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O'Melveny & Myers Launches 'Witch Hunt' for ATL Tipsters?

O'Melveny Myers LLP logo Above the Law blog.jpgWe respectfully submit that the powers-that-be at O'Melveny & Myers need to "chill" (as Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) recently told former President Bill Clinton).

The folks at OMM apparently have some totalitarian tendencies. We heard they no-offered a summer associate from last year based on this individual's personal blogging about the summer associate experience (which didn't even mention the firm by name). And now we hear this rumor (by phone and by email, from multiple sources):

[T]he firm is furious about (true) comments sent to ATL about the firm's poor performance and underhanded layoffs. Apparently, the fire rages so much so that OMM is dead set on a witch hunt to find the associate(s) who leaked the goings on to ATL.

Both the firm's tech department and outside techies have been enlisted to figure out which associate's computer the comments were sent from. OMM associates are now scared to even check your site while at work (though of course are keeping in the loop through home computers).

We contacted the firm for comment. We haven't heard back from them as of the time of this posting.

We know next to nothing about labor and employment law. But to the labor lawyers among you, here's a hypothetical:

You're a lawyer at a major law firm. You provide negative information about your employer to ATL and/or post a comment on ATL (or a similar message board), complaining about the terms and conditions of your employment (e.g., salaries, bonuses, fringe benefits). Your employer finds out what you did, and promptly fires you.

You're a lawyer -- a well-educated, highly-paid professional ($160K+). You are not a member of a union; your office doesn't have one.

You want to sue your former firm for firing you. Do you have any claim that your conduct was collective activity protected under the NLRA? Might you have any other cause of action, under federal or state law?

Maybe our friends at Workplace Prof Blog can enlighten us. Or if you're a labor and employment lawyer, feel free to opine in the comments.

P.S. We're experiencing mysterious technical difficulties this afternoon, so this may be our last post in a while. Maybe OMM is hacking ATL?

Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of O'Melveny & Myers (scroll down)

Comments
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1 Posted by why OMM? | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 2:51 PM

Dude, OMM seems psycho. Why would anyone choose that place when there are comparable L.A. firms (Gibson and Latham) that don't exhibit these tendencies (and don't seem to be so financially distressed)?

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2 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 2:53 PM

Oooh, bad move on O'Melveney's part. They're creating even more of a controversy by their actions. Do they think that ATL is going to let this go without any noise? Of course not. Lat is going to have a field day.

They should have learned the lesson from the Nixon Peabody fiasco... if you're a law firm that gets some bad ATL press, you need to laugh about it and not make it a big deal. If you take the bad press seriously and try to deny it or suppress it, you're shooting yourself in your own foot.

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3 Posted by Justin Timberlake | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 2:55 PM

JT apologizes for his DDoS attack on ATL earlier.

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4 Posted by Anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 2:57 PM

lawyers are at-will employees, even in California.

So the moral of the story is, Caveat Blogor

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5 Posted by Polijammer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 2:57 PM

www.polijam.com

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6 Posted by labor lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 2:58 PM

You have no rights under the NLRA in this situation. Law firm associates are at-will and can be fired for any reason or no reason. Here, OMM can at the very least can justify your termination by saying that you revealed confidential financial information.

Of course, any decent plaintiff's lawyer can always think up some sort of BS cause of action. You could conceivably come up with some sort of weak whistleblower claim. In some states there are prohibitions against taking adverse action against an employee for engaging in off-duty conduct. There are also some free speech laws in some states. Overall though I think the associate who revealed this information is screwed.

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7 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:00 PM

OMM is best in Newport Beach!

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8 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:01 PM

Welcome to America, kids. In most states, your employer can fire you at any time, for any reason, so long as it's not discriminatory or in violation of another law (such as the NLRA). But, lawyers, as professionals, are excluded from the NLRA, and even if they weren't, the very definition of "collective action" means at least 2 people, acting together - which isn't the case here. BigLaw has spent a loooong time defending unionbusting employers, thereby ensuring that workers' rights under the NLRA are almost laughably poor.

Maybe there'd be a 1stA claim in there somewhere, but that's not my area of expertise.

