JD Journal » Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe Adds Pair of Expert Financial Services Regulatory Attorneys in London Office

rebneely — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:00:43 +0000

The law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced in recent days that Sam Millar and Tony Katz, both financial services regulatory experts, joined the firm as partners in its London office.

Millar and Katz both join from Liquid Capital Group; Millar served as General Counsel and Katz served as Group Head of Compliance.

Anne O’Neill, head of Orrick’s London office was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Financial institutions comprise more than one-third of Orrick’s practice globally and this addition responds to our clients’ increasing demand for seamless global regulatory and dispute resolution advice.”

Orrick has successfully litigated many of the defining issues arising out of the financial crises on behalf of clients such as Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley, and has market-leading financial institutions practices in a variety of areas including capital markets, project finance, and structured finance.

Both Millar and Katz have significant experience advising leading financial institutions and funds and FTSE listed companies in contentious and non-contentious matters, including regulatory investigations and commercial litigation.

For four years, Katz served at the Financial Services Authority as a Manager in the Retail Policy and Conduct Risk Division. At Liquid Capital Group, the global options market making firm and a long-time Orrick client in London, Millar and Katz guided the firm’s expansion and restructuring in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Hong Kong, Chicago and New York. The pair’s non-contentious work includes supervisory inquiries, assisting and managing relationships with exchanges and regulators, compliance systems, strategic advice and reviews, internal investigations, and financial services related agreements and employment advice.

Millar started his legal career with Ashurst and Jones Day; this included a secondment to Goldman Sachs International. He studied law at Cambridge University, and has an LLM from the University of Illinois as a Fulbright Commission Travel Scholar. He also served as a Judicial Assistant at the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.

Katz began his career in South Africa at Edward Nathan Sonnenberg. He then practiced in London with Slaughter and May for six years before serving with the FSA. He received a BBusSc, with honors, and an LLB from the University of Cape Town.

A leading global law firm with offices spanning the United States, Europe and Asia, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has over 1,200 lawyers across 23 offices and 8 countries, and offers practices of the highest quality, including a mix of transactional, litigation and regulatory expertise.

Chambers & Partners ranks Orrick’s lawyers and its practices among the world’s finest. The 2011 Chambers Global profiles Orrick’s strengths across 37 practice areas and 11 markets, and names 60 Orrick lawyers as leading practitioners worldwide. Law 360 recently recognized Orrick among its “Global 20,” a list of the most successful firms as measured by US and international expansion and results achieved for clients. In addition, The Financial Times includes Orrick on its list of the most innovative U.S.-origin law firms, recognizing the firm’s finance and litigation work.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Adds Five Partners to NY Acquisition Finance Practice

rebneely — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:33:03 +0000

In recent days, the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced that five bank finance and high yield partners have joined its existing New York acquisition finance practice.

The partners include Ronan M. Wicks and Patrick J. Flanagan, formerly partners at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP in New York, Bruce Czachor, formerly a partner at Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York, Julian S.H. Chung, formerly a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in New York, and Jason D. White, head of the leveraged and high grade finance and credit restructuring practices in the Americas for the legal department of Barclays Capital.

The partners have joined Orrick’s acquisition finance practice group; Ronan Wicks will serve as global co-head.

Wicks, Flanagan, Czachor, Chung and White regularly represent a cross section of major investment banks in sophisticated financing and restructuring transactions involving financial sponsors, leveraged corporates and investment grade companies. Clients have included Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, and Bank of America.

Orrick’s client base of financial institutions accounts for over one-third of the firm’s total revenues. With the addition of these partners, the firm has added significant acquisition finance capability to its leading financial institution practices in the areas of project finance, infrastructure finance, structured finance, public finance, capital markets, tax, and litigation.

Ralph Baxter, Chairman and CEO of Orrick was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are delighted to assemble this team of leading practitioners in the area of acquisition finance. This move adds another strong dimension to our representation of major investment banks and financial institutions, both in New York and globally.”

