JD Journal » legal industry rumors

After Almost 60 Years, Martin & Churchill Closed its Operations

marvins — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:51:44 +0000

Martin & Churchill, a Kansas-based law firm with areas of practices in health care, commercial litigation and workers’ compensation, closed its operation after almost 60 years in the legal industry. The firm officially ceased its operations on December 31, 2010. The closure has been the talk of the industry over the past few months until Martin & Churchill pulled the plug and closed down its offices. The law firm’s closure paved way to the separation of its six attorneys who are now setting up their individual law firms while others have joined rival firms.

Michael Kennalley, a commercial litigation attorney and former partner at Martin & Churchill for 12 years, said that the firm’s closure has been in the works recently. “It has been something that has been discussed over a period of time. It’s basically people wanting to do other things. It’s a friendly parting of the ways.” Kennalley joined Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, a premiere US aw firm with over 300 lawyers, on December 2010.

Don Hill, Martin & Churchill’s President, noted that Martin & Churchill’s closure was a tough decision given its vast achievements and established reputation in the legal sector since 1951. “We came to a time in our practices where we felt like, for the long term, it was best for our attorneys that we continue our practices at other firms.” Hill is now part of a smaller firm, Adams Jones Law Firm PA. Hill, who has been with Martin & Churchill for about 34 years, added “It’s a little bit more fluid with a smaller organization.”

Five Partners of Nixon Peabody Join LeClairRyan

marvins — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:20:18 +0000

Nixon Peabody LLP, one of the largest law firms in the world and recognized as a Global 100 firm, is losing five partners from its Rochester office to join the LeClairRyan LLP, an entrepreneurial law firm. The five departing partners are said to join forces to open a new office in the same area but it will be under the flagship of LeClairRyan. The five partners who are splitting off from Nixon Peabody are IP partners Michael Goldman, Gunnar Leinberg, and Andrew Zappia, bankruptcy partner Gregory Mascitti, and litigation partner Richard McGuirk. Nixon Peabody confirmed that the five have given notice but the firm cannot verify the news regarding the transfer of their partners to LeClairRyan.

A Nixon Peabody spokeswoman explained that their firm has remained strong after suffering from a series of partner defections in the recent months. “The legal market remains fluid; we’ve seen lawyers come and go in the past; and we’re likely to continue to see movement in both directions. Our intellectual property department is nationally ranked and includes a robust life sciences practice. Our firm has strong capabilities across the board and is attracting top talent.”

Meanwhile, the LeClairRyan has not yet confirmed the upcoming transfer of the five partners to their firm. The LeClairRyan is still mum about the issue. However, various reports said that the LeClairRyan will be the destination of the five departing Nixon Peabody partners.

Tipster: Fish & Richardson Lays Off Corporate Lawyers [Update]

Erik Even — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:56:30 +0000

According to a JDJournal tipster, intellectual property firm Fish & Richardson, which in January laid off 30 staff members across its eight US offices, “laid off its entire corporate section on Wednesday.”

That’s all we got. If you know anything about stealth layoffs at Fish & Richardson, please — send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1878, Fish is one of the largest law firms in the world practicing intellectual property, litigation, and corporate law, and has as a legal staff of more than 450 attorneys and 1,200 employees in 12 offices across the globe, including an office in Munich, Germany.

UPDATE

Another tipster says:

This statement is not true. While it is correct that several corporate attorneys have been asked to leave the firm, the firm plans to keep corporate attorneys in the Northeast.

Okay, but who was laid off? How many? Why? Help us out, people!

Tipster: Layoffs at USC Law School

Erik Even — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:13:06 +0000

According to a JDJournal tipster, there have been stealth layoffs at the USC Gould School of Law.

With all of the recent focus on the University of California Law School furloughs, it’s got to be asked why USC Law laid off staff members this past week, and none of this is being made public by USC Law. In this economy, what’s all the silence about?

