First!!!

There was this kid I grew up with; he was younger than me. Sorta looked up to me, you know. We did our first work together, worked our way out of the street. Things were good, we made the most of it. After WWII, we advised a lot of M&A deals in NY... made a fortune, your father, Skadden, too. As much as anyone, I loved him and trusted him. Later on he had an idea to build an international firm with an office in DC and with long term employees who would serve him with pride, loyalty, devotion, and without question. That kid's name was Fried Frank, and the city he invented was DC. This was a great man, a man of vision and guts. And then he fired all the employees and staff, whom he thought he loved, because they were chiseling away his PPP. When I heard it, I wasn't angry; I knew Fried, I knew he was head-strong, talking loud, saying stupid things. So, I let it go. And I said to myself, this is the business we've chosen; I didn't ask who gave the order, because it had nothing to do with business!

Whenever a firm goes out of its way to affirmatively deny that it will lay off attorneys in the future, it is a sure sign that lay-offs are on the horizon.

“We don’t do attorney lay-offs”. Even though we just had to fire 70 long term employees (some who have worked there for their entire careers) in one day with "a few minutes to pack up and get out".

That is always a nice touch, BTW, giving an employee who has no clue verbal notice that they are terminated, then handing them a box with their personal effects and (before the shock registers) showing them the door. Classy too.

PS: Contratulations to #2 for being first.

i am first man...this is offf THE HOOK YALL!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT AGREAT FRICKING DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"That is always a nice touch, BTW, giving an employee who has no clue verbal notice that they are terminated, then handing them a box with their personal effects and (before the shock registers) showing them the door. Classy too."

I thought this is the standard protocol of laying people off. It'd be classy for sure if they throw a farewell party.

Once I actually got laid off while on the road for a business trip. Didn't even get to "pack" my things since they were packed for me and UPS'd to my home.

L.A. to staff layoff free car rides home!

The secretaries here (at FF) had way too much time on their hands (surfing, watching online tv, etc.) and some cuts were long overdue. With younger partners giving comments in track changes and Associates typing as fast as the secretaries, how many people do you need answering phones?

I feel bad for the people who lost their job but this could only go on for so long.

L.A. to free car rides for fired staff!

If this is all about "fiscal responsibility," why weren't these firms being fiscally responsible last year or the year before that?

Great post Lat. The jab at the end was awesome. That kind of wit and ball busting will be missed as Sophist just doesn't have that.

12, that jab at the end sounded more like whining from Marin or F&D. All Lat needed to say was the Cadwalader bit, the Plessy part was just dumb.

Guys at my high school used to do the "guys at my high school" routine in every blog post, it was no big deal.

Frat Stud

As a former FFer who has another firm to compare to, I can say that while the support infrastructure at FF is very good, on an individual level, a lot of secretaries there were just brutal. Just getting my time entered right used to require three reviews. Also, each cluster seemed to have three or four secretaries, where here a cluster is one or two. It's not the craziest thing in the world that they got rid of 10% of the support staff. They could have done this in 2006 and no one would have batted an eye.

There will be no official attorney layoffs. However, prepare for a pick-up in stealth layoffs.

When will someone post a list of firms that 100% offered this summer? --- too early?

The copying department at FFHSJ in DC was awful. I spent two years with the firm, before moving on to better things. If you wanted something copied you had to get a partner or senior associate to call the copy room. If you didn't, they'd just look up from their food - they ate more frequently than hobbits - and would tell you that they had "priorities." They never said what the priorities were, just that they had them. These guys thought that they had their own little fiefdom, but it looks like Luxembourg just got annexed.

I can see the dull look on their faces as they got fired. I can guarantee that one of them was making a food run when the news hit.

In regards to the comment in the post, layoffs can be fiscally responsible and also occur during a recession. Making layoffs, streamlining, whatever, is a normal part of companies staying efficient, and they often happen while business is slower and slack parts of an organization are more exposed. When did law firms get so monolithic that people (like 11) would worry about the copy room staff getting trimmed? Attorneys are in a professional service field, not members of a french union.

11, obviously because they didn't need to.

Plessy should have been upheld on stare decisis grounds.

i like turtles.

Help -- What was the complaint about pizza parties?

I worked for Fried Frank for many years (I left voluntarily some years ago), so I know many of the people being laid off. It is interesting that all the layoffs were of senior personnel with retirement and pension checks just around the corner!

Guest

Cue the Fried Frank/Cravath guy.

"giving an employee who has no clue verbal notice that they are terminated, then handing them a box with their personal effects and (before the shock registers) showing them the door. Classy too."

"I thought this is the standard protocol of laying people off."

Uhh . . . no, r6. This is only "standard protocol" at firms that wish to experience an ex-employee "going postal."

"Update / Correction: One source questions the claim that the layoffs affected "primarily" floaters and part-time assistants, claiming that many of the laid off employees were full-time, senior secretaries -- a number of them over 50, and some just a few months shy of getting their pensions. This source predicts that age discrimination lawsuits will be filed."

Did they not learn from the late 90s Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro case?

They laid staff off in DC because they lost a bunch of their Antitrust attorneys to another firm. No attorneys = no need for staff.

what about the upcoming layoffs at king & spalding ?

any news on this ?

I voluntarily left my last firm after six years and was amazed at all of the CRAP that I had to pack up when I left -- two car-loads. How does anyone hang around for an entire career and only accumulate a box of crap?

27: the paul hastings girl posted her waiver agreement: do you remember whether receiving severance was conditioned on waiving all potential legal claims?

also, it's been a while since employment law, but wasnt there some adea case where you could fire based on the extra costs associated with seniority and it wasn't deemed age discrimination (even though seniority is obviously correlated with age)?

in any event, i'm sure a firm like this did its homework.

I don't work at FF and don't know anyone who does, so can't comment on the update re: age-based firings. If that indeed happened, I retract my thought that this is a non-story. It could, however, also be an issue of technology savvy (which is sometimes correlated to age). If you have a bunch of senior secretaries who can't use a computer or do electronic filings, it's a real problem. Some of those people may be able to be shifted to other roles, but not all.

A poster claiming to be from FF said that there were a lot of people not working who were spending their days online watching tv and shopping. Another said that the copy center wouldn't do work unless a senior partner called. Etc. If all of this is in fact true, layoffs are hardly surprising. The real question would be why the firm let it get to that point in the first place.

Oh, and I also think (1) they should give people the training they need to keep up with their jobs and (2) they should try to shift personnel to different roles if their skill sets match (or could match with training). So I'm not meaning to defend FF if what they did was shady, just pointing out that business needs change over time, but that law firms are notoriously slow (and sometimes inefficient) in changing with them.

~32

There will be no (public) associate layoffs at Fried Frank. Fried Frank doesn't do (publicly announced) lawyer layoffs.