Ralph Baxter has held the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP since 1990. Under his leadership, the firm has become known as an innovator, and has expanded, diversified and extended its geographic reach, as well as launched a variety of transformative initiatives, including the firm’s new talent and pricing models.

Recognized as one of America’s “100 Most Influential Lawyers” by The National Law Journal, Baxter speaks frequently on business leadership and the evolution of the legal profession. He is the founder of the Law Firm Leaders Forum, one of the most significant gatherings of law firm leaders annually examining critical issues facing the legal profession.

Chambers & Partners ranks Orrick’s lawyers and its practices among the world’s finest. The 2011 Chambers Global profiles Orrick’s strengths across 37 practice areas and 11 markets, and names 60 Orrick lawyers as leading practitioners worldwide. Law 360 recently named Orrick among its “Global 20,” a list of the most successful firms as measured by US and international expansion and results achieved for clients. As well, The Financial Times includes Orrick on its list of the most innovative U.S.-origin law firms, recognizing the firm’s finance and litigation work.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Adds Four Partners to NY Office

rebneely — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:58:43 +0000

Four partners, formerly with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, have joined the New York office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. They are Daniel Thomasch, Richard Mark, Lauren Elliot and Joseph Evall.

The group has significant experience with complex litigation on behalf of major companies in the life sciences sector, with a focus on mass torts, product liability and patent litigation. The group is well known for their work as national lead trial and appellate counsel for Wyeth (now Pfizer) in over 350 product liability cases involving claims that childhood vaccines containing the preservative thimerosal cause autistic-spectrum disorders in some children.

Ken Doran, Chair and Managing Partner of Gibson Dunn was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are pleased to welcome this exceptional group of litigators to our New York office. Their experience and success litigating on behalf of major companies in the life sciences, pharmaceutical and biotech industries complements our firmwide strengths in the areas of class actions, mass torts and patent litigation.”

Thomasch was the Chair of Orrick’s Life Sciences Steering Committee. His trial practice focuses on complex product liability and patent infringement cases.

Richard Mark has a broad litigation practice with extensive experience in governmental investigations, intellectual property, product liability, commercial litigation and appellate litigation.

Lauren Elliot focuses her practice on litigating complex matters in federal and state trial and appellate courts, with an emphasis on product liability and patent litigation.

Joseph Evall’s practice focuses on patent infringement, product liability and commercial litigation involving complex issues of science and technology.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is a global law firm with nearly 1,000 attorneys and over 2,000 staff located in 15 offices around the world.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:06:45 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, September 29th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

Orrick and Akin Gump began merger talks…

Greenberg Traurig added two attorneys to its Corporate and Securities practice…

The Florida Supreme Court declined U.S. Rep Alan Grayson’s request to halt the foreclosures being handled by three South Florida law firms under investigation…

Orrick and Akin Gump in Merger Talks

ashley — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 02:42:07 +0000

Mergers between large law firms are becoming more and more common lately. Following the trend, firms Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP are in talks of a merger which have been called by representatives on both sides “preliminary.”

Founded in 1863 in San Francisco, Orrick has striven to build relationships with its clients and develop a solid basis for its firm. Orrick is now a worldwide law firm with 22 different offices and over 1,100 lawyers.

Akin Gump has been around since 1945. The firm is one of the world’s largest and has also spanned the globe with 14 offices and more than 800 lawyers. Akin Gump has offices across the United States, Switzerland, England, Russia, China, and The United Arab Emirates.

This is not the first merger talk that Orrick has been a part of, though a merger of Orrick and Akin Gump would create a global firm that would be comprised of over 1,740 attorneys.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:54:47 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, September 22nd. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

King & Spalding opened an office in Singapore…

The Best Lawyers in America gave Jones & Walker high rankings for the fourth year in a row…

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe added two attorneys to its London office…

The American Lawyer, The Nationnew al Law Journal and Corporate Counsel will present the second annual “The Litigation Summit: The Business of Litigation” October 5-6, 2010…

O’Melveny & Myers formed a new integrated legal strategies practice…

Orrick Bolsters London Office with Two Laterals

joshua — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:26:11 +0000

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced Wednesday that Kolvin Stone, formerly of Fox Williams, and Nick Thornton, formerly of Fried Frank, have joined Orrick’s London office as partners in its corporate and tax practices, respectively.