That is an excellent question.

If you know anything about layoffs at USC Law, please — send us a confidential tip!

The University of Southern California Law School (Gould School of Law), located in Los Angeles, California, is a graduate school within the University of Southern California. The oldest law school in the Southwestern United States, USC Law had its beginnings in 1896, and was officially established as a school of the university in 1904.

It currently has about 600 JD students, and a growing LL.M program of 90 students.

Tipster: More Layoffs Today at Fulbright & Jaworski [Update 2]

Erik Even — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:07:33 +0000

We have been covering rumors of ongoing stealth layoffs at Fulbright & Jaworski.

We now believe that six associates and four staff were laid off in Los Angeles; 10 staff in San Antonio; 8 staff in New York; 24 staff in Dallas; and 12 secretaries 29 in Houston.

And a JDJournal tipster warned us that more layoffs were coming today.

Now, from the tip line: “Fulbright & Jaworski has laid off staff in Austin, TX – starting this morning at 10:00 a.m.”

C’mon, people! Who? How many? How were those targeted informed?

If you know anything about layoffs today at Fulbright & Jaworski, please — send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1919, Fulbright & Jaworski LLP employs over 1,000 lawyers in 16 locations in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Denver, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Munich, New York, Riyadh, San Antonio, St. Louis and Washington, DC.

UPDATE

From a JDJournal Tipster:

Your numbers re Houston are incorrect. F&J laid of an additional 17 staff members on Friday in Houston. That’s on top of the 11 or 12 let go on Thursday, for a total of 28 or 29. I haven’t heard numbers from Austin either.

Thanks for the tip!

UPDATE 2

Now a tipster informs us that F&J Austin has lost four staff – two floaters, one secretary and one recruiting assistant.

Thanks!

Layoffs Ongoing at Fulbright & Jaworski? [Update 2]

Erik Even — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 02:30:42 +0000

Earlier this week we reported on a tip that Fulbright & Jaworski laid off at least 42 people in Texas and New York.

Now a JDJournal tipster tells us that the firm is laying off “a significant number” of staff today in Houston. The tipster does not have numbers, and isn’t sure if lawyers will be affected.

Thanks for the tip!

If you know anything about layoffs today at Fulbright & Jaworski, please — send us a confidential tip!

UPDATE

A JDJournal tipster says:

Layoff rumors were true. All of the Houston floater secretaries were let go this morning. There were 11 of them. Rumor mill is saying more layoffs coming Friday.

Thanks!

PS – JDJournal has learned that 12 secretaries were let go in Houston. And…

UPDATE 2

Another JDJournal tipster says:

Rumors are the Austin office will have layoffs this Thursday.

We’ll keep bringing you the news (and rumors) as the situation evolves.

Tipster: Husch Blackwell Laying Off More Lawyers

Erik Even — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:15:07 +0000

Husch Blackwell laid off 17 lawyers and 45 staff in March, and 10 lawyers two weeks ago.

Now a JDJournal tipster says the firm has laid off an undisclosed number of additional attorneys.

More attorneys were laid off last week at the St. Louis Husch, Blackwell office, including well respected partners and associates. [They] also demoted equity partners, cut salaries, etc. No one knows until the very last minute. Possibly more to come?

Thanks for the tip!

If you know anything about layoffs or salary cuts at Husch Blackwell, please send us a confidential tip!

Husch Blackwell Sanders is a multinational litigation and business services law firm based in St. Louis, Missouri. It has approximately 675 attorneys in 13 cities. The firm was formed in 2008 as a combination of two regional law firms, Husch & Eppenberger and Blackwell Sanders. The firm also merged with Welsh & Katz of Chicago.

Tipster: More Layoffs at Fulbright & Jaworski

Erik Even — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:56:25 +0000

Last week, we reported that Fulbright & Jaworski has laid off six associates and four staff at its Los Angeles office.