-Spokesperson for Valerie Ford Jacob

They freeze associates out at FF instead of "laying off"

#15 - there are many top notch secretaries at Fried Frank who have been with the firm more than 10 years. If it took you three reviews to get your time right, then obviously your handwriting is brutal and not the secretary. Some of them have probably been entering attorney time before you were born.

Right on #15. Imagine not being able to decipher an attorney's writing!

Okay, what's all this talk about "laying off?" The real team is FIRING. Back in the good old days, lay off meant when things got better, you could come back.

I recently left FF after many years. And I know a number of people there, some of whom were fired. Here's what I know: Some of the people let go should have been gone years ago. But some were excellent model employees but hated by their directors.

The directors at FF are notoriously dull. The director of human resources? Well, no one would go to her with any issue unless you want your own director to find out before you're back at your desk. That actually goes for all of HR. It is the least professional department.

The director of Secretarial Services is so under-qualified for her job that she lives in constant fear. If they canned her, she couldn't even qualify as a secretary. She'd do whatever V. Jacob and J. Spendlove tell her to do without question. She's been heard to say when making cuts in services, "I'm saving your jobs." No, she's saving her job. She's never been known to defend one of her own, not ever. Not matter what, the attorney is always right and the secretary is always wrong.

The director of operations can't keep a manager. Everyone hates her.

But in their defense, none of them are really directors. They are managers and they are micromanagers.

Here's a good one: One of the people fired was told to return to work last week from medical LOA. They told her she had to come back of lose her job. I guess they can't fire you if you're on LOA.

Sounds a lot like Mayer Brown in Chicago.
Last year after notice that 40 some partners were being let go---they offered secretaries an 'incentive package" to leave. Well, it was the most senior ones to leave--and a lot of goods ones. Left with some mediocre ones. Don't you all know that clients don't want to pay for secretarial work but that is what associates have been doing for years--and paralegal work at MB --to the tune of $160,000 / year starting.

MB does the last minute out the door too regardless of good reviews or seniority---more based on your 'utilization" --total disregard to loyalty or quality of work--more who you know and who will protect you.

MB also has too many managers getting paid ridiculous salaries and an HR dept. that talks double speak...

MB outsourced the mailroom and duplicating recently but those depts. just shaved some jobs and some paralegals who had been there over 20 years were kicked out the door.

Maybe 'laid-off' staff nationwide can file a class action????

#38 - What a lovely thought to have happen to law firms who think they are above the law when blithely destroying employees' lives at the stroke of a pen! One can only imagine with a smile their cringing at the thoughts of their clients reactions to seeing their outside counsel's names in headlines of newspaper across the US.

Talk about poetic justice!

To add to Comment No. 37 -- As a former long-term FF employee, I have firsthand knowledge of the operations Director, Susan S. She has been terrorizing the mailroom, duplicating and maintenance departments for years. Her legacy will be remembered for depriving her staff of bonuses and raises. Her staff lives in constant fear of termination. I wonder if she has given any consideration to what future there will for her at FF after all those departments are outsourced. Has the light bulb gone off, Susan? As for Kathy A, the Director of Secretarial Services, her knack seems to be surrounding herself with dim-witted Managers because she threatened by anyone who exhibits any intelligence. Being consumed with hiding her own inadequacies, she lies constantly and pits one Manager against another, creating a hostile environment. When there is no more staff to cut, she will have outlived her usefulness and will be unceremoniously discarded. I hope they send you home in a car.

You wrote above: "The reductions, which a firm spokeswoman said were less than 10% of the law firm's 730 staffers firmwide, affect primarily floating secretaries, part-time assistants and paralegals and library personnel."

May I inquire what is 'staffers firmwide'? Does that include the offices in London, France, Germany, Hong Kong and (I heard) possibly Shanghi? Did the spokeswoman confirm how many were laid off in those foreign FF offices? If none were, are they are including the foreign offices staff in the statement "staffers firmwide?

If they were using staffers figures from all FF offices - US and foreign then one might think they are fudging the numbers saying "only 10% of the law firms...." ... when only DC and NY may have taken the hit!

Did you ask the spokeswoman for clarification of what she meant by "staffers firmwide" numbers given?

To add to comment 40.

FF's Kathy A, Director of Secretarial Services, does tend to surround herself with managers, if not dull, then certainly willing to follow her blindly. Well, except for one, and they "let her go." She was evidently given another position in the firm which must mean someone knew she was too good to lose.

Isn’t it interesting that the only department that has grown in size at FF is the Marketing Department. The Marketing Department will have their PR work cut out for them. They will be hard at work brainstorming creative ways to make Mondays Bloodbath appear respectable. Because, after all, it is all about how they look. Is Fried Frank riding on the coattails of its reputation of yester year, back in the days when integrity meant something?

Fried Frank Upper Management reminds me of NJ politicians ... not an honest one in the bunch.

#43 - That Marketing Department can spray all the perfume it wants but the putrid smell will remain!

DC FF lost its integrity when it didn't stand firm and say no I won't let you touch my family nor destroy the great reputation we've built throughout the DC legal world as the firm that truly cared and stood behind its employees!

#44 Have you ever heard a joke wherein a lawyer was called honest?

I'm grateful for the FF commentary on ATL, which I discovered only last week and which helped to prepare me a little for the shock of being laid off on Monday, after many years at FF. Whoever spread the rumors did us all a great service by sparing us the added demoralization of believing that we were individually at fault for our plight ("stealth" layoffs). The information I’ve gained from ATL in less than a week has been hugely valuable, and I’d very much appreciate it if anyone could please answer a few questions:

Are there any better law firms to work for, or are they all basically the same, which is what I’ve heard. I’ve heard that FF was actually one of the least uptight cultures, but I’ve also heard that it’s very cheap with the support staff in comparison to others. Is Goldman Sachs a good place to work? Also, how difficult is it to win an age discrimination case, or, perhaps more to the point, would a good labor lawyer have much of a chance of winning more severance pay than the 12 weeks I got—and would a lawyer cost more than any possible increased severance pay? Could anyone please give me the name of a good labor lawyer?

Thanks very much, and I’d be grateful for any information and suggestions.

There’s one important point I think has been missed in the comments so far; the “reason” we were laid off is because WE DON’T HAVE A UNION. I realized, also from reading ATL, that the secretaries who were laid off—the floaters—were the most vulnerable for a similar reason: they didn’t work at regular assignments for lawyers who could protect their jobs.

As one of the older workers, I’m well aware that Fried Frank has been built on age discrimination—from the “Grace girls,” the high school graduates it regularly recruited for years until the current downturn; to the elderly secretary who had to go to the Labor Department to defend herself from harassment by her supervisors that was intended to make her quit; to the outstanding weekend staff in the 1990’s whose pay differential was wiped out overnight and forced to “choose” between adding 7 hours to their workweek for no additional pay or taking a 20% pay cut because they were now classified as “4/5” workers.

