JD Journal » pillsbury winthrop shaw pittman

Pillsbury Gets Five From Orrick

joshua — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:20:21 +0000

Pillsburyhired a five lawyer real estate team away from Orrick in New York, including the only two real estate partners in Orrick’s NYC office. The partners, Marc Shapiro and Jill Block, are joined by counsel Susan Saslow, and associates Jason Schlessel and Christine Roch. This move represents a bet on real estate, a practice that has suffered during the economic downturn. If Pillsbury is right and the market bounces back this year, then the firm will be well placed to take advantage of it in New York.

The acquisition of a group of lawyers has been a trend lately as firms are more particular about who they bring on board. A team of lawyers can hit the ground running more quickly than a single partner and we’ve seen several such moves in the last few months – most recently, Blank Rome picked up a seven lawyer consumer financial services group.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:00:47 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, June 21st. Here’s a quick recap of Friday’s stories.

U.S.-based Mayer Brown and U.K-based Simmons & Simmons have reportedly reopened talks on a merger…

Sidley Austin’s international arbitration practice was named the best in the U.S. at the International Legal Alliance Summit & Awards…

A large group of attorneys from Nixon Peabody left to join the New York office of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP…

Duane Morris picked a new managing partner…

Many big law firms have been brought in to defend Florida oil suits…

Arent Fox LLP added nine attorneys to its NY City Office…

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:52:48 +0000

Good morning! Today is Wednesday, May 12th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Opportunity For Firms To Re-learn and Re-market Real-Estate Practice…

Legal Heavyweights Speak About Arizona Immigration Legislation…

Clifford Chance To Deepen Bankruptcy Practice Group…

Firms Hire MDs to Combat Government Suits Over Medicare Billing…

Lucado Law Firm Opposes BP’s Motion To Have All Lawsuits Involving Gulf Oil Spill to Houston…

Nevada School District Hires Littler Mendelson…

Salary Cut at Pillsbury Winthrop

joshua — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:54:37 +0000

Pillsbury’s first year associates outside of New York are receiving a salary cut, down to $145k. Any first year that bills in excess of 1950 hours will receive an additional $15k bonus. First years in the New York office will continue to receive $160k.

Salaries for 2010 have not yet been set and for the moment all associates are being paid at 2009 levels. When compensation levels are set, any raises will be made retroactive to January 1. In addition, 2009 bonuses will be paid at the end of this month.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman is an international law firm with offices located throughout the US and globally, including key financial centers New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Pillsbury Cancels 2010 West Coast Summer Associates Programs

Erik Even — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:17:18 +0000

Pillsbury has canceled its 2010 Summer associates programs for its West Coast offices.

The firm currently intends to keep its Summer programs for New York, Houston and Washington DC.

Pillsbury hosted 50 Summer associates in 2009. The 2010 class may be as few as 15.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman is an international law firm with offices located throughout the US and globally, including key financial centers New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Pillsbury Offers Incoming Associates $60K to Drop Dead [Update]

Erik Even — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:34:00 +0000

Pillsbury, which has delayed start dates for its incoming first year associates to January 2010, is now offering $60,000 to associates willing to forget about working at the firm.

Other firms have been offering $75,000 for the same deal.

The firm has also announced a public interest fellowship program. Rather than paying associates to do work with a non-profit or government agency, Pillsbury will pay $5,000 per month directly to the employer.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an international law firm with offices located throughout the US and globally, including key financial centers New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

UPDATE

It appears that Pillsbury is deferring 32 members of its incoming class of new associates to January 2010; the other 22 don’t start until January 2011.

Update: Pillsbury Winthrop Offers “Voluntary Departure”

Erik Even — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:16:00 +0000

As we reported last week (and in case you didn’t overhear it yourself on the train), Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman is laying off an undisclosed number of attorneys.

The firm has now announced a “voluntary departure” plan for any of the firm’s lawyers who don’t like hearing about their impending joblessness from the blogosphere instead of management.

As you were advised last week, Pillsbury is planning to implement a reduction in workforce that will affect attorneys and staff. Although we have taken many prior steps to respond to the current challenging business climate, we have reluctantly concluded that a reduction in the attorney workforce is necessary to align ourselves with the volume of work we expect in 2009. As part of this reduction process, the Firm is offering a voluntary departure plan to associates, senior associates and counsel.

The voluntary departure program will provide attorneys who elect to leave and are selected a severance package that consists, among other things, of three months of base pay. Attorneys interested in considering the program will have until Friday, February 27, to state their desire to be included. Promptly thereafter, the local and firm-wide practice section leaders will consider whether attorneys in their sections who have expressed interest in the voluntary departure program can be accommodated.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an international law firm with offices located throughout the US and globally, including key financial centers New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Know anything about these layoffs? Send us a confidential tip!

Breaking: Pillsbury Winthrop to Lay Off Attorneys

Erik Even — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:18:22 +0000

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has confirmed online rumors that the firm will be laying off an undisclosed number of attorneys in the near future.

Legal blawg Above the Law quoted a tipster who overheard a cell phone conversation on a train. On the call between Bob Robbins, head of the Corporate and Securities practice, and COO Rick Donaldson, Robbins named 15 to 20 attorneys who would be laid off in four offices by the end of March.

Pillsbury issued this statement:

“It is an unfortunate fact in today’s economy that no business or law firm can rule out adjustments to their overall workforce levels. This includes Pillsbury, and among other cost cutting measures, we will be implementing reductions to assure that our resources are aligned with our business needs. We apologize for the unfortunate manner in which our deliberations about reductions have become public.”

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an international law firm with offices located throughout the US and globally, including key financial centers New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Know anything about these layoffs? Send us a confidential tip!

Via LegalPad and ATL.

Pillsbury Winthrop Keeps Profits Level in 2008

Erik Even — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:39:49 +0000

Aggressive cost-cutting delivered level profits for NYC’s Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in 2008, despite a slight drop in revenue.

Revenue dipped 2% to $576 million. While other firms with relatively flat revenue reported double-digit profit drops, Pillsbury’s profits per partner declined a mere 1% to $975,000. Revenue per lawyer was also flat at $805,000. The number of lawyers at the firm dropped 1.5% to 716.

The firm preserved its profit margin by slicing expenses 3.6% in 2008. That’s a result of a smaller summer associate class, adjustments to timekeeper and staff ranks, and trimming spending. The firm reduced its hiring of replacement associates beginning in 2007, and made reductions in 2008.

Established during the Califiornia Gold Rush, Pillsbury as it is known today is the product of a 2005 merger between Pillsbury Winthrop and DC-based Shaw Pittman.