Howrey, which confirmed the cuts in an e-mail to several media outlets, described the move as “a limited workforce reduction to adjust support staff levels to match our current and anticipated needs.
“This right-sizing of the firm,” the statement continues, “will allow Howrey to concentrate its resources on its three principal practice groups – antitrust, intellectual property and complex business litigation and to maintain our strong competitive position. We regret that this decision was necessary and will provide resources to help.”
Affected employees will receive a comprehensive severance package and full COBRA payments through Feb. 28, 2011, the firm said.
According to a report on AM Law Daily, the move continues a particularly rough couple of years at Howrey. In 2009, the firm’s partners saw their profits plunge by 35 percent and this past February, Howrey axed 29 associates and 65 staffers.
AM Law Daily reports the latest round of cuts happened during the last week and that no attorneys were affected.