Also, the question of how busy FF has been is not the real issue. I'm sure that there were ways, if anyone had cared, that many staff could have been integrated into more productive jobs at FF, especially given generally good attitudes by many people I know and the acceleration of technology in the workplace.

I would like to defend the secretarial staff against accusations of laziness, although in some individual cases they’re accurate. Contempt for workers is a hallmark of class society, and I would like to address that belief. Let me explain that Fried Frank has always had lots of down time, which is what made it possible for me to survive in a day job I don’t enjoy. Many of the most talented workers I’ve known stayed at FF for the same reason: to have time to study, write their papers and finish college or another professional program; or to support themselves in financially risky arts professions. The down time has represented a kind of grant for us, and I also considered it compensation for Fried Frank’s relatively low salaries and bonuses (mine was $1400 after 24 years).

I hope I don’t sound arrogant in saying that many of the working class secretaries at FF have not been privileged to have the advanced educational opportunities that some of us have had, and have never had the luxury of developing what are called “inner resources.” For them, not having “something to do” is very hard. I can’t remember how many times I’ve heard a secretary complain that the day was going too slowly and longing for it to be over because there was no work. To me, that was crazy—why didn’t they study French, or write a novel, or read? They didn’t know how to use what I considered a gift of time because they had been well trained to carry out others’ directions.

Many of the FF staff whom associates have been denigrating would have been much happier if there had been more work for them. That they filled in the time as best they could, on the phone, on the internet, even knitting, is a symptom not of their laziness but of their vitality in the rigid, elitist class system at FF and probably at most law firms. The split between intellectual and manual labor, which Marx considered the essence of alienation, enforces a kind of passivity in people who have no say in their jobs.

I also believe that the weaker personalties among the lawyers have a destructive need to feel superior to the support staff and wouldn’t even want to give them more advanced responsibilities that might erase the status boundaries between them. I often felt that we were being used by certain lawyers to enforce their narcissistic need to feel superior. For me, the hardest part of my job was not the work but having to act servile, the quality that Marx, again, most detested.

According to some recent studies, it is far more stressful—and deadly—to have a job where you’re closely supervised and have almost no control over your working conditions. One study concluded that workers in such jobs died ten years earlier than in supposedly more stressful, executive-type jobs. And what just happened to those of us who were laid off is a perfect example of what can happen when you have no say in your working conditions.

I don’t know if the culture of blame that I experienced at FF exists to the same extent elsewhere. That, combined with enforced passivity, seems to be the most insidious aspect of the firm. For example, one lawyer, whose work I had politely corrected over a number of years, often saving him extra revisions, last year sent an email to me copied to every supervisor in the firm to tell me (them) that I had made a mistake on one entry on his time sheets (for which he undoubtedly gave me the wrong information, because he didn’t understand Carpe Diem or any other computer program).

In addition to a culture of accusation and blame, there has been an extremely toxic problem that I’ve witnessed of actually punishing some of the most loyal and dedicated workers—such as forcing them to change to personally harmful schedules or lose their jobs; refusing to financially acknowledge secretaries who have far more demanding assignments than most and knocking dollars off their raises for minor infractions or giving them the same low raises as everyone else.

However, I’m very, very grateful to two partners in particular who saved my family’s life by defending us pro bono in a case that lasted three or four years against abusive, extortionist neighbors. The pro bono committee consistently assigned the absolutely top FF lawyers to our case, and we will always be deeply indebted to the firm for that support. And the firm has championed some pro bono causes that are not only progressive and unpopular but in some cases revolutionary, such as FF's support for gay marriage.

There have always been some very nice people at FF, and I hope that the layoff policy that came from the top was not their idea, although the partners unfortunately supported it. My friends at FF are wonderful people, and I’m missing them already.

We have just witnessed an almost gleeful display of greed by some of the richest people on the planet, made all the worse by the current economic reality. Their hubris could not be more glaring than in the email memo Spendlove and Jacob sent around last Thursday, congratulating the five new partners to start in September and stating that their promotions were testament to the financial strength of the firm. On Friday, the next day, the firm began laying off workers and by Monday had laid off the rest.

The firm could easily have waited until Tuesday to send out the new partner memo, and none of us who were laid off would have seen it. That anyone could have rejoiced in the “strength” of an organization that is about to dump its most vulnerable workers—some of whom make less in a year than an associate’s bonus—at the worst possible time to look for a job defies most people’s definition of morality.

Let me close by quoting Leon Silverman, one of FF's legendary lawyers, who wrote in an interview about firm history that he believed it was important to err on the side of generosity. I hope that what just happened at Fried Frank will be seen clearly by all for what it is: a self-inflicted disgrace; and, for any lawyers who may someday be in a similar position of power over others, a class lesson in what not to do.

I'd like to stick up for someone who defended me, even though I don't think she realizes that I have some great skills (sometimes even catching some mistakes in Latin terms) and may have even chosen me as one of the people to be laid off. But she would not have laid anyone off if given the choice. Earlier in the year, she told us there was absolutely no risk that we'd be laid off, which she believed. She and another manager got screwed for their loyalty to FF, and have never been free to openly defy orders from above. However, she told me and had no reason to lie that she fought for me to get a raise and bonus on certain occasions, as well as to prevent me from getting a final warning when my father was dying in the hospital and I was getting "personal" calls at work from doctors. She also prayed for my dad and my family. I think she's a warm, kind woman who's caught in an impossible bind.

Also, what I meant by training workers for more advanced technology in the workplace was the opposite of what some are saying, that technology is eliminating our jobs. From what I saw, the pace of technology at FF was accelerating, and there were a lot of specialized computer programs that staff could have been trained in, benefiting both themselves and the firm--data programs, integration of all kinds of things, contacts, emails, CDs, photo, graphics, etc. That talented people were let go instead of creatively upgraded into more skilled jobs was a crime and great failure in leadership.

Fried Frank used to be a family (at least the DC office). NY will never get it. One message for Jacobs-Spendlove-Scattergood (what's so good about her!!!) be careful how you treat people! You are all are cold people. Stop hiding behind others and do you own dirty work!!

It was common knowledge by staff and lawyers alike in FFDC that FFNY lawyers treated their staff as low class people and it was a cold sterile environment to work in. A friend who worked at FFDC told me of an associate who had transferred to NY called to tell them they were leaving that firm that it was even far worse in their treatment of people than they had warned them it was before they transferred up there.

It was said that when Jacobs and Spendlove would grace the DC office with their presence Jacobs would be all smiles and Spendlove would leave one wondering if they were to bow or genuflect in his presence.

One has to presume the staff knows now why they graced them with their presence and hid behind closed doors summoning the lawyers as if they were their servants as they plotted the Monday massacre.