Now a JDJournal tipster tells us that the firm cut 10 support staff from its San Antonio, Texas office; eight from New York; and 24 from Dallas, including 20 secretaries, one recruiter, one accountant, a legal assistant and an IT help desk person.

The tipster also adds that “although attorneys in Dallas have not been laid off to my knowledge, some have been ‘asked to leave.’”

Thanks for the tip!

If you have any additional details about layoffs at Fulbright & Jaworski, please — send us a confidential tip!

Tipster: More Layoffs on Horizon at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt [Update 3]

Erik Even — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:00:48 +0000

In June we reported that Portland, Oregon’s Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt would cut associate salaries and lay off support staff.

Now a JDJournal tipster informs us that more layoffs are coming in August, and the new round will likely include associates.

The tipster says (edited for length and clarity):

Hopefully, Schwabe will handle this round of layoffs better than the June 15 layoffs of nearly 10% of its secretarial and professional staff, in which management attempted such a stealthy layoff that they did not even bother to tell the attorneys that their secretaries would be eliminated – many attorneys came back from a CLE event, a meeting, or a vacation and discovered their secretaries were simply gone.

It would be pretty interesting if management attempted to conduct any associate layoffs in this manner, and just left it up to the supervising partners to figure out who was still around to work on their cases.

Much of the staff affected by the June 15th layoff has been seriously questioning the timing of it – while Schwabe is still insisting that these staff members were cut due to the current state of the economy, Schwabe went on to hire two full-time secretaries within a week of cutting nearly 10% of its secretarial staff… None of the laid-off secretarial staff were asked to return to fill either one of these positions.

…it is worth mentioning that nearly all of the secretarial staff laid off on June 15th had raised some complaint to their supervisor, Virginia Zingg, in the seven months preceding the layoffs, leaving most of the secretarial staff who lost their jobs on June 15th to reach the conclusion that Ms. Zingg simply used the layoffs as a convenient way to clean house for those staff members who she apparently perceived as troublemakers.

If you know anything about layoffs at Schwabe, please — send us a confidential tip! And thanks to all our tipsters!

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt is a law firm with over 160 attorneys in seven cities. The firm currently has offices in Portland, Bend and Salem, Oregon; Seattle, Vancouver and Stevenson, Washington; and Washington, DC. It is the seventh largest law firm in the Pacific Northwest, and the second largest in Oregon.

UPDATE

Another tipster has a lot to say. Edited for length and clarity:

Viginia Zingg did use the layoffs as an excuse to clean house of those she didn’t like… She breaches confidentiality between the secretaries and staff behind her closed doors, and starts rumors just to get someone to give up information.

There has been no support to the secretarial staff since the layoffs took place, and the associates and summers are doing yet another rafting trip to the Deschutes this weekend, like last weekend wasn’t enough!

The staff get to go pull weeds out of Washington Park and have a picnic at the Zoo afterwards as their reward this summer. I bet we will see an article about how great of community services the firm provides after the staff go sweat all day pulling the weeds at their summer event, which used to take place on the Portland Spirit. I guess those days are over…

…the morale at Schwabe is null/void. It is beyond low if that is possible – non-existent.

UPDATE 2

Another tipster writes in (edited for length and clarity):

…one of the managing partners went before the entire firm to announce that every level of Schwabe would be making sacrifices in these difficult times; staff suffered layoffs, associates received pay cuts, and the partners would not be receiving their “holdbacks.” (The partners have a percentage of their salary held back each month. and then receive those funds in June and December pending good receivables).

Within two weeks after that announcement, the partners did in fact receive their holdbacks. Also, note that mid-level management was not mentioned with regard to any sort of sacrifice — no layoffs, no pay cuts.

There have been complaints brought to upper management for years with regard to Virginia Zingg’s inability to maintain confidentiality. It has been a wonder to staff how she maintains her position as a mid-level manager, and further why Schwabe’s upper management and board would allow her to make the decision with regard to which individuals would be laid off.