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9 Posted by Mitur Binesderty | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:02 PM

I dont think the OMM associate would have any claim if he was fired. A retaliation claim would lie only if he/she was fired for engaging in protected activity--such as complaining about discrimination. General bitching about teh firm's TTT-ness is probably not protected.

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10 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:03 PM

Welcome to America, kids. In most states, your employer can fire you at any time, for any reason, so long as it's not discriminatory or in violation of another law (such as the NLRA). But, lawyers, as professionals, are excluded from the NLRA, and even if they weren't, the very definition of "collective action" means at least 2 people, acting together - which isn't the case here. BigLaw has spent a loooong time defending unionbusting employers, thereby ensuring that workers' rights under the NLRA are almost laughably poor.

Maybe there'd be a 1stA claim in there somewhere, but that's not my area of expertise.

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11 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:04 PM

If you're a minority, a woman, or gay, cry discrimination and let slip the dogs of war.

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12 Posted by Anonymous | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:04 PM

It was me. Sorry, boss.

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:04 PM

Welcome to America, kids. In most states, your employer can fire you at any time, for any reason, so long as it's not discriminatory or in violation of another law (such as the NLRA). But, lawyers, as professionals, are excluded from the NLRA, and even if they weren't, the very definition of "collective action" means at least 2 people, acting together - which isn't the case here. BigLaw has spent a loooong time defending unionbusting employers, thereby ensuring that workers' rights under the NLRA are almost laughably poor.

Maybe there'd be a 1stA claim in there somewhere, but that's not my area of expertise.

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14 Posted by Emp Lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:04 PM

I would file a wrongful discharge claim and use Cal. Lab. Code sec. 232.5 as my basis in public policy, but that's just how I roll.

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15 Posted by no contingency fees please | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:04 PM

NLRA doesn't apply. Lawyers (especially at biglaw) are "highly compensated employees" exempt from NLRA coverage even if the action was collective action. Any state law whistleblower exception to employment-at-will is also likely inapplicable based on these facts (i.e. there's no illegal activity, just bad treatment of employees). But if someone gets fired and wanted to pay me on an hourly basis, I would make the arguments :-)

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16 Posted by Emp Lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:05 PM

You could throw in Lab. Code sec. 232 also.

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17 Posted by labor lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:07 PM

"But, lawyers, as professionals, are excluded from the NLRA, and even if they weren't"

This is not true. In theory lawyers could form a union. There was even a group of associates at a firm in Arizona who tried to do this.

The problem isn't with the NLRA. That is just one law, and it deals exclusively with unionized work forces. At least 85% of workers today aren't unionized so you have to look towards other laws, namely Title VII and the common law tort of wrongful termination. And in liberal states like California you have similar state laws, with more pro-employee tilts. Regardless none of these laws would protect an employee in this situation.

I also don't agree with this statement "workers' rights under the NLRA are almost laughably poor" - the NLRA is very pro-employee. It was written in the 1930's when the country was basically socialist. Almost anything an employer does with respect to unions and organized employees is an unfair labor practice under the NLRA.

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18 Posted by Los Angeles Big 3 | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:07 PM

Bye Bye OMM!

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19 Posted by old timey | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:07 PM

Say what you will about OMM, but they have--HANDS-DOWN--the best all-firm retreat: they hold it at the Pasadena Ritz!

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20 Posted by Tracy Jordan | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:08 PM

this can obviously be settled by burning associates at the stake or tying them to rocks and seeing which one floats when you throw them in the river

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21 Posted by Roland | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:08 PM

Does anyone know whether, in America, your employer can fire you at any time, for any reason, so long as it's not discriminatory or in violation of another law (such as the NLRA)? Anyone?

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22 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:12 PM

Seems like another great way of laying people off.

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23 Posted by Mejor Abogado en el mundo | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:12 PM

As a first year lawyer and "reformed" liberal having gone through 7 years of Private East Coast Higher Education let me ask the following: if OMM discovers that the perpetrator is in fact a minority is there a snowballs chance that they actually fire the person...esp if it came out of the NY office? I personally think it is a bad PR move to fire anyone based on blog postings, provided they were not slanderous, of this nature, especially without warning.

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24 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:12 PM

Wow. There is no exemption for "highly compensated" employees from the NLRA. Wow. I hope you're a law student.