“London’s importance to global markets makes it a critical business centre for our clients,” Anne O’Neill, , partner-in-charge of Orrick’s London Office, said in a press release. “A well-recognized strategic objective of the firm has been to grow in London with highly experienced lawyers who can serve all of our clients needs.”

Formerly the leader of Fox Williams’ ebusiness group, Stone’s practice focuses on intellectual property and technology law, data protection and privacy law and online regulation. He regularly negotiates, drafts and advises on complex commercial agreements and technology transactions, such as technology licenses, supply, distribution and development agreements, terms of business, SaaS agreements and outsourcing agreements.

Thornton focuses his practice on the tax aspects of many types of transactions, particularly those with an international dimension, including mergers and acquisitions, asset purchase and sales, corporate restructurings, securities offerings, financings and fund formations. He has worked on sophisticated tax issues for a number of large international clients including Virgin Media, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Investec, Rhodia, Thomson Reuters and Edison Mission Energy.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a global law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in North America, Europe and Asia.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:05:37 +0000

Good morning everybody! Today is Friday, August 27th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Many associates at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe received pay raises…

Sidley Austin added to its international trade and Latin America practices….

Former pitcher Roger Clemens will be arraigned Monday in on charges he lied to Congress about his use of performance-enhancing drugs…

Orrick Associates Get Bump in Pay

joshua — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:12:30 +0000

Most associates at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe are receiving pay raises, according to a report from Legal Pad. While not a return to lockstep compensation, second-year associates will havetheir compensation bumped to $170,000 from $160,000 beginning in January, and third-years will have salaries increased $15,000 to $185,000.

The salaries of first-year associates will remain at $160,000 in top markets.

Legal Pad reports managing associates will earn between $210,000 and $250,000 next year and senior associates will earn up to $265,000 in base salary.

Orrick spokesman David Schaefer told the Web site the plan does have lockstep elements in the early years, but will begin to vary more at the “managing associate level.” That’s because the firm “doesn’t want to judge lawyers too early in their career development.”

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a global law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in 22 offices in North America, Europe and Asia. The firm focuses on litigation, complex and novel finance and innovative corporate transactions.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:05:07 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, May 17th. Here’s a quick look back at Friday’s and Saturday’s stories.

Orrick to Change Profit Reporting…

Loucks Has New Home…

Small Firms to Pay Higher Payroll Tax?…

Chicago Firm Victim of nearly $1M Embezzlement…

Australian Firm Eyes Suit Against Goldman Sachs…

Class Action Filed Against Pfizer by Brualdi…

Judge Appoints Berman Co-Lead Counsel In Class Action Against Toyota…

Harris Beach PLLC Opens Office on Long Island…

$15 Million Verdict Announced Against Botox Manufacturer…

Bernard M. Gross Files Class Action on Behalf of Transocean Shareholders…

Partner Of Honolulu PI Firm To Start Nonprofit For Children With Disabilities…

Orrick to Change Profit Reporting

joshua — Sun, 16 May 2010 04:46:37 +0000

San Francisco based Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe announced Wednesday that as of this year it will no longer publish its average profit per partner. Profit per partner, long seen as the standard way to measure a law firm’s performance, was described as “no longer the right way to evaluate ourselves” by Orrick Chairman Ralph Baxter.

Baxter went on to say that the profit per partner metric gives clients a negative impression of the firm: “Clients don’t like the perception that law firms are organized to drive the income of its partners.”

In 2009, Orrick reported gross revenue of $847.5 million and profits per partner of $1.3 million.