UPDATE 3

Disturbing reports are emerging from several staff members at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt that Virginia Zingg allegedly commented to them, “Now that so many staff have been eliminated, there will be bigger bonuses for all of us at the end of the year.” In light of the recent reports that the partners did, in fact, receive their holdbacks, it is becoming increasingly clear that the June staff lay-offs, the attorney pay cuts, and the future lay-offs planned for August are not due to the current financial forecast.

Rather, according to Ms. Zingg – a member of management, who would be privy to knowing such things – it was all so that there would be bigger bonuses for all employees at year’s end.

In fact, if Schwabe were legitimately concerned about remaining economically viable, they would terminate Ms. Zingg because she is a huge liability – upper management already has substantiated evidence that she has violated employees’ protected health information under the HIPAA Regulations, and it is just a matter of time before one of these employees obtains a judgment against Schwabe big enough to shut the whole place down.

Rumor: Foley & Lardner Cuts Associate Pay 10%

Erik Even — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:45:11 +0000

Blawgs are reporting that Foley & Lardner has cut pay 10% for all associates in all offices.

The firm is refusing to confirm or deny the rumor. If you know anything about pay cuts at Foley & Lardner, please — send us a confidential tip!

Foley & Lardner has been hiring new lawyers this year — three and three in May, three and two in June.

Foley & Lardner LLP is an international general practice law firm started in 1842 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It employs 1,000 attorneys, and is the 24th largest firm in the United States.

Rumor: WilmerHale Cutting Up to 15% of Associates Firmwide

Erik Even — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:50:51 +0000

In June, we reported that WilmerHale informed an undisclosed number of associates and counsel that they will lose their jobs this Fall.

Now blawgs are reporting on tips, coming from within the firm, that 10 to 15% of all associates firmwide have been informed they will lose their positions. Most are being told to leave for performance reasons; but some of the firings are based on the economy.

If you know anything about layoffs at WilmerHale, please — send us a confidential tip!

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP has twelve offices across the US, Europe and Asia. It was created in 2004 through the merger of the Boston’s Hale & Dorr and the Washington’s Wilmer Cutler & Pickering, and employs more than 1,100 attorneys worldwide. As of 2008, it was the 23rd largest law firm in the world in terms of revenue. In 2007, the National Law Journal ranked the firm as the 22nd largest in the United States by number of attorneys.

Rumor: Cahill Gordon Lays Off Associates

Erik Even — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:19:28 +0000

According to online sources, former Am Law 100 firm Cahill Gordon laid off an undisclosed number of associates last week, with second-years particularly targeted.

Those laid off have been offered severance packages, but no details are available.

If you have any additional details about layoffs at Cahill Gordon, please send us a confidential tip.

Founded in 1919, Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP is a leading New York-based international law firm with additional offices in Washington DC and London.

Tipster: Mishcon de Reya to Cut Up to 12

Erik Even — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:22:30 +0000

A JDJournal tipster tells us that the UK’s Mishcon de Reya, which in January cut two partners and 15 staff, has begun another round of redundancies, targeting 10 to 12 staffers.

Worst hit is the Property department which has suffered badly from the financial crisis and is struggling to gain client trust after one senior partner’s part in a fraud investigation.

If you know anything about layoffs at Mishcon de Reya, please send us a confidential tip. And thanks to our tipster!

Mishcon de Reya is a London law firm specializing in commercial law. It was formed when Victor Mishcon merged with Bartletts de Reya in 1988. The firm came to wider notice when partner Anthony Julius represented Diana, Princess of Wales in her divorce.

Rumor: Cravath Holds Stealth Layoffs, Cuts 25 Associates

Erik Even — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:33:50 +0000

Blawgs are reporting that Cravath has been holding stealth layoffs of associates since December 2008, letting 25 lawyers go for “performance” reasons.

