Yet Another Biglaw Email Screw-up

Some minor email amusement, in the spirit of Skadden Arps and Pepper Hamilton, courtesy of the Chicago office of DLA Piper:

This is a pretty cool goof by Bill Rudnick, the new head of DLA Piper’s Chicago office. A group of partners just came over from Locke Lord Bissell, and apparently one of them went back to Locke Lord within a week.

Around 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday, three messages went out to the Chicago office all within a couple minutes. The first e-mail below went out first, followed by a “recall” message, and then the last message below.

Read the emails, after the jump.


Here’s the first e-mail, which went out to the entire Chicago office. It shows DLA Piper’s commitment to, er, total management transparency:

Subject: Randy Hack
From: Rudnick, William A.
To: ! Everyone Chicago Office
Cc: Burch, Frank; O’Malley, Terry; Mathias, Robert

I am fine. I might change “came with him” to “joined us from Locke Lord”. The “with him” could suggest he was the leader.

—–Original Message—–
From: Rudnick, William A.
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 5:34 PM
To: Mathias, Robert; Isaacson, Samuel B.; Poulos, Michael S.; Rosenfeld, Jeffrey A.; Kopelman, Ian S.; Delman, Byron S.
Subject: Re: Randy’s Departure

Gentlemen:

Any thoughts on the following? I have gotten a couple of approvals. I would like to get this out by the end of the day.

Thanks.

—– Original Message —–
From: Rudnick, William A.
To: Mathias, Robert; Isaacson, Samuel B.; Poulos, Michael S.; Rosenfeld, Jeffrey A.; Kopelman, Ian S.; Delman, Byron S.
Sent: Wed Feb 27 12:15:10 2008
Subject: Randy’s Departure

Gentlemen:

I have had a series of inquiries today about Randy’s departure. I think some sort of internal announcement is necessary and appropriate. I propose the following, directed at just the Chicago office. Please let me know what you think.

***********

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As some of you have heard, Randy Hack has decided to return to Locke Lord. We are disappointed with his decision, although under the circumstances, we understand the choice he made.

Throughout the course of several difficult days dealing with some complicated issues, Randy handled himself with poise and grace.

We wish Randy well back at Locke Lord. And we remain fully committed to the balance of the group that JOINED US FROM LOCKE LORD. came with him.

Please advise with any questions. If you receive any media inquiries (which we do not expect), please direct them to me.

Thanks….

After one of those pathetically ineffectual Microsoft Outlook “recall” messages went out, this message followed:

Subject: Randy Hack
From: Rudnick, William A.
To: ! Everyone Chicago Office
Cc: Burch, Frank; O’Malley, Terry; Mathias, Robert

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As some of you have heard, Randy Hack has decided to return to Locke Lord. We are disappointed with his decision, although under the circumstances, we understand the choice he made.

Throughout the course of several difficult days dealing with complicated issues, Randy handled himself with poise and grace.

We wish Randy well back at Locke Lord. And we remain fully committed to the balance of the group that joined us from Locke Lord.

Please advise with any questions. If you receive any media inquiries (which we do not expect), please direct them to me.

Thanks.

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Our tipster concludes: “It’s weird that there’s no acknowledgment of the goof in the second e-mail, or any explanation as to why the guy went back.”

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