Lanny Davis Leaves McDermott Will for Own Firm

joshua — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:02:28 +0000

High-profile Washington lawyer Lanny J. Davis, a former special counsel to President Bill Clinton, is leaving McDermott Will & Emery after just seven months to form his own firm.

Davis, who is also a well-known political pundit and columnist, said in a statement to the Washington Post that he is forming Lanny J. Davis & Associates, which will specialize in general litigation issues, media crisis and public policy issues.

“I am excited by this opportunity to offer multidiscipline, solution-oriented legal-media-legislative strategies services to U.S. and international clients,” Mr. Davis said in a statement. “I especially look forward to working with not only McDermott attorneys and clients, but also with other attorneys and law firms on high-profile litigation and regulatory matters.”

It was back in October that Davis made news by leaving Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe to join McDermott Will & Emery. According to multiple reports, Davis will continue to work with McDermott but will also forge relationships with other firms in his new role.

Is ‘Big Law’ Revamping Associates’ Pay Structure?

joshua — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:54:11 +0000

Peter Zeughauser, consultant to law firms and former general counsel of the Irvine Company has suggested that ‘Big Law’ may need to rethink the pay structure for associates, according to the March 31 New York Times article.

The recession, a trend toward flat fees versus hourly billing and ever improving technology has forced many firms to trim the fat.

In the last two years, many law firms have laid off associates, deferred start dates for hires and altered base pay and bonus structures. This has included pay cuts and freezes, redistributing portions of base salaries, and eliminating lock-step pay increases.

As an example of an alternative pay structure, Howrey LLP hires about 20 partner-track associates. Each receive reduced salaries in their first year ($125,000) and second year ($150,000) and have lower billable-hour requirements. Instead, training and partner mentorship are emphasized. In the early years, they are billed out at lower rates for the work they do. In essence, this transfers the costs of training to the firm and to the associates. Instead of meeting billable-hour quotas or merely marking time at the firm, advancement is based on the broadening of skill sets.

Howrey also hires a second tier of non-partner track lawyers to handle lower-level assignments and work fewer hours. These individuals begin at a salary of $80,000.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe employs a similar program. Mr. Zeughauser calls these programs “cutting edge.”

President Obama Nominates Melinda Haag for U.S. Attorney for Coastal Northern CA

joshua — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:55:51 +0000

President Obama nominated Melinda Haag, a San Francisco attorney and former federal prosecutor, on Thursday to become U.S. attorney for coastal Northern California.

If the Senate confirms her appointment, Haag would become the first woman to hold the position in San Francisco since Annette Adams. She served from 1918 to 1920.

In the Friday March 26 San Francisco Chronicle article, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif, who recommended her to the President, was quoted as saying that Haag ”is well-respected in the California legal community and will bring more than two decades of experience handling white-collar crime cases to the U.S. attorney’s office.”

Haag is currently a partner at Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe, an international law firm based in San Francisco.

King & Spalding Nabs Two from Orrick

joshua — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:14:42 +0000

King & Spalding added to its professional liability and securities litigation practices with the addition of two partners formerly of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Kenneth Y. Turnbull joins King & Spalding’s Washington D.C. office while David M. Fine will head to New York.

Turnbull and Fine both have trial practices that focus on accountant liability defense and securities –related matters, according to a firm press release. Turnbull brings experience in complex litigation in state, federal and multidistrict proceedings and investigations by United States Attorneys’ Office. Fine’s practice has an emphasis on financial, accounting and securities-related matters.

“Hiring Ken and David into King & Spalding’s litigation practice furthers our strategic plan of growing our core practices of professional liability litigation and securities litigation,” said L. Joseph Loveland, a senior partner in King & Spalding’s business litigation practice and head of the firm’s professional liability litigation initiative. “They are skilled trial lawyers who will greatly enhance our already-solid reputation as one of the nation’s premier litigation firms, distinguished by our deep trial experience combined with big firm resources.”

King & Spalding is an international law firm with more than 800 attorneys.