According to online sources, more layoffs are expected this month. Cravath has refused to comment.

Apparently this news is coming out because laid off associates are angry that Cravath will pay incoming 2009 associates $80,000 to defer to 2010.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is based in New York City, with an additional office in London. The second oldest firm in the US, Cravath was founded in 1819.

Tipster: Stealth Layoffs at Dykema

Erik Even — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:39:28 +0000

A JDJournal tipster says that Dykema has laid off at least 20 lawyers and 30 staff since November. This was not reported to the media.

The tipster reports plans to further reduce attorney and staff headcount due to the GM bankruptcy, although this is being kept from firm employees.

If you know anything about the situation at Dykema, please — send us a confidential tip!

Dykema Gossett PLLC is a law firm headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1926, the firm has offices across the United States, including Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. It currently employs over 450 lawyers and lobbying professionals. With the 2008 acquisition of 53 lawyers from the now-defunct Schwartz Cooper, Dykema’s largest office is now in Chicago.

Rumor: Ballard Spahr Cuts Associate Salaries

Erik Even — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:06:23 +0000

A rumor making the rounds in blawgs today is that last week, Philadelphia’s Ballard Spahr cut associate salaries.

The average cut is said to be 14%, but the individual cut for each associate was personalized. Cuts are effective June 16th.

The firm will not confirm or deny the rumor. Which usually means it’s true.

Apparently, a firmwide meeting has been scheduled for this week to discuss the pay cuts.

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll employs more than 550 lawyers in twelve offices located throughout the mid-Atlantic corridor and the western US.

Snell & Wilmer Lays Off Up to 40 Staffers [Update 2]

Erik Even — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:09:18 +0000

Snell & Wilmer has laid off between 30 and 40 staff members, most at its Phoenix, Arizona headquarters. A more precise number has not been provided.

No lawyers were affected.

Snell & Wilmer was founded in 1938 by Frank Snell Jr. and Mark Wilmer. The firm is the largest in the state of Arizona and the 99th largest in the US by number of lawyers, according to the National Law Journal’s 2007 statistics. The southwestern regional firm, which has about 1,000 employees, also has offices in seven other cities in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Los Cabos, Mexico.

UPDATE

A JDJournal tipster claims that Snell & Wilmer has in fact been laying off associates since January, with 30 let go last month.

UPDATE 2

Another tipster says (edited for clarity and length):

Snell has been shedding lawyers for months under the guise of “not making hours.” The firm has a tough billables requirement that is hard to hit even in better times. Thus, they have a built-in reason for not making [new] partners, layoffs, etc.

Don’t expect any survivors to talk, the confidentiality agreement attorneys and staff have to sign regarding firm business is tough. The sick (no pun intended) aspect to the staff layoffs is for the past few years the firm has been targeting anyone with a health concern. The firm went in-house with health care about five years ago to save on insurance premiums. This gives the firm full access to everyone’s medical files. Since then, personnel has been targeting staffers with high medical costs. I’ve seen e-mails from the company handling claims which contain lists of meds and surgical costs. Why would these e-mails go to the personnel director instead of the benefits administrator?

If you have any information about stealth attorney layoffs at Snell & Wilmer, please send us a confidential tip!

Ropes & Gray Cuts Up to 40 Associates [Update]

Erik Even — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:02:33 +0000

Ropes & Gray, which deferred start dates in March, has let go between 30 and 40 associates.

Blawgs are reporting that the layoffs include eight two first year associates.

If you have any details, please send us a confidential tip!

Ropes & Gray LLP is a national law firm with offices located in Boston, New York City, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Washington, Chicago, Hong Kong and Tokyo; and a conference center in London. The firm has over 1,000 lawyers worldwide.

UPDATE

The firm confirms it has sent home only two first year associates, not the 8 to 10 initially reported online.