You cannot be fired for engaging in protected concerted activity. Whether blabbing on a blog is protected or not is a different question. Talking to other employees about working conditions is protected. I would argue that it is impossible to talk face-to-face with all other OMM associates, so a blog is a reasonable way to get your message out. Good luck. Remember NLRA claims have a short statute of limitations.

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25 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:13 PM

AT WILL EMPLOYMENT!!!

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26 Posted by Roland | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:14 PM

Does anyone know whether, in America, your employer can fire you at any time, for any reason, so long as it's not discriminatory or in violation of another law (such as the NLRA)? Anyone?

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27 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:15 PM

OMM turned my into a newt!

I got better...

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28 Posted by shocked | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:19 PM

No way! They fired someone for using a firm computer to log onto a non-business site during work hours and post negative comments about the firm? How dare they!!

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29 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:19 PM

This is a very dumb move on OMM's part... trying to strong arm their employees will come back to haunt them, and result in a lot of bad press for the firm.

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30 Posted by que? | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:20 PM

WTF with ATL's remarkably frequent "technical difficulties" excuse for lack of blogging?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22technical+difficulties%22+site%3Aabovethelaw.com&btnG=Google+Search

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31 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:24 PM

A lot of the stuff posted on here about the NLRA is completely wrong:

(a) Non-Union Workplaces still get the protection of the NLRA. Section 7 rights, aside from duty to bargain, are completely independent of having union present.

(b) Professionals are NOT excluded. In fact they are explicitly INCLUDED under the NLRA. Only managerial employees are excluded, and lawyers don't really count as such.

(c) Compensation has nothing to do with your inclusion or exclusion. (I believe)

The biggest problem here is that it must be "concerted action." If two employees sat at the computer and did this together, or if they talked about it, agreeing to send the message, and one sent it alone, that might be enough.

Under the NLRA if you are fired for engaging in protected activity- here collective concerted action- that is a violation. Being At-Will has nothing to do with it. No employer in America can fire someone to quell concerted activity (at least legally- although they get away with it routinely).

People are probably right, though, that they could merely say "leaking confidential information" was the reason.

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32 Posted by Emp Lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:24 PM

Labor Lawyer wrote, "The problem isn't with the NLRA. That is just one law, and it deals exclusively with unionized work forces."

Wow, I wish you were opposing counsel in one of my unfair labor practice charges. You're dumber than dirt. So the NLRA doesn't apply unless the workforce is unionized. So it's legal to fire some non-union employee for discussing unionization? It's legal to threaten someone if they attend a union meeting? It's legal to tell employees that you'll move their work to Mexico if they unionize?

No. The NLRA applies to non-unionized employees engaged in acts that could lead to unionization, i.e. protected concerted activity.

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33 Posted by Tech Guy Hunting Down OMM Leakers | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:26 PM

Naga . . ., Naga . . ., Not gonna work here anymore, that's for sure.

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34 Posted by labor lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:28 PM

same crap.. NLRA only applies to unionized workforces or workers attempting to unionize.. has no impact on anyone else

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35 Posted by Pasadena Ritz | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:30 PM

3:07, where does OMM hold its law firm retreat? I've been curious about that.

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36 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:32 PM

disclaimer: i am a 2L, not an employment lawyer, but i took employment law last semester.

i am pretty sure 3:04(4) and 3:05 (who i think are the same person) have it right. it would be a state law claim of wrongful termination in violation of public policy. i have not looked at Cal. Lab. Code 232 or 232.5, but if they are applicable, this would be the best claim because the Cal. Lab. Code would definitely be considered a proper source of public policy.

there is a possible 1st Amendment claim, but it is doubtful - very few jurisdictions would recognize it (can't remember if Cal if one). the claim would again be wrongful termination in violation of public policy, BUT the court would have to recognize the 1st Amendment as a proper source of public policy AND would have to recognize the policy articulated as very generally "freedom of speech," as opposed to "freedom of speech as against state actors." most courts would recognize the 1st Amendment policy as the latter and would say that the 1st Amendment does not give individuals any free speech rights as against private actors, e.g., private employers, foreclosing any viable claim against OMM based on the 1st Amendment policy of free speech.