King & Spalding Adds Three Partners from Orrick

joshua — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:20:26 +0000

King & Spalding is adding three partners to its litigation practice. Trial lawyers James J. Capra Jr. and James P. Cusick will join the firm’s New York office and Diana L. Weiss will be resident in the Washington D.C. office.

All three are former partners at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and have backgrounds in accountant liability and financial institution and securities litigation, which they will continue at King & Spalding.

Weiss focuses her practice on financial, accounting and securities-related litigation and regulatory proceedings. Capra caters to litigation of accountant liability, antitrust and other general commercial matters. Cusick is the former global co-head of litigation for Morgan Stanley. He represents accounting firms, financial institutions and other businesses in trial and appellate matters.

King & Spalding is in its 125^th year and has more than 800 lawyers with offices in Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dubai, Frankfurt, Houston, London, New York, Paris, Riyadh (affiliate office) San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington D.C.

Lori Kalani Joins Orrick

joshua — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:02:36 +0000

Lori Kalani is leaving DISH Network, where she is currently senior counsel and director of government affairs, and joining Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Kalani will be part of Orrick’s government and strategic affairs practice group in the Washington, DC office.

Through her work for DISH Network, Kalani has had the opportunity to get to know and work with nearly every attorney general in the country and will bring that familiarity along with her knowledge and experience with multi jurisdiction tax law, consumer protection laws and other related areas to her practice at Orrick.

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, founded in 1863, has over 1,100 lawyers worldwide in 21 offices. The firm’s day-to-day administrative operations are centralized at a Global Operations Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Levi Strauss Hires Orrick – Extremely Broad Alternative Fee Arrangement

joshua — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:01:40 +0000

Since the start of the recession, law firms have increasingly turned to alternative fee agreements to keep business flowing in. Now Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has signed what might be the broadest alternative fee agreement ever with Levi Strauss. Under the agreement, Orrick will handle all of Levi’s non IP legal work for one year (Levi Strauss will continue to retain Townsend for its brand protection work) for a flat fee, paid incrementally. Where Orrick does not have an office, the firm will retain and pay for outside counsel as needed. The financial details of the deal have not been released by either company.

Lanny Davis and Eileen O’Connor Move to McDermott Will & Emery

joshua — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:13:37 +0000

This is not you normal pair of lawyers. Lanny Davis was White House special counsel under Bill Clinton and acted as a spokesman for the President on matters ranging from campaign finance investigations to the scandal involving Monica Lewisnky. He was a big supporter of Hillary Clinton during the 2008 primary campaign and still maintains close ties to the Clinton’s. Eileen O’Connor, in addition to being a lawyer, is a well known journalist who covered stories for ABC and CNN for 24 years. Together, they led a practice involving litigation and media strategies at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Now, the pair is moving together to McDermott Will & Emeryto join the firm’s regulatory and government strategies practice.

AmLaw: Cadwalader Still #1 for Layoffs

Erik Even — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:20:22 +0000

The American Lawyer has updated its list of AmLaw 200 law firms by percentage layoffs since January, 2008. More than 3,067 attorney jobs have been cut, or 2.75%.

Here are the top five, as of today:

Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft: 36.3%
Dechert LLP: 14.6%
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe: 14.3%
McKee Nelson: 13.3%
White & Case: 13.0%

50 Best Law Firms for Women Announced

Erik Even — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:33:38 +0000

Working Mother Magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers have announced their 2009 Best Law Firms for Women.

The accolade is awarded based on attention to work-life and women’s issues, and the increased use of part-time and other family-friendly policies.

Firms with at least 50 lawyers were eligible to apply, and the application included detailed questions about issues that are important to the retention and promotion of female lawyers. The winning firms were selected based on their workforce profile, family-friendly benefits and policies, flexibility, leadership, compensation, advancement and retention of women, among other criteria utilizing 2008 data.

