:32:20 +0000

Tipsters to Above the Law are telling the legal tabloid blog that “Cooley Godward has decided to make significant layoffs today.”

Tipsters report that Tipsters that work at the firm place the numbers as high as 10 percent of associates and staff. That could put the overall number of layoffs into the fifties. The laid off employees will have to be out by the end of the week. They’re being given a 3 month severance package.

Cooley Godward spokespeople could not be reached for immediate comment.

If you work at Cooley or know someone who does, please send us a confidential tip. We’ll update this post as details emerge.

Cooley Godward Kronish LLP is a law firm that represents entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and emerging growth companies in major technology fields. The 650-attorney firm is headquartered in Silicon Valley’s Palo Alto, with offices in New York, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle; plus Broomfield, Colorado; Reston, Virginia; Washington, DC and Boston.

Via ATL.

UPDATE:

A JDJournal tipster just forwarded to us this email:

MEMORANDUM HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL DO NOT COPY OR DISTRIBUTE

TO: All Hands
FROM: Joe Conroy
DATE: January 21, 2009

RE: Headcount Reductions

Today, Cooley is implementing a firmwide reduction in force of 52 attorneys and 62 staff personnel.

I can assure you that the decision to undertake this reduction was not made lightly and that we are providing comprehensive severance benefits as well as career counseling services.

Given the continued slowdown we have experienced in pockets of the Firm over the last five months and the forecast for continuing global economic turmoil in 2009, the Executive and Management Committees concluded that a reduction is necessary at this time. At all levels throughout the Firm we strive to provide an opportunity for everyone to grow professionally and at an appropriate pace. It was the collective judgment of the Firm’s management that in the current environment we would compromise our ability to achieve that goal without reducing the Firm’s headcount across the board.

Notwithstanding the difficult steps we are taking today, the state of our Firm is strong and I am confident about our future. The stability and shared vision of our partnership, the talent of our attorneys and staff, the diversity of our client base, the breadth of the legal services we provide and the health of our balance sheet will enable the Firm to compete effectively and prosper in these challenging economic conditions.

Through these times, we will work together with our world-class clients to strengthen and institutionalize our relationships with them. We will continue to grow and strengthen our partnership and find new ways to apply our tremendous talents to solving the myriad of challenges faced by our clients in this economy. Many of our clients need us now more than ever.

I realize this is a difficult day for everyone and I know that I can count on you to support your departing colleagues and to ease their transitions. I thank you in advance for your understanding and professionalism.

Beginning the last week of February and into the first week of March, Mark Pitchford, Lisanne Morales and I will be making presentations to attorneys and staff in each of our offices regarding our 2008 results, our plans for 2009 and the state of the Firm more generally. At that time we can certainly address questions regarding the reduction, among other things. If you have questions, comments or concerns prior to those presentations you should feel free to seek out members of the Executive or Management Committees, your office Partner-in-Charge, Director or manager – our doors are always open.