Confirmed: Skadden Gets O’Melveny’s Beisner & Team [UPDATE]

Erik Even — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:00:10 +0000

Blawgs are reporting that Skadden has lured over prominent attorney John Beisner and two others from O’Melveny & Myers.

Beisner is the chair of O’Melveny’s Class Actions, Mass Torts, and Aggregated Litigation Practice. He will bring with him Jessica Miller and Steve Harburg.

Apparently Beisner is a major player at O’Melveny & Myers, and his loss would be a serious blow to the firm.

If you can confirm this news or provide details, please send us a confidential tip!

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, founded in 1948, is a prominent law firm based in New York City. With over 2,000 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world. Forbes magazine called Skadden “Wall Street’s most powerful law firm.”

O’Melveny & Myers LLP is the 19th largest law firm in the world. It employs 1200 attorneys in 14 offices worldwide.

UPDATE

Skadden has confirmed that Beisner, Miller and Harburg have joined the firm.

Tipster: Stealth Layoffs at Hogan & Hartson [Update]

Erik Even — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:30:16 +0000

A JDJournal tipster informs us that layoffs are underway at Hogan & Hartson.

The layoffs include senior associates who were not up for promotions. The tipster tells us “this was never an ‘up or out’ track until now.”

We don’t yet know any numbers, or which practices are being affected.

In April the firm let go 93 support staff, and cut associate pay.

If you have any information about layoffs at Hogan & Hartson, please send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1904, Hogan & Hartson is the oldest major law firm headquartered in Washington, DC. It is a global firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in 27 offices worldwide, including offices in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

UPDATE

Another tipster writes in, and makes a startling allegation:

Hogan & Hartson’s associate attorney layoffs have not just started. Associates have been being laid off since last, December to my knowledge. Most dispicably, the firm is laying off mostly minorities in its first wave of “letting you go when things just don’t work out.” Don’t be confused however, white associates are also being let go. They offer no severance pay or anything else. Associates [are even] being asked to turn in their BlackBerries, or [the cost] will be taken out of their last check.

Rumor: Stealth Layoffs at Willkie Farr

Erik Even — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:50:27 +0000

The blawgosphere is abuzz with rumors that Willkie Farr has been conducting stealth layoffs, and that a big round of public layoffs, affecting 10% of the workforce, may be on the way.

The recent layoffs are said to have targeted senior and mid-level associates in New York City and Washington, DC, who have been given five months notice.

If you know anything about what’s going on at Willkie Farr, please — send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1888, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm with offices in New York, Washington DC, London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Frankfort, Germany and Brussels. It employs 600 lawyers and staff attorneys. Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo has been of counsel with Willkie Farr since leaving office in 1995.

Update: Laid Off Kilpatrick Lawyer Commits Suicide at Office

Erik Even — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:10:21 +0000

We reported yesterday that Kilpatrick Stockton had laid off 24 lawyers.

This morning, police and firefighters responded when Mark Levy, Washington DC-based counsel and chair of Kilpatrick Stockton’s Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy practice, shot himself at the DC office.

According to a JDJournal tipster, he was one of those let go this week.

Levy’s listing on the firm’s web site says he was a Yale Law School grad, a former member of the Clinton DOJ and a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Virginia School of Law.

Kilpatrick Stockton employs more than 500 attorneys in ten offices globally: Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia; Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, North Carolina; New York, New York; Washington, DC; Dubai, UAE; London, UK; and Stockholm, Sweden.

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.

Tipster: More Stealth Layoffs at Duval & Stachenfeld

Erik Even — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:43:53 +0000

A tipster told us in January that New York City’s Duval & Stachenfeld was laying off an undisclosed number of first and second year associates.

Now a JDJournal tipster has more to sat about stealth layoffs at the firm.

Edited for clarity:

In addition to its previously reported layoffs of junior associates, D&S has also recently laid off and/or constructively laid off (slashing compensation 30-65% with a modest buy-out offer) a few more senior associates, as well as a few non-equity and at least one equity partner.