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37 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:34 PM

note to all soon to be summer associates: run away now. o’melveny’s reputation is tanking.

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38 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:35 PM

note to all soon to be summer associates: run away now. o’melveny’s reputation is tanking.

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39 Posted by Kobe Bryant | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:37 PM

Lakers just got Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown!!Maybe OMM can take its associates to Lakers games when we are in the Finals!

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40 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:37 PM

note to all soon to be summer associates: run away now. o’melveny’s reputation is tanking.

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41 Posted by UCLA2L | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:42 PM

ATL has no power to shape opinion. During interviews and recruitment, the rumors and stories posted on ATL get zero attention. I love how important you all think you are though, it's amusing.

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42 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:44 PM

Latham & Watkins FTW?

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43 Posted by Actual Labor Lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:44 PM

Anon @ 3:24 has it mostly right.

1 - Absolutely true

2 - True - I worked with some lawyers once who were unionized. The were IBT - and worked for DEP in NYC.

3 - Comp. may be a factor, but is a very minor one. Highly compensated employees can absolutely belong to a union. Think airline pilots or baseball/football players.

Some of the 'Labor Lawyers' here should have been familiar with the recent Cintas decision. Cintas Corp., 344 NLRB No. 118 (NLRB June 30, 2005) - which held that exchanging info about comp and other terms and conditions of employment - whether or not protected by a confidentiality provision in the handbook - is protected Section 7 activity.

Also, in NY, they are likely protected by the NY Recreational Activities Act. But if they were fired for Section 7 activity, the Board can offer reinstatement (several years down the road, more likely than not) and back pay.

The Board would love to stick it to a management side firm like OMM, if for no other reason than they should know better.

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44 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:46 PM

3:19: "during work hours"... Working at a firm is not a 9-5 job.

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45 Posted by another labor lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:47 PM

Didn't anyone go to this training?

Blogging in the Workplace

http://www.ali-aba.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=courses.course&course_code=TSNU05

Anyway, the employees have no rights here. Whistleblower laws don't protect you from talking to blogs or journalists, but to the relevant authorities (government/cops/etc). And they weren't whistleblowing about illegal activities, just things they didn't like. They might not even be eligible for unemployment benefits if they get fired and the firm says that they were fired for cause.

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46 Posted by Actual Labor Lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:47 PM

FYI: That Board decision was upheld earlier this year, at Cintas Corp. v. NLRB, No. 05-1305, at *6 (D.C. Cir. Mar. 16, 2007).

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47 Posted by Anonymous | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:49 PM

I know for a fact that all summer associates at OMM in 2007 received an offer. The NALP forms will be out in two weeks and this will be confirmed.

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48 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:49 PM

I am an associate at OMM/NY and I have always thought of the firm as a nice congenial place to work until recently. I have heard such horror stories that I cannot even believe it. One associate told me that a previously "nice" partner told her that she shouldn't have ever become a lawyer because her work product was so poor. Another associate told me about a partner yelling at him, something that was virtually unheard of a few months ago.

The OMM partners are trying to get rid of people and that is very very clear.

Oh yeah, I'm writing this from my OMM account. I don't really care much anymore. This place has turned into a house of horrors.

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49 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:51 PM

Just get me in front of a jury with a terminated young associate against a bunch of fat cat partners. $$$$

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50 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:53 PM

How would they know who posted the comment unless only one OMM associate has posted a comment?

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51 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:55 PM

3:00: no way, LW is much better than OMM in OC. and in LA, and in NY, and in San Fran, and in DC...

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52 Posted by glad_my_firm_doesn't sensor_shit | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:56 PM

My firm used to have websense to block us from MP3, file sharing, adult, and other deemed inappropriate websites. For some reason, websense was removed last year. Now, I spend the first half hour after lunch watching porn and then the next half hour downloading mp3s.

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53 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 3:59 PM

3:55 Latham OC is in Costa Mesa. That was the joke...

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54 Posted by Anonymous | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:01 PM

3:58 hit the nail on the head.

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55 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:02 PM

3:49... oh really? did you forget about the ass grabber?

http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/08/xsummers_more_on_the_omelveny.php#more

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56 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:04 PM

3:52 If you're so good, find us.