The 50 firms chosen are not ranked in any order, but include:

Alston & Bird
Andrews Kurth
Arent Fox
Bass Berry Sims
Chapman and Cutler
Covington & Burling
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Debevoise & Plimpton
Dorsey & Whitney
Drinker Biddle
Foley Hoag
Folger Levin & Kahn
Fox Rothschild
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz
Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson
Frost Brown Todd
Gibbons PC
Goodwin Procter
Gray Plant Mooty
Hanson Bridgett
Hardy & Bacon
Holland and Hart
Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn
Ice Miller
Jenner & Block
Katten Muchin Rosenman Cornish LLP
Latham & Watkins
Lindquist & Vennum
Littler Mendelson
Lowenstein Sandler
Manatt Phelps & Phillips
McGuireWoods
Miller & Chevalier
Morrison & Foerster
Munger Tolles & Olson
Neal Gerber & Eisenberg
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison
Perkins Coie
Pillsbury Winthrop
Quarles & Brady
Shook
Sidley Austin
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Smith Moore Leatherwood
Steptoe & Johnson
Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox
Vinson & Elkins
Weil Gotshal & Manges
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Huh. The list of firms not included might be shorter.

Orrick Defers Summer Associate Offers to 2012

Erik Even — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:29:13 +0000

San Francisco’s Orrick, which laid off 300 employees in March, has informed its 2009 summers associates that any job offers will not start until January 2012.

Those offered positions will defer for one year, and participate in a public interest fellowship program in 2011.

Also the firm, which usually recruits on campuses in late Summer/early Fall, will hold recruitment between November 2009 and March 2010. This is to give current summers a chance to decide whether they will accept offers with Orrick, so the firm does not over-recruit.

Orrick previously deferred its incoming Fall 2009 class to January and March of 2010, and offered fellowships to those who chose to defer their start dates further to January 2011.

Orrick Abandons Lock-step Compensation for Associates

Erik Even — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:35:01 +0000

San Francisco’s Orrick, which laid off 300 employees in March, is abandoning lock-step compensation for associates.

Under a lock-step scheme, associate salaries are determined entirely by how long the associate has been with the firm.

Orrick’s new compensation model places associates on the partner track into one of three levels: Associate, Managing Associate, and Senior Associate. Compensation will be based on level, and clear guidelines for moving up through the levels will be provided.

Associates not on the track to partner will be on a personalized program called the Custom Track.

The firm is also expanding its associate training, mentoring, and feedback systems.

San Francisco, California-based Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe was founded in 1863, and has over 1,100 lawyers worldwide in 21 offices. The firm’s day-to-day administrative operations are centralized at a Global Operations Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.

AmLaw: Cadwalader #1 for Layoffs

Erik Even — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:58:17 +0000

The American Lawyer has assembled a list of AmLaw 200 law firms by percentage layoffs since January, 2008. More than 2,900 attorney jobs have been cut, or 2.62%.

Here are the top five, as of today:

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft: 29.8%
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe: 14.3%
McKee Nelson: 13.3%
White & Case: 13.0%
Dechert LLP: 11.8%

Orrick Hiring Law Grads for Ops Center

Erik Even — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:10:17 +0000

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is recruiting recent law school graduates for its Global Operations Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.

The positions are entry level Career Attorneys in the Emerging Companies Group.

In the beginning of March, Orrick laid off 100 associates and 200 staff.

The San Francisco-based firm, founded in 1863, has over 1,100 lawyers worldwide in 21 offices. The firm’s day-to-day administrative operations are centralized at the Global Operations Center.

Lateral Hiring Up 100% in London

Erik Even — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:52:36 +0000

Over five years, London firms’ hiring of lateral partners has almost doubled, from 42 hires in 2004 to 79 in 2008.

The data come from a Legal Week study tracking hiring at 33 US and UK firms’ London offices.

Orrick, Weil Gotshal, Arnold & Porter, Cleary Gottlieb, Cravath, and Skadden all brought on laterals.

On the other hand, Shearman & Sterling, Dechert and White & Case cut lawyers.