Some have been removed from the firm’s web site, but at least a half dozen of the departed lawyers are still listed on the site.

Is this tipster “disgruntled?” He or she signs off with:

… Hoping to be in the next wave.

Have anymore details? Let us know with a confidential tip!

Founded in 1997, Duval & Stachenfeld LLP provides legal advisory services. The firm focuses on areas such as bankruptcy, litigation, real estate, restructuring, securities and construction.

Rumor: Baker McKenzie Cuts Associate Salaries

Erik Even — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:01:31 +0000

Tipsters are informing blawgers that Baker & McKenzie has cut salaries between 10% and 25% for some associates.

We reported two weeks ago that the firm laid off 124 people. They also deferred start dates for trainees.

If you have any details about salary cuts (or anything else) at Baker & McKenzie, please send us a confidential tip. Remember to mention what law firm you’re talking about!

Baker & McKenzie was founded in Chicago in 1949 by Russell Baker and John McKenzie. One of the first law firms to be truly global, it employs more than 3,900 lawyers in more than 70 offices in 38 different countries.

Rumor: Shearman & Sterling Laying Off Associates

Erik Even — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:40:01 +0000

According to online sources, New York’s Shearman & Sterling is laying off 5% of its litigation associates, plus associates in other practice groups.

According to the rumor, the firm is characterizing the firings as merit-based.

In March, Shearman laid off 78 staff in the US and UK. It has also deferred start dates for incoming associates.

Shearman & Sterling LLP is a law firm headquartered in New York City, with 19 offices located in major financial centers around the world. It was founded in 1873.

As of 2006, it was the 17th largest law firm in the world as measured by 2006 annual revenue. Shearman & Sterling is a white shoe firm, the equivalent of the Magic Circle in the UK.

In-House Lawyer Layoffs at Wells Fargo

Erik Even — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:21:25 +0000

Wells Fargo has partially confirmed online rumors, that the bank is laying off some of its in-house counsel.

Online rumors say that the bank, which recently merged with Wachovia, is cutting up to 20% of its legal department. The bank would not confirm the numbers, but characterized the percentage affected as “small.”

Founded in New York in 1852, San Francisco, California-based Wells Fargo & Co. is the 4th largest bank in the US by assets, and the second largest bank by market cap.

Davis Wright Cuts Associate Salaries

Erik Even — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:14:15 +0000

Sources on the blawgosphere report that Seattle’s Davis Wright Tremaine has cut associate salaries by 5%. The cut affects all class years.

Davis Wright is also pushing back start dates of its incoming associates to January 2010. A bar stipend of $7,500 has been offered.

Established in 1908, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP has offices in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, Washington DC, New York, and Shanghai. In 2008, the National Law Journal ranked the firm 98th largest in the United States based on attorney headcount.

Rumor: More Stealth Layoffs at Willkie Farr

Erik Even — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:24:19 +0000

According to sources in the blawgosphere, 20 staffers at Willkie Farr & Gallagher were laid off in January, and around two dozen employees were invited to leave last week.

It is unclear if any of those said to have been laid off were lawyers.

If you know anything about what’s going on at Willkie Farr, please send us a confidential tip! You’ll be glad you did! It’s a Passover mitzvah!

Tipster: Staff Layoffs at Bracewell & Giuliani

Erik Even — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:18:00 +0000

Today we received a lengthy tip from a frustrated employee of Bracewell & Giuliani, reporting support staff layoffs at the firm’s Washington, DC office.

Here’s is what the tipster had to say, edited for length & clarity:

I work for the firm Bracewell & Giuliani, and would like to share the layoff process they conducted this past Monday, April 6, 2009.

Just a little over a month and a half ago, we were all told by the office administrator that B&G was one of the only firms in DC that was not going through any type of layoff. We were all assured that our jobs were secure and that if anything should arise we would be the first to know.