I am an OMM-NY associate who is on the road and I can tell you that everything horrible that has been said about the firm is TRUE.

I've heard that the layoffs are true, the poor performance reviews based on untruths are true. There is a concerted effort being made in NY to get rid of people and make people miserable and blame them for their own misery.

All the associates think the partners have lost their minds. It's turned from a great place to work to a horrid place to work with underhanded lying sneaking partners.

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57 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:06 PM

The partnership is going to have a meeting with the associates on Monday. It is SURE to be full of lies and half-truths and also blame the associates for anything that is wrong.

stay tuned for more craptastic news from OMM

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58 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:07 PM

3:49 "associate at OMM/NY" = liar

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59 Posted by Mr. O'Melveny | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:09 PM

Pursuant to firm security code 257-alpha-foxtrot, I order all activities directed at finding the OMM gadfly to cease.

I would like all law students considering a job here at OMM to understand that we were merely attempt to identify this individual in order to provide him/her with a special bonus.

Very best regards,

O.

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60 Posted by 3:49 | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:12 PM

4:07: ask me a question about OMM/NY that only an associate in that office would know. I'll prove it bozo.

How about how often Bruce sends around floor plans? How about Friday morning breakfast? How about the 30 and 31 floor reception areas? What would you like to know? How about time sheet reminders and the partner reception this week? What would you like to know?

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61 Posted by Mr. O'Melveny | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:15 PM

4:12 -

What color underwear am I wearing today?

Very best regards,

O.

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62 Posted by tech | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:15 PM

they can tell who you are by IP address since each computer has a unique address. They can see what time messages were posted (left their server) and then narrow it down from there.

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63 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:15 PM

4:15 blue. To match the mood of associates.

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64 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:16 PM

4:07---you have been called out by 3:49. Are you going to answer the bell or does 3:49 get the TKO?

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65 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:16 PM

4:07---you have been called out by 3:49. Are you going to answer the bell or does 3:49 get the TKO?

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66 Posted by 4:07 | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:16 PM

3:49 -- doesn't make the shit you're selling true

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67 Posted by T14 1L | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:18 PM

Was thinking of bidding on OMM for OCI in the fall. Now, not so much.

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68 Posted by Another actual labor lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:21 PM

ding! ding! ding!

3:44 has it right. I'll add that I've personally known of a law firm in NYC (since split up a couple of years ago) at which the associates were members of a bargaining unit (i.e., unionized), certified by the NLRB. So it happens.

You just need someone at OMM who'd be willing to be Norma Rae.

And there really are a lot of stupid people here masquerading (I hope) as labor lawyers.

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69 Posted by FRAT STUD | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:24 PM

Guys at my high school were in witch-hunts all the time. It was no big deal.

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70 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:27 PM

OMM partners blow AIDS-riddled goats in Hell on prime time with erections.

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71 Posted by Employment Lawyer | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:28 PM

David: The question is not whether you have a cause of action but why you would sue in the first place. Like it or not, a filing of a lawsuit against a BigFirm is asking for a "blacklisting" by other firms. You ruin any chance of using the firm for a reference and your name will appear on any background check you ever have run on you. Not a wise move. If you do sue, you better be sure you're going to win.

That said, the THREAT of a lawsuit and negotiating an amicable departure is a tried-and-true tactic. Negotiating with an employer to get at least a neutral evaluation -- and allow for you to get another job quickly -- may be the best possible outcome.

I'll try to post more on my own blog on an interesting topic.

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72 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:29 PM

4:07 You don't have to believe it. It's what I've been told. I'm just reporting what I was told by other associates. The atmosphere here is horrible.

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73 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:32 PM

On all these OMM threads there is always some OMM apologist (partner maybe?) who says it's not true.

Yeah, all these threads about OMM are false. WRONG.

OMM's New York office is run by partners who, for whatever reason, have suddenly decided to turn on the associates.

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74 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:32 PM

Thanks, 4:28, for the info. I've always wondered about that. I figured even if it were relatively easy, most firms would still think it was either too expensive or wouldn't have the IT guy expertise to actually do it. But your info makes me feel even better.