More Firms Adopting Merit-Based Pay for Associates

Erik Even — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:33:24 +0000

Many law firms are using the economic meltdown as an excuse to end seniority-based pay for associates, adopting “merit-based” systems similar to those used outside the legal profession.

Examples in the US include Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, Shearman & Sterling and WolfBlock.

Firms are also cutting salaries for starting associates, just two years after top firms raised pay to compete for talent.

“In the current economic crisis, we see the final demise of the Medieval guild in the American legal profession,” consultant Joel Henning tells Bloomberg.

Orrick will introduce new tiers of associates, replacing the traditional single-track system where some become partners who share in the firm’s profits after about eight years. Under the new structure, associates will be able to stay at the firm permanently, drawing salaries; and will not have to leave the firm if they are unwilling to work long hours.

Clients typically pay much less for work done by a law firm associate than that performed by a partner.

Howrey introduced a similar plan in January, and McGuireWoods started one two years ago.

Update: The Week in Layoffs, Final Edition

Erik Even — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:22:09 +0000

It was another disastrous week for law firm layoffs. Here are the totals:

Arent Fox: 13 attorneys, 15 staff

Bingham McCutchen: 16 attorneys, 23 staff

King & Spalding: 37 attorneys, 85 staff

Akin Gump: 47 attorneys, 57 staff

O’Melveny & Myers: 90 attorneys, 110 staff

Shearman & Sterling: 78 staff

Dewey & LeBeouf: 15 attorneys, 115 staff

Clifford Chance: 115 staff

Wiggin and Dana: 14 attorneys, 14 staff

Stinson Morrison Hecker: 30 staff

DLA Piper: 20 attorneys, 34 staff

Haynes and Boone: 2 attorneys, 1 staff

Pillsbury Winthrop: 55 attorneys, 100 staff

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe: 100 attorneys, 200 staff

The official JD Journal totals for this week:

409 attorneys, 977 staff

Yeah, that’s not good.

Know about any layoffs we haven’t reported? Send us a confidential tip!

Update: Latham Offering New Associates $75K to Take Year Off

Erik Even — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Latham & Watkins is offering incoming lawyers $75,000 to take a year off.

The firm, which fired 190 lawyers and 250 staff last week, is pushing back the start date for all incoming lawyers from mid-October to mid-December, and offering the $75K bribe to those who wait a year to start work.

Latham & Watkins LLP is one of the largest law firms in the world, employing around 1,500 attorneys in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was started in Los Angeles in 1934 and has extensive California roots, but its largest office is now in New York City.

San Francisco’s Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is also offering $75,000 to its incoming lawyers in the US to begin in Fall 2010. Lawyers who take the money will be placed in a public-interest or government job for the year, or in a position with one of the firm’s clients.

Orrick said this week fired 300 employees, including lawyers, worldwide. In November, Orrick fired 40 lawyers and 35 staff.

The San Francisco-based firm, founded in 1863, has over 1,100 lawyers worldwide in 21 offices.

This Week in Layoffs… So Far

Erik Even — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:08:25 +0000

It’s been another disastrous week for law firm layoffs. So far:

O’Melveny & Myers: 90 attorneys, 110 staff

Shearman & Sterling: 78 staff

Dewey & LeBeouf: 15 attorneys, 115 staff

Clifford Chance: 115 staff

Wiggin and Dana: 14 attorneys, 14 staff

Stinson Morrison Hecker: 30 staff

DLA Piper: 20 attorneys, 34 staff

Haynes and Boone: 2 attorneys, 1 staff

Pillsbury Winthrop: 55 attorneys, 100 staff

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe: 100 attorneys, 200 staff

Confirmed: Orrick Cuts 300 Employees

Erik Even — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:19:46 +0000

As predicted, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe is laying off a total of 300 employees.

Orrick has begun a firmwide reduction in its workforce in the United States and Asia and redundancy consultations in Europe that will affect approximately 100 associates and 200 staff. These actions are made necessary by the world economic crisis and the impact of that crisis on our clients and the levels of activity in the world market. These actions are unrelated to performance and affect attorneys and staff throughout our offices and practices. We will provide severance pay and outplacement services and otherwise work to assist with the individual transitions.