After many years, I too left Fried Frank for a much better, more progressive firm. I could write that my Fried Frank years were all bad, but that would be untrue. I met some of my closest friends and developed some of my most marketable skills. However, the downside to Fried Frank was a culture in which attorneys and directors were made to believe they were superior. Examples of this horrendous practice was that only Attorneys' and Directors' photos were placed on the Intranet; only Attorneys and Directors were allowed to have certain furniture etc.

Another major problem with this firm is a flawed HR department. If you had a problem with your manager or director, your options were to deal with it on your own or go to HR and have the information get back to your manager or director before you could even get back to your desk. The Director of Operations is probably the most difficult person at the firm (you would think she was billing millions to clients) and even after numerous complaints from her staff and most of her managers and assistants leaving, the firm seems to always look the other way.

I hope her condescending ways and her plight to improve her self esteem by making everyone around her feel like peons will help her when the time comes for her to find a new job (January 2009). At her age, I wish her luck in finding another gig that will make her feel powerful and on top of the world, or just someone willing to hire her.

Dear Director of Operations:

Today's law firm is moving in another "direction" and I hate to break it to you: people like you aren't moving with them.

After many years, I too left Fried Frank for a much better, more progressive firm. I could write that my Fried Frank years were all bad, but that would be untrue. I met some of my closest friends and developed some of my most marketable skills. However, the downside to Fried Frank was a culture in which attorneys and directors were made to believe they were superior. Examples of this horrendous practice was that only Attorneys' and Directors' photos were placed on the Intranet; only Attorneys and Directors were allowed to have certain furniture etc.

Another major problem with this firm is a flawed HR department. If you had a problem with your manager or director, your options were to deal with it on your own or go to HR and have the information get back to your manager or director before you could even get back to your desk. The Director of Operations is probably the most difficult person at the firm (you would think she was billing millions to clients) and even after numerous complaints from her staff and most of her managers and assistants leaving, the firm seems to always look the other way.

I hope her condescending ways and her plight to improve her self esteem by making everyone around her feel like peons will help her when the time comes for her to find a new job (January 2009). At her age, I wish her luck in finding another gig that will make her feel powerful and on top of the world, or just someone willing to hire her.

Dear Director of Operations:

Today's law firm is moving in another "direction" and I hate to break it to you: people like you aren't moving with them.

A quick lesson in history!. The Europeans were quite infamous for the use of the guillitine in earlier centuries for those leaders and people who displeased them and England for their taking heads off of those who displeased them - even a King - at the Tower of London, while people stood around jeering and cheering when bloody heads fell to the ground.

As for the United States' -- some people seem to forget about the caring and patriotic people in the United States and when we proudly sent our boys over to Europe and the Pacific to fight side by side with UK in WWII and we lost 418,500 souls helping them win that war on foreign land. What language would now be their native tongue if we hadn't gone to their aid?

#46 - First, if the employees who were profusely thanked for their years of dedication and loyalty by being unceremoniously thrown out the door on Monday would stand together united then it might be well worth finding a well known lawyer who would be willing to take their case on whatever grounds could be found - age discrimination; negotiate a better severence package; insurance package; prejudice; etc.

From what I've heard that package is the usual hold back the small pittance until the ex-employee signs on the dotted line they will not sue on any grounds nor speak disparaging about that 'humane' firm. One always has to give a cynical laugh when hearing of stipulations 'not sue them on any grounds or speak disparagingly' of them. If they didn't nothing wrong they why worry about a law suit being filed by an ex-employee? Speak disparagingly of them - they treat their loyal long term employees like dirt when throwing them out the door, they expect the employees to rave about their fantastic loyalty to them in turn? Yes, hold the money back knowing those employees need to pay bills; medical expenses; childcare, put food on the table for their families; money for transportation seeking employment - they bank on the majority of the ex-employees needing money to live on NOW so it is a force, so to speak, them signing on the dotted line and FF is home free!

There are very good labor lawyers out there who stomachs are turned and sickened by actions such as the above taking advantage of employees being let go with no money to spare, which they know gives the true good lawyers a bad reputation. You don't need a major law firm to take on a so-called high and mighty firm, you can find a lawyer who knows the ins and outs and is a true champion for the 'little' person.

To the people who are looking for a labor lawyer, keep in mind, this plan was implemented years ago, not overnight. They covered their butts each step of the way . When you do find that labor lawyer, and hopefully win, you will find it interesting to know that beside the name of each of the Monday's dearly departed list was their AGE!

Some were very good workers. Many were older. If there were too many employees, then why keep hiring all these years? And five new partners were mentioned a few days before layoffs. Morale is zero.

#54 - FF put their age beside each victims name or just age beside each position listed? That obviously must have been to keep out of trouble with the Government on laying off the aging ones. Wonder how many young ones they sadly sacrificed to keep their arses out of court?

No doubt in one's mind this was a well thought out and planned execution long in the making - about 2 plus years ago is a good guess.

In many ways that makes it even more disgusting. Treat the targeted loyal employees nicely over the last years, possibly raises, good reviews, bonuses, all to make certain they don't leave until the timing was just right and the plans to conquer the legal world were fine tooth-combed.

Their swordsman was mighty and swift and the heads did fall but not even a whisper of jeering and cheering could be heard as the heads fell.

The pen may indeed be mightier than the sword as time goe by. Every time someone googles FF that bloody Monday will appear for all to see somewhere in the articles about FF.

Always remember, those at the top will get old or ill and replaced as well. All senior partners have to leave and lose power one day, although they can wallow in their egotistical millions. God will not judge on their partnership but on how they treated others.

#57 - Well in that case, in many years to come all those loyal, dedicated, trustworthy and hard working staffers won't have to worry about a long line waiting to enter the Pearly Gates!

#55 To add insult to injury do you read where FF touted it has been named one of the top firms for working mothers by Working Mothers Magazine and will be honored at a luncheon?

Bet Working Mothers Magazine will be real proud of that nomination if they read the Wall Street Journal and/or other papers that carried the Massacre Monday

#55 - why keep hiring if there were too many employees you ask? Simple, the older long-term employees made more money -- why keep them when you can bring in Grace girls -- CHEAP LABOR!

what's a grace girl?

#61 A Grace girl is someone who completed a course at the Grace Administrative and Secretarial School, usually girls who have just graduated high school.

#57 - They didn't treat the targeted employees well for the last two years. Quite the opposite, they harassed them, put them on final warning for any inconsequential occurrence and made their lives a living hell. Oh, did I mention when they terminated these individuals they made sure they fought them all at the unemployment board!

The goal was to "weed out" certain individuals so that they could begin their downsizing and not have to give everyone a severance package on Monday.

And that is how is started. As departments were downsized more responsibilities were added to the few remaining. Word processing supervisors were even forced to cover the lobby security guards for their lunch breaks. Noncompliance with the added responsibilities was not an option if you wanted to remain employed.

Look, no one likes to see people laid off or fired, whichever word you want to lose. But some things need to be clarified.