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75 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:35 PM

3:49 gets the TKO. That was definitely written by an OMM associate.

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76 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:41 PM

I think any claim under the NLRA is a long shot, based on the facts as we know them. Anyway, all you're going to get on a section 7 claim is backpay and reinstatement, and who wants that? I think in California you'd be able to make out a cognizable claim for unlawful termination in violation of public policy, and then you could go after emotional distress and punis. But I don't know New York state laws well enough to advise on them.

What I do know is that between talk of "highly compensated employees", "NLRA only applies to unionized employees", and "at will employment!", there is a lot of BS flying on this board.

In response to one earlier poster, though, I do think you could get away with telling your employees you'll move the plant to Mexico if they unionize, as long as it's in the company by-laws or charter.

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77 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:46 PM

Maybe the OMM summer who was fired for drunkenly inappropriate comments had it right.

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78 Posted by Anonymous | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:48 PM

3:00 forgets that Irell has a Newport Beach office.

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79 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:50 PM

OMM ASSOCIATES WHO BLOG FROM THE OFFICE TO 190k !!!

In related news, OMM-NY is officially a TTT firm.

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80 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:50 PM

Why doesn't OMM just block the site if it's that big of a deal? I am told that my firm blocks porn sites. Not only that, but whenever someone tries to visit a blocked site, an email is automatically sent to someone in IT saying who tried to access what site.

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81 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:51 PM

4:41 is drinking the Koolaid. I can only imagine that it's sarcastic.

I know 5 people who were "laid off" and given til March to find another job. Most law firms give 6 months.

There IS a concerted effort by partners to be jerks. I have never heard of this many "no bonuses", layoffs and poor performances at the firm. In most years (I've been here several years) people are happy. There are no disgruntled meetings in associate offices behind closed doors.

4:41: You are obviously not in these meetings because either you're a partner or the other associates hate you.

4:41: stop being such a blowhard. Your fellow associates are being harmed. Take your head out of your partner's butt and figure it all out. Idiot.

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82 Posted by Eagle-Eye Pumperdink | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:53 PM

Calm down. If OMM wanted to actually fire or punish the 'evil doer,' they would just do it, without announcement. My guess is that they are announcing an investigation to chill blogging.

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83 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:53 PM

Can those of us new to this story get a summary of the goings-on at OMM? My curiosity is piqued.

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84 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:54 PM

I work at OMM and the NY lottery site is websense blocked. No to gambling during work.

But they can gamble with our futures. Why is that not blocked?

WHY WHY WHY

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85 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:56 PM

4:46 -- if you billed enough hours to get a bonus, then you made the OMM partners very rich. Joke's on you. Thanks for playing, ass clown.

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86 Posted by Loyola 2L | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:56 PM

Can someone get me a job at OMM-NY?

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87 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 4:57 PM

4:48: You could definitely say that Irell is better, but they're very different. Irell is almost all litigation in Newport and OMM is almost all corporate.

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88 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:00 PM

4:53 Read all the OMM posts.

Layoffs, quietly right before Christmas (happy holidays!)

An extraordinary number of bad performance reviews with many instances of damned if you, damned if you don't to avoid giving any bonus. Whatever thing you didn't do well is the thing that got you no-bonus'd even if you did 99 things well that 100th thing sunk you.

A lot of no-bonus or low bonus.

Partners suddenly being nasty to associates in what used to be a nice environment.

No work for a long time which has resulted in cranky partners blaming associates and unceremoniously dumping them.

Some associates saying their performance reviews were either negatively skewed or blatantly untrue.

But we have assistants surfing the web all day and being paid and associates being laid off.

Nice.

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89 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:02 PM

Hahaha Mets fans. No deal and it's 5PM. Santana turns into a pumpkin!

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90 Posted by I'm Serious | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:06 PM

4:41(2) - where do I send my resume, I'll take NY scale with no whining.

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91 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:12 PM

NO CAUSE OF ACTION. AT WILL. That's beside the point though.

Like we saw on a smaller scale with Nixon Peabody's response to ATL's jokes about the song, the way a firm chooses to react to a crisis -- real or perceived -- defines its "character."