During this meeting we were also told about the expansion the firm was in the process of making. … They would be hiring more attorneys, associated and secretaries. We were told that the firm was growing and we were all lucky part of that team. They really pumped us [up], making us all feel extremely secure.

My suspicions [were] aroused when we were all told that they were replacing our Special Service team, with an different agency that was more affordable. Special Service folks were given the opportunity to interview with this particular agency, but if they agency did not hire them, they were out of a job.

These folks have been with B&G [as long as] 30 years.

On Monday… a secretary at our firm… was told that she was being “laid off” and needed to leave the building immediately. They called a cab and gave her a voucher. Shortly thereafter, they called another secretary and then another.

The following day the layoff rampage continued and they let IT folks go, and sent them out the door with out anytime to properly gather their items or tell people they had been working with for years good-bye.

The tipster takes issue with the way the layoffs are being handled.

The process almost seems rude, cruel and inhuman. It seemed to me that the HR bosses from Houston took great joy in walking around the hallways for the next few days, intimidating us. I also overheard a few people laughing and making jokes about the people that had been laid off.

At this point, no one cared about the stress they were causing us and how their nonchalant attitudes affected us. I felt terrible and continue to feel terrible for the people that were laid off, and feel so incredibly angry every time I see the Partners having their expensive catered lunches.

There were rumors of B&G layoffs in January.

Bracewell & Giuliani employs more than 400 lawyers at offices in Texas, New York, Washington DC, and Connecticut, as well as in Dubai, Kazakhstan, and London.

Tipster: Quinn Emanuel Layoffs in Los Angeles

Erik Even — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:13:43 +0000

According to a JDJournal tipster, Quinn Emanuel held more layoffs at their Los Angeles Office yesterday.

There are no further details. The last rumored layoff was held last month, and there were no numbers released then as well.

If you know anything about the situation at Quinn Emanuel, please — send us a confidential 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.

Rumor: Winstead Revoking Offers to New Associates? [Update]

Erik Even — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:00:12 +0000

Last month Winstead, a Texas law firm with seven offices, canceled its 2009 summer associate program. The firm is offering $5,000 each to the 2Ls who are left without summer employment.

Now online sources are claiming the firm has revoked offers to incoming associates, without any kind of severance.

The firm denies the revocation rumor, stating that start dates have merely been deferred, with stipends.

If you know anything about the situation at Winstead, please — send us a confidential tip!

Winstead PC has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and The Woodlands, Texas; and in Washington, DC.

UPDATE:

A JDJournal tipsters says:

I can confirm that incoming associates have had their offers rescinded without any severance at the Houston office. It happened to a close friend of mine. In fact, the news was delivered without so much as an apology. Worse, the firm promised to do everything possible to help with outplacement, but when contacted about it, simply said they would “let them know if anything comes up,” i.e. they aren’t planning to do anything. It’s odd, really, that they would offer a severance to 2Ls without a summer clerkship, but nothing to a 3Ls with rescinded permanent offers.

Update: No Cozen Deal Before Wolf Block Dissolved

Erik Even — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:03:23 +0000

Last week we reported that Cozen O’Connor was picking up about 30 attorneys from the now-defunct Wolf Block.

But it seems that rumors spread throughout Wolf Block that the deal between Cozen and the Wolf Block attorneys was made before the vote top dissolve. The message many Wolf Block lawyers thought they heard was “we’re merging with another firm, but you can’t come along.”

Wolf Block was in merger talks with Cozen O’Connor in late 2006, early 2007

But the leaders of both firms have now publicly denied there was a deal in place — in fact they say there was an agreement by Cozen O’Connor not to poach any attorneys before a dissolution vote.

Both Cozen O’Connor President Thomas A. “Tad” Decker and Wolf Block Chairman Mark Alderman, who is part of the group joining Cozen O’Connor, adamantly deny that any deal was in place prior to the dissolution vote.

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.