Someone criticized K. Alcott for "saving her job." Well, isn't that what we all try to do, to do our jobs well enough to keep them? And isn't that what those of you who lost your jobs are lamenting? Whether K. Alcott would qualify as a secretary if she lost her current job is really beside the point. At this time, she seems to be running the department in a way that pleases the Partners and she doesn't need to qualify to be a secretary. She already has one.

And whether or not the managers are dull seems beside the point too. What do you want from them? Tap dancing?

The way I see it, K. Alcott let some of the people stay much longer than she should have. I don't know the records of all or even the majority of people who were let go but I know some and I know that for a variety of reasons, which has nothing to do with their value as people, they were not able to do the job of supporting the attorneys. Some were just not team players. Some of us wonder what took so long.

Everyone feels terrible, even the seemingly hated Directors, about everyone who was laid off. But not all of us can sit by and assume that all of the lay offs were unwarranted.

Those still working should take note that it is no longer an era to say "that is not in my job description," which I've heard so much at Fried Frank.

As for training, how much more training could you ask for? I saw some of the floaters who were let go in training every time a class was offered. You have to admit, some people just don't get new technology. That doesn't demean their value as people. Saying you didn't have the opportunity to use is it is a cop out. Instead of learning French (as someone above suggested) perhaps you could have practiced your work skills.

If a Word processing supervisor were forced lobby security, it was in an emergency situation.

Come on people! There are a lot of half-truths here.

FFNY may well have opened up Pandoras Box by destroying loyal dedicated employees long time livelihood. They can't even keep their story straight. One tells one story why the lay-offs took place.and another talks about FF financial health in attempts to reassure and entice more associates Days before the layoffs took place they were arrogant enough to announce the promotion of 5 associates to Partner level. Associate pay is a far cry lower than a Partner's pay. They announce the lay offs were less than 10% of firmwide staffers; yet 'firmwide' doesn't count - they hit the two US offices only. It smells like a deliberate play on words in an attempt to cast their actions in a different light. The tout they were selected as one of the top firms for working women by Working Women Magazine. One may ask how many in that lay-off were women? If it is true what was said on here they laid off 3 women in the DC office who had been treated for cancer. Has their 5 year mark been reached of them staying cancer free? If not, what are they to do when their meager COBRA offer has been stopped? If they haven't gotten new employment in 3 months and the cancer reappears does that mean they have to go on welfare to receive aid from the Government for treatment or die of cancer without treatment?

#64 - Just to clarify your erroneous statement -- it is indeed a fact that supervisors were made to cover lobby security, not in an emergency situation but on a regular basis every weekend.

I've felt a lot of support from these comments, and thank you profoundly. Today I looked up the law firm Tuckner, Sipser, Weinstock & Sipser, LLP, because one of its lawyers helped me a long time ago regarding another Fried Frank problem. To my surprise, I learned from the website that this labor law firm is "dedicated to the empowerment of women in the workplace." Its practice deals almost exclusively with defending women who have been victimized by employers, although it also champions the rights of gay and transgender individuals too. I hope to speak to someone at the firm tomorrow, and will let you know what I learn regarding the FF layoffs.

As I read the Tuckner website on sex discrimination, I suddenly realized: the secretarial staff who were fired on Monday were ALL WOMEN. I know that one male floater was NOT laid off, and I highly doubt that the other male secretary in the firm was either.

Then it dawned on me that the mailroom and duplicating staff, who have till the end of the year to look for a job--WHILE STILL EMPLOYED--are men. So the women get half an hour to depart and the men get half a year.

If any of my FF coworkers who have been laid off are reading this, if you have any way of getting by without signing the waiver for now, please DO NOT SIGN THE WAIVER that forfeits your rights. The Tuckner website implores anyone who has been laid off NOT to sign a waiver until speaking with a lawyer because of subtleties and ramifications in the contract that a lay person would probably miss.

The website also says that all situations are different and that successful results obtained by the firm for its clients are determined not just by one but by many factors.

There's one other thought I've had that may have relevance: it seems that we were getting emails almost every month or two about partners leaving Fried Frank. I'm not sure if they all left for similar reasons. But if they left for more money, that would have been an added motivation for the layoffs, namely, more profits--and partners.

Finally, the Biblical quotation says that LOVE of money (not money itself) is the root of all evil.

#66 - That is just not true. It happened a couple of times during a transition.

All these law firm HR departments have their little soiree where they all get together and discuss salaries, pay ceilings, layoffs, etc. with regard to "staff". Expect more of the same throughout the industry.

*********64
O So familiar
"that is not in my job description," which I've heard so much at Fried Frank.

#68 - For your information it was not a couple of times during a "transition" -- it was until a staff member sent Human Resources a memo and threatened to go to the Labor Board. If you don't know all the correct facts, don't bother posting any lame comments.

#68. I know all about it. It was the weekend and one of the best things that ever happened to the secretarial weekend shift at FF is that everyone who didn't want to work left the firm. Now they are down to just a few people but they are all willing to work. That was the laziest group I've ever seen. They worked harder trying to find ways not to work than to do the work there was. And complain. That is what they excelled at.

In response to #72 -- the only weekend staff left are the ass kissers and the inadequate.

I am an employee at Fried Frank and have worked here for over 20 years. It has been my experience that when people are let go -- as a layoff or fired -- it has been done so with reason. All I have been reading for days is the negative comments from people who are bitter and angry.

I am an employee at Fried Frank and have worked here for over 20 years. It has been my experience that when people are let go -- as a layoff or fired -- it has been done so with reason. All I have been reading for days is the negative comments from people who are bitter and angry.

#67 - A friend of mine who was profusely thanked by FFNY/DC called to say they had contacted an attorney who advised under no circumstances put their name on the dotted line and return it to FF. Let's face it, FF has them all exactly where they want them - without any money and families to feed and bills to pay and no employment in hand. The disgraceful part is FF could have told them all months ago on such and such a date or month they were going to have to lay off people and give them plenty of opportune time to seek employment elsewhere. But they choose to be underhanded, nasty and put them out when it suited them and with the least of cost to them - offer them up to 3 months capped from what I hear and leave them swinging in the wind. Now they expect the ex-employees to kiss their arse and take what pittance they offer them and rave about what a great employer they were.

Some on here are saying only half truths are being written and those are the ones who are still employed and if they aren't wondering when they''ll get their 10 minutes of time with HR maybe they should be. We should all stop and think - those ex-employees were loyal and dedicated to that firm and worked keeping their mouths shut through the years. They owe that company now exactly what they got from them on Massacre Monday - a kick in the teeth. Nothing to lose now by speaking out and telling the truth for all to hear exactly how they were thrown aside and put out the door in thanks for their dedication. That which goes around comes around and usually two-fold!