OMM may not like its associates railing against it on an anon blog. What's the solution? Kill the messenger or try to improve assoc morale?

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92 Posted by anonymous | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:16 PM

Use TOR to cloak your trail on the web. EFF recommends it. See torproject.org

This open source software was developed so that military people could hide the IP address (and geographic location) of where they access a site from. Technically, it is an [The] Onion Router.

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93 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:19 PM

I am telling you that Monday's meeting will be "Here drink this Koolaid and feel better."

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94 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:23 PM

It's Gargamel (the wizard) or Azriel (the cat). You're knowledge of Smurfs is not terribly very smurfy. So smurf off.

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95 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:28 PM

It is Azrael. www.bluebuddies.com

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96 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:35 PM

Hey t14 1L at 4:18:


heres an idea: GET OVER YOURSELF!

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97 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:39 PM

This is definitely one of the dumbest PR moves I have ever seen by a big firm. Lat, take them DOWN!

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98 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:43 PM

I can tell you that the OMM NY partners have this really strange "We're right and you're wrong." attitude toward associates. No matter what they do, they are right. No matter what associate at the moment does, wrong. One associate told me there was something on the performance review that em didn't even DO and they protested it TWICE And both times the partners were like well get over yourself. It's good enough for us. Oh yes, we checked, it was you. Associate: no, that wasn't me. Partners: oh yes it was. Associate: I can prove it. Partners: no need. We're not listening.

NO BONUS FOR YOU. NEXT!

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99 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:58 PM

4:18- you will be lucky to get a job at such a place, T14, whatever....

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100 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 5:59 PM

Query whether an associate who is promised a partnership track with good performance is an employee at will?

Second, even if an employee at will, can an associate be fired for speech?

It seems like confidentiality is so important t at a law firm an associate can be fired for publishing confidential information.

That said, this is a public relations nightmare for OMM. Who would want to work there now?

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101 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:00 PM

One year ago OMM would have been upset that associates were upset. Now they're upset that associates are LEAKING that they're upset. My how times have changed.

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102 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:03 PM

Not sure why law firm IT departments don't do the same thing that most accounting/finance shops do with their servers and severely restrict most websites employees can visit on their work computers. This is all anecdotal, but I have friends in Boston at big banks who can't visit facebook, myspace, espn.com, etc. from their work computers. I don't see any of them protesting too much because they have work to do and they have realized that work product is better and faster when one is not distracted. Anyone have an answer?

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103 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:19 PM

6:03

Big law firms base their business model on inefficiency, not efficiency. If an associate is distracted by emails, blackberry, phone calls, websites, etc. it will take them longer to do their work. The powers that be know that associates will not bill 100% honestly by excluding those brief internet excursions to ATL or myspace so in the end that equals more billable hours.

I recall a study out of UC Irvine a few years ago that found the average worker is distracted by an email or phone call on average every 11 minutes, and that after each distraction it takes 25 minutes to reach full working efficiency again.

In OMM's case, they represent MySpace and other major online sites and associates need to access these for various legitimate reasons too. I also don't think it bodes well to block your own client's website! Just saying.

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104 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:20 PM

3:44: So, is the firm's issue that the memo itself was posted on the internet or that people are posting information themselves that emanates from the memo? At-will employment issues aside, is the firm essentially saying that associates shouldn't share this information period, or that they shouldn't share it via the internet? It seems ridiculous to fire an employee merely for sharing a firm's compensation with an outsider.

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105 Posted by Anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:26 PM

I am not a lawyer. I haven't even played one on TV.

But I have been on the job market. I examine companies from all angles before considering a job.

With publicity like this, OMM would not get my application.

How long till this impacts their hiring? What goes around comes around.

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106 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:28 PM

Warren Christopher was secretary of state during Clinton's first term. It's much easier to see him simply retiring though than leaving back to politics. He's in his 80s.

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107 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:38 PM

Mets got the deal done. No details yet. Fuck off 5:02.


mlb.com

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108 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:41 PM

5:59, yes, an at-will employee can be fired for speech (by OMM, though possibly not by a government employer). State action much?