Laid off attorneys will get a three month severance package.

The San Francisco-based firm, founded in 1863, has over 1,100 lawyers worldwide in 21 offices. The firm’s day-to-day administrative operations are centralized at a Global Operations Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.

White & Case Will Not Merge With Singapore Firm

Erik Even — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:03:22 +0000

White & Case, one of six international firms granted a license to practice Singapore law, has canceled plans to merge with local alliance partner Venture Law.

The firm declined to comment further, though a source briefed on the matter confirmed that White & Case’s plans no longer included a merger with the 10-lawyer Venture Law.

The two firms had been in a formal alliance since 2003. Until December, such alliances and joint ventures were the only means through which international firms could practice Singapore law. Prior to its arrangement with 10-lawyer Venture Law, White & Case had participated in a short-lived joint venture with another local firm, Colin Ng & Partners.

Other foreign firms, including Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Shearman & Sterling and Freshfields, also pulled out of Singapore joint ventures, and the Singapore government last year introduced its liberalized Qualified Foreign Law Practice regime partly in response to their complaints.

Along with White & Case, the other foreign firms who received QFLP licenses were Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith, Latham & Watkins and Norton Rose.

ATL: Major Layoffs Impending at Orrick

Erik Even — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:43:58 +0000

ATL is convinced that Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe will hold major layoffs next week.

At this point we’re hearing that at least 160 attorneys will be laid off sometime between the meeting on Monday and the meeting on Wednesday. And many people believe that number is low. Some reports suggest that there could be as many as 340 staff layoffs, in addition to the attorney cuts. We expect the layoffs to affect all offices and we understand that first years are not at all safe.

The firm has over 1,100 lawyers worldwide in 21 offices, with more than 200 attorneys in each of its two largest offices in San Francisco and New York. The firm’s day-to-day administrative operations are centralized at a Global Operations Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Via ATL.

Bloomberg: China Law Offices Grow as US, UK Firms Shrink

Erik Even — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:28:41 +0000

Bloomberg reports that while law firms in the US and UK are shrinking, their offices in China expanding.

Twenty-eight foreign firms have opened offices in mainland China since September 2006, a 19% increase to 177 firms.

The continued expansion comes as some of the largest U.S. and U.K. law firms cut jobs at home because of the global financial crisis. While China isn’t immune — new share sales collapsed to $7.9 billion last year — lawyers said the country’s growing importance to clients makes it an essential location for global law firms, along with New York and London…

With the world’s largest foreign-currency reserves and third-largest economy “it’s now at the center of resolving global economic, financial and political crises,” [Christopher] Stephens, [Asia managing partner of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe] said. San-Francisco based Orrick cut 40 structured-finance, real estate and corporate lawyers worldwide in November.

Latham & Watkins LLP, based in Los Angeles, expanded its Hong Kong office this month into a local law practice with the addition of seven lawyers from Allen & Overy LLP, including the U.K. firm’s former Asia corporate chief, Michael Liu.

Via Bloomberg.

White & Case Profits Fell in 2008, Despite Layoffs

Erik Even — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:14:41 +0000

New York City’s White & Case reports it profits per equity partner fell by 5% in 2008 to $1.6 million. The decrease came despite a 7% rise in revenues to $1.467 billion.

The firm laid off 70 associates last November.

Revenue per lawyer fell from $720,000 to $705,000, and continues to lag behind many Am Law 100 competitors such as Latham & Watkins, Mayer Brown, and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

In December the firm announced a reorganization of its management structure, following a four month review of its operations by management consultants McKinsey & Co. The changes mean that the firm is now run more closely along regional lines, rather than by office, and has placed renewed focus on 16 global practice groups.

There are no plans for additional layoffs.

Founded in 1901, White & Case LLP is a leading global law firm with 2,300 lawyers in 38 offices in 25 countries, and a total staff of more than 4,800.