Dear Underlings:

You may have witnessed the sudden and speedy departure of certain personnel on Monday. They may have had boxes or not, some did not have time to pack. They were asked to leave within 30 minutes so as not to distract you from your duties. Please, if you see anyone else leaving with a box and especially a security guard, don't stop and ask them any questions. Let them be on their way. We wouldn't want you to think that some day this could happen to you.

In addition, please rest up this weekend. With less staff, we are going to have to demand that everyone work even harder, even if you didn't think that possible. The Partners' feel it's always possible to squeeze one more ounce of sweat from their people. The firm will of course reward you for your extra efforts and loyalty.

Spokesperson for Valerie and Justin

### 75
I have to disagree with your comment. The truth of the matter is people are considered “bitter and angry” when they are no longer blind to the politic of law. It is obvious that you are considered one of the so quotes on quote “LUCKY ONES”. 20 years? Well you have something to look forward to when it come down to retirement. These indivial who were Fired worked for Fried Frank might have been longer or less then you but are now force to start their lives all over again.
So on that note; I would not consider it to be “bitter and angry”. I consider it to be a FREEDOM OF SPEECH and let the truth be told. What are the odds when everybody has the same views as each other on here?

A great revolutionary wrote that a good reputation is like money in the bank: it can take years to build up, but can be lost in a day. I believe that that has just happened to FF.

The information that is coming out on the internet may serve not only to warn people in the future about FF but may possibly help us in our immediate crisis. Because even though we were ruthlessly laid off with no notice whatsoever, making it more difficult to piece together what was happening, nevertheless there is power in numbers.

As more and more people courageously share what till now were individual horror stories, certain patterns are emerging that taken as a whole may constitute illegal employment practices.

I was just told by a women's labor lawyer to email him a narrative of what has happened at Fried Frank, and I will let you know his response. He said to include in the subject line "attorney/client information re Fried Frank," to protect our confidentiality.

I believe that what we are doing here, whether bitter or not, is an act of great loyalty to a higher standard of justice than FF is capable of practicing. And, please, whoever can hang on for a little more time, please don't sigh those waivers!

I just ran across this site and have sat reading fascinated by man's inhumanities to man! Obviously, it seems that a multimillion dollar if not billion dollar law firm has thrown employees out on the streets after years of dedicated service to said firm with no advance notice.

Pity that there is no union to protect such employees. One can only imagine the shock and fear the remaining employees must be experiencing wondering when their time will be up.

Has anyone had the thought to repay the firm in kind and walk around outside the respective office buildings carrying signs at a noon hour for all to see who are going in and out the buildings and passerbys? Suggestion to make it worth the while call your local newspapers and local TV stations, they like human interest stories and would show up, as it would be a filler for their evening news. However, if appearing yourself would jeopardize any potential severance package or settlement then maybe friends, family members and even your children would be quite happy to carry signs. Freedom of Speech is a Right .

I for one am glad to no longer be working for Dewey Fleesum and Howe.

Shamefully, the firings start from the bottom. Mega-Law Firms spend tons of money on so-called efficiency experts and this is what happens in the end. Devotion is only a word.

Shamefully, the firings start from the bottom. Mega-Law Firms spend tons of money on so-called efficiency experts and this is what happens in the end. Devotion is only a word.

#48 - I heard Scattergood was seen quietly sneaking around the DC office end of the week. Must have been there to work on planning what to do next to the ex-employees if they tell them where to put their package, which they rightfully should - where the sun doesn't shine! Or she could be there trying to bolster the morale of the directors and managers by telling them how great they should feel having the power at their finger tips to destroy peoples and friends lives at whim and will.

V.Jacobs seems to be the only one bold enough to appear that week when she tried to con I mean convince the associates with her pasted on smile how secure they were. J. Spendlove hiding out somewhere so he can't be confronted or get rightfully deserved ugly publicity - wonder if he flew back across the Pond before the fireworks started for a quickly arranged holiday!

#79 - Will you share the name of the lawyer you have contacted for others to consider using them?

The reason, I'm told by reliable sources, Spendlove was brought to the firm was to deliver even more millions promised to them through new business and expansions across the oceans into the already wealthy ones' pockets in NY and FF to claim world fame as the best! He is not an American, he is from the UK!

I understand he visited the DC office, once on board in position of power, to deliver to the employees and lawyers alike his program to 'conquer the world' (my words) and announced for all to hear 'we are now into the business of making money' and if they couldn't help out or contribute then they were to leave, I understand was the essence of his message to them.

It is my understanding and once again from a very reliable source that once he took over at NY headquarters much began to change - NY started fast taking over the DC office, changes were made and more or less hand-picked people were hired and put in place in DC and all answered to NY, NY managers and directors were put over DC managers and directors, reorganization of positions and responsibilities with staff took place and an 'uneasiness' could be felt in the air, they said, even amongst the lawyers/Partners it was noted. Morale started going downhill amongst the staff as rumours had started and looking around they could not totally disregard them. My friend had mentioned to me one time that the 'family atmosphere' between staff and lawyers was disappearing - not much laughter or friendly smiles of hello were seen around or heard around the office.

One would think that once they saw 5 major partners walk out of that firm, 4 of whom had been with the firm for many, many years, they would have realized what was coming down in the near future but then not a word was said to those who questioned just why would such well known, highly respected in the legal field throughout the US, long term lawyers walk out with little notice.

In defense of DCFF - when employees would leave they were not replaced. Ongoing classes were given constantly to any who had not had to use frequently programs such as Excel, Power Point, and any other ones over the years. In other words, contrary to what NYFF has tried to imply through their lame excuses for the layoffs, the employees were well qualified and had available to them at all times any classes or private refresher courses they wanted and they did take advantage of it. Employees who left, once again, were not replaced and some staffers had as many as 7 associates and a partner to support and most had 4 or 5. Overstaffed and not up to speed - that sounds like a joke to me. I understand from a float that at holiday times when regular staff was off they covered up to as many as 10 lawyers and two quads a day.

It is glaringly obvious that the staff that worked in FF soon became and were quite expendable, many years of loyalty and dedication meant nothing nor was appreciated, as FF was lead forward on their goal for further fame and more millions to line their pockets!

I have heard true stories of staff that stayed on and worked all night for night after night in shifts on big cases without a complaint. Men in the copy room who were called in the middle of the night to come in and they went without question. Men in the copy room who also stayed all night to do copy a project that had to get to court or back to the client and many times because the lawyers had procrastinated and not gotten it finished in time. Not a word of complaint from the men in the copy room - they were there to do the job they were hired to do and in turn make the firm look good! Staffers stayed and worked all hours into the night, if not all night ,while the lawyers had gone home to eat dinner with their families and would fax work back and forth to them comfortable in their own home. Staffers would go in on weekends when called at home when a rush case came up without a word and work and some all night and go home in time for breakfast.

So soon the NY lawyers forget when they'd go to the DC office to work on a case for the day or even long term and over weekends, DC staff willingly worked for them side by side on cases days and nights and weekends.