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109 Posted by omm associate | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:49 PM

I'm wondering where all of this is coming from. I work at OMM and, for the most part, I like both the work and the people. The only place I hear most of this shit is on ATL. Am I unbelievably out of the loop AND crazy lucky? I'm not saying it's a perfect firm, but nowhere is. Seriously, where the hell is all of this coming from? I really want to know.

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110 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 6:52 PM

6:49: what office?

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111 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:03 PM

6:41,

Government employers can terminate employees for speech on basically the same terms as private employers. See Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410 (2006).

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112 Posted by OMELVENY BLOWS DONKEY BALLS | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:08 PM

OMELVENY HAS BECOME A TTT IN DECLINE.

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113 Posted by attrition due to stupidity | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:28 PM

Dear 6:49 pm:

If the investigation leads to the ID of the tipsters, we will all know the answer soon.

Anyone with the poor judgment to transmit an OMM memo to ATL using the firm servers/computers might not be cut out for big law in any event.

Maybe OMM can start giving all associates lie dectector tests on a quarterly basis.

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114 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:38 PM

Official list of firms not to work for:

1. Cadwalader
2. O'Melveny
3. Shearman & Sterling

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115 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:40 PM

7:38 - Why not Shearman? 2001 layoffs?

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116 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:45 PM

6:49 - don't be a dbag....i have buddies at OMM who are desperately searching for new jobs...That ship is sinking - I suggest you get the fuck out while you still have a job...

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117 Posted by happy to have recently left OMM | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:46 PM

6:49 - are you for real?? I don't know about the crazy lucky, but you sure are unbelievably out of the loop, or a partner.

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118 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:51 PM

HOW IS IT THAT THESE IDIOT LAW FIRMS DON'T GET IT???

IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU WON'T GET CALLED OUT (SEE LATHAM BONUSES). AND IF YOU DO GET CALLED OUT (SEE LATHAM SPECIAL BONUS TALK CIRCA NOVEMBER/DECEMBER), DON'T DEMAND THAT THE INCRIMINATING INFO BE TAKEN DOWN (SEE NIXON PEABODY), DON'T SEND AN E-MAIL FULL OF EXCUSES TO THE BLAWG (SEE QUINN EMANUEL), AND DON'T GO ON A WITCH HUNT (SEE O'MELVENY). BECAUSE YOU WIND UP LOOKING WORSE THAN BEFORE.

IF YOU SCREW UP, FIX IT WITHOUT MAKING A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT AND MOVE ON. OR IF YOU THINK YOU DIDN'T SCREW UP, STICK TO YOUR GUNS.

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119 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:54 PM

PS YOU ARE AN IDIOT IF YOU POST FROM WORK (SEE GIRL THAT FORWARDED BONUS E-MAIL FROM WORK ACCOUNT WITHOUT REMOVING HER NAME).

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120 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:57 PM

6:49 is working in some other building or just so out of the loop that no normal associate talks to him or her.

6:19 I work there and this is my experience. Someone else wrote that someone got dinged and no bonus'd on something on their performance review that wasn't even their work. The rest of the year's work meant nothing. When people bring this stuff to the partner's attention, the partners get very mean.

Partners are going out of their ways to make associates unhappy and unwanted.

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121 Posted by 1L | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:58 PM

The world is changing and partners have no idea how to deal with it. That said, I don't think I'll be applying to OMM this summer.

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122 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 7:59 PM

I'd like to see the partners explain this on Monday but no one will and no associate will ask. The ACAC are ass kissing wussies.

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123 Posted by anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 8:00 PM

where's the witch hunt coming from - DC or NY?

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124 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 8:19 PM

Is this all going down in DC or NY? Are they having these problems (layoffs and witch hunt) at their LA office?

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125 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 9:01 PM

Hahaha. Hard to believe that OMM didn't envision their latest strategy would end up on ... Abovethelaw!

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126 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 9:10 PM

Unsubstantiated rumours from unamed sources. Why not post something about defamation law, Lat?

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127 Posted by Anon | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 9:11 PM

Will the Cloverfield monster spare OMM NY?

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128 Posted by Curious | Permalink Friday, February 1, 2008 10:05 PM

Lat, I have looked at the Privacy Policy and have a few questions in light of the OMM story.

What is ATL's policy about providing firms