In this world today it is hard to find hard working, loyal, dedicated employees who devoted more than half their lives to helping a company succeed. That is a very rare commodity in this working world and one that should have been cherished and appreciated. Instead they were kicked in their teeth and thrown on the streets and offered a meager severence package that was an insult to them.

Yes, other firms and corporations have done the similar actions to employees over the years. However, very few of their employees, I'll wager, spent over half their working lives dedicated to them. However, this was FFDC famous with an impeccable reputation and for being the 'family' firm in Washington DC, who didn't have to command respect, dedication, loyalty and longevity from its staff - their staff freely gave it with pride, dedication and heads held high!

Mr. Spendlove[hate], Ms. Jacob, all partners and directors: Are you smiling, laughing and enjoying your weekend? How nice - while the layoffs, 50 and over, will have great difficulty working again and paying medical.

Mr. Spendlove[hate], Ms. Jacob, all partners and directors: Are you smiling, laughing and enjoying your weekend? How nice - while the layoffs, 50 and over, will have great difficulty working again and paying medical.

What happened to the words, "family" and "dedication" spoken at the annual anniversary parties?

Note to Justin, the buzz is many partners do not care for you. Seriously. However, they will not speak up, as long as more $$ is placed into their accounts.

Why not layoff partners now? Those who have caused many secretaries to be hired because the partners had issues and could not hold onto them?

For those who were laid off, we pray you will do good in the near future and let us know your good luck stories. And we pray that lawsuit goes through and you win.

#91 - They don't have to lay off partners, partners have been walking out on them and they know exactly why they have been from NY and DC offices!

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure why they have been leaving over the last couple of years and several before then. Then, FFDC lawyers were figuratively stripped of any power, so to speak, and couldn't even save their own employees from the Monday Massacre compliments of NYFF.

This was on the other site:

"This has certainly been interesting reading for a Sunday afternoon.

Rather looks like that law firm got so caught up in its delusions of grandeur and god-like self image that it forgot some wise old sayings: You treat others in life as you want to be treated! You get more with honey than you do with vinegar! That which goes around comes around - two fold!"

They have been so caught up in their delusions of grandeur and god like self-image in their pursuit of more gold and fame, that I think they lost track of the real world - you don't kick people who don't deserve to be kicked around if you don't want them to kick back. They under estimated the employees who were dedicated, loyal,and gave their all to FF and must have been having delusional moments when thinking they'd roll over and play dead. After all the almighty FF with their pockets filled with gold can do what they want in this world to people they feel beneath them.

#90 - And why do you think some of the Partners started walking out over the last couple of years? DCFF alone had 5 walk over the last two years...

#92 One would hope it won't have to reach the Courts. This whole 'mess' could have been averted if FF had any class at all. You know just because one has money does not mean they have 'class'. They could have simply told the employees 6 months ago they were going to start cutting staff back say by August - that would have given the staff adequate time to find new employment elsewhere. FF would have come out smelling like a rose helping the employees find a new job over the given months while still being paid and employed. Instead they kicked them in the teeth, hold severance pay over their head if they agreed to their all one-sided terms and have so much time to decide. In the meantime the family starves, bills aren't paid, medical expenses are incurred, mortgages aren't paid - and some may well lose their homes if they can't make the payments - knocking on doors looking for jobs in this poor economy and most competing against the 'youngsters' out there with they themselves in 50's and 60's.

FF is going to have a hard time living this one down with all the negative publicity ongoing over the dirty way they treated the loyal, dedicated and long-term employees. They are going to end up being 'famous' all right through the example other firms and corporations will use down the road when it comes to laying off dedicated employees. The saying will be - "We don't do it the FF way."

A friend who was laid off called me awhile ago and said an old family friend who is a retired lawyer in FL called to talk to her to catch up on family and asked how things were. She told him what happened to her and the others and she said he was absolutely shocked and said "what FF is a good solid firm and has a good reputation and they've done something like that..." Now another lawyer to throw into the kitty for those needing advice as he told her not to sign a thing until he goes over it.

First, let me say there were approximately 540 administrative employees in the NY Office of FF -- approximately 40 -45 or so were fired on Monday. Additionally, the Maintenance Department and Mailroom personnel were told their jobs would be outsourced by the end of the year -- that adds another 25-30 so it looks like the final number is around 70-75 (closer to 15 percent in the NY Office).

Since we are speaking frankly here, I have a few thoughts: First, all senior employees should have been offered respectable packages to retire early or pursue other opportunities. Next, all employee records should have been examined. Employees with chronically bad attendance records should have been eliminated since, in many cases, they are not worth keeping. The next to go should have been folks who are not trainable and who are not motivated to work -- we all have to be willing to be flexible to keep a job and most jobs change and evolve over time. If they are not able or willing to adapt to a company's changing business needs then they need to be shown the door. After that, I would have liked to see the Directors develop a plan for restructuring their respective departments based on efficiency and sanity and not on favortism. Perhaps a brainstorming session to evaluate the short-term and long-term staffing needs would have proven to be a dynamic, forward-thinking measure -- some remaining employees could possibly have been utilized in other jobs. How many people would have needed to be fired if these ideas had been implimented. The remaining personnel would then feel valued that they are being utilized in other positions. What does Fried Frank have in store for the remaining survivors? There are many remaining personnel that continue to be unskilled, frightened and unproductive -- what is going to change that? There are currently some very overburdened staff members remaining (especially in Secretarial Services during the day) that are unmercifully worked and abused – my hope is that someone will free these slaves by hiring two more experienced word processors -- they can do that and not add any money to the budget, just get rid of a couple of the dead wood would-be supervisors, whose time is spent doing their own personal business and mindless taxonomy work (which should be pushed back to the secretarys on the floors). Doing so would contribute to the bottom line of that Center and upgrade the sweatshop conditions. Also, I believe there are laws against giving people so much work they are unable to take a break and then tell them they are not paying them to work through those breaks. Does the name Walmart sound familiar?

Valerie Jacob was quoted in the ATL article as saying "Fried Frank's support functions are not as efficient as our peer firms, so we restructured". Let me just say that with the current regime of unimaginative directors and extremely lacking Human Resouces Department that are in place, Fried Frank's goal to become more efficient has
failed. The inefficiencies start at the top and go down from there. You have succeeded in cutting head count but have NOT become more efficient since saving money and efficiency do not necessarily go hand in hand.

As for the person who wrote Comment 64: you sound like one of the dim-witted supervisors that was referred to by the person who wrote Comment 40 – if you are, perhaps lap dancing is the only thing you kow how to do.

Every organization needs to run efficiently in order to be profitable, however, ethics and honesty don't necessarily seem to be words that I would use to describe the recent events that have taken place here. I only hope that the employees who were forced out over the past year or two and the folks who were affected by the firings last week keep their heads and pursue legal counsel to make sure that laws have not been broken (especially the folks who were forced to return from medical LOAs only to return to work and be fired) -- that, for sure, should be against the law. For everyone else: there is strength in numbers and I certainly hope you all exercise your right to get legal representation. Also, remember that Fried Frank hates bad publicity, so I would consider getting the press involved – Wall Street Journal, American Lawyer and don't forget the TV stations.

#91 - Your forgot "Be nice to the people you meet going UP the ladder because you meet the same people going DOWN!!!"

#91 - Your forgot "Be nice to the people you meet going UP the ladder because you meet the same people going DOWN!!!"

#97 - May I commend you on a beautiful, well written and common sense letter! One can hope that all and any staff who have been let go from FFover the last two years - from either office - are referred to ATL and read all the letters written thus far and especially yours and takes your well written advice.

It would probably be a safe guess that most all, if not all, the employees from the DCFF and hopefully FFNY Monday Massacre have contacted each other and are reviewing their options re a lawyer or lawyers to use and will stand united as a family, which they have been for up to 28 plus years.

FF in all their smug ways are most likely sitting thinking nothing can come of a suit against them, having dotted their i's and crossed their 't's in the abomination they handed out as a severance package. Well as the old saying goes any lawyer who has himself for his lawyer has a fool for a lawyer.

There is no doubt that by now they have their 'trusted' aides tearing apart ex-employees folders looking for grounds to threaten or bully them on to accept their three months and go away quietly. It is has gone too far, in my opinion, for their threats or bullying to work. They arrogantly kicked loyal, dedicated, long-term and proud employees in the teeth and threw them on the streets, without a care for the families they had to feed; bills they had to pay; mortgage payments to make, which if not made they could most likely lose their homes; medical bills to pay - the list is endless of the many traumas they have blithely thrown the employees and their families into.

Yes, FF does loathe bad publicity but they opened Pandoras Box themselves by their unethical and disgraceful actions towards the employees, showing all to see they have no class least of all a soul, and what comes out of it they can only blame themselves.

Money and Power have been known to corrupt but human kindness and respect for others never does!

Dear commentators,

FRIED FRANK TIMED THE LAYOFFS AS AN END RUN AROUND THE STATUTE RE DEADLINES FOR SIGNING THE WAIVER.

It may have been legal, but FF got around the INTENT of the law that states that as laid off employees we have 45 days to decide whether to sign the waiver forfeiting our rights to any future settlement it in order to get a lousy severance "package." FF deliberately timed our medical insurance to expire in 7 DAYS (August 31st)--NOT 45--and tied extending the coverage to our signing of the waiver.

What this means (and please correct me if I'm wrong) is that if we need medical coverage beyond August 31st and can't pay for it ourselves (Oxford's rate is approximately $1400 a month for a family!), we will be forced to sign the waiver of our rights to a better settlement just to get the medical coverage.

So even though technically we have 45 days from our "Separation Date," August 18th, to think over signing a waiver, in reality we have only seven days from the day our information packet arrived by overnight mail, August 20, until the Friday of the next week, August 30, to squeeze in whatever medical treatments, tests, visits, filled prescriptions we need, etc. OR, we can sign the waiver and get some medical coverage beyond September 1st for a limited time (it's not clear to me for exactly how long because the language is so convoluted).

What better means of pressuring us could FF have used? I believe that FF limited the real time that many people can delay signing the waiver to only 7 days to prevent us from organizing, pressing claims--in other words, taking any actions at all in our best interests.

Then comes the obvious question, why did FF do this?--to keep the most money possible out of the pockets of the laid-off staff.

Also, the legal language in the documents we got and have to pay a lawyer to interpret for us is not, as required by law, in plain English--for example (from Separation Agreement and Release): "...ending on the earlier of (a) the day the Employee becomes eligible... or (b) the last day of the third month after the month in which Employee's Separation Date... for the period September 1, 2008, and ending on the earlier of ... or (y) if your years of service at the Firm and your age totals 80, pay the full premiums... [somehow the (x) clause was missing in the Agreement].

All these contradictory conditions expressed in the cover letter, and dense legal language add up to a confusing collection of documents that are too tricky for lay people to decipher, and that people without jobs can't afford to pay a lawyer to translate for them anyway.

It just gets worse and worse. The more people write in to share their knowledge and experience, the sharper the picture becomes of not only unlimited greed, but of something even more destructive. Fried Frank, the law firm that we helped build, has turned its legal talent AGAINST US--to screw us. And to evade the intention of the legally mandated 45-day period by setting the real deadline (the expiration of our medical coverage) to decide whether to sign the waiver at August 31st.

Finally, this is the name of the law firm and the lawyers I'm talking to:

Tuckner, Sipser, Weinstock, and Sipser, LLP
120 Broadway--ironically, the early Fried Frank's address!, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10271
tel 212-766-9100
fax 212-766-4477
Jack Tuckner's email: jtuckner@womensrightsny.com
Bill Sipser: wsipser@womensrightsny.com

VERY, VERY IMPORTANT: Jack Tucker told me to include in the subject line of any email the words "attorney/client information re Fried Frank in order for it to be protected confidential information.

By the way, I discovered a malicious, juicy lawsuit against the Tuckner firm on the internet, but I read the legal documents posted on the firm's website, and it's obvious that the woman suing is a real nut. All you have to do is read her emails to Jack telling him in detail about her periods, fibroids, childhood, trusting men, on and on. The reason I originally called Tucker Sipser because a lawyer, now retired, at a firm somewhat associated with them helped me a lot in the mid-90's.

Also, I had to leave a number of messages before Jack got back to me. But they're aware of our situation now, and please feel free to send them any information you have, again, using "atty/client info re Fried Frank" in the subject line.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all the solidarity and community we've created. Thank you ATL for providing this invaluable forum. You've all helped me so much. Please keep in touch.

Why am I not in shock to read FFNY would try to pull something so dastardly! Just to think those upstanding pillars of the legal world tried to circumvent the laws which gives employees protection.

What was that list of sayings posted, that really FFNY should decorate their office walls with instead of those expensive paintings: 'Treat others as you want to be treated; You get more with honey than you do with vinegar; That which goes around comes around usually two- fold.' Well best they add another two : Act in Haste Repent at Leisure and Payback can be a real bitch!

Greedy cold blooded lot up there, aren't you! No wonder you were so eager to strip FFDC of their famous reputation in DC as the "family law firm," where the lawyers stood behind their staff and the staff stood behind their lawyers through thick and thin and never waivered in their loyalty, dedication and family love for them and gave their all to them.

All in FFDC had the milk of human kindness in them, something none of you were capable of understanding, least of all possessed within yourselves.

"Bitter and Angry" is exactly what most people on here are. I am SO sure that FF sat around plotting to push you out the door so they could starve your family. Come on people. Look at the time we are in right now. FF layoffs were what?? 50ish? You look at all these other companies out there and they are dropping like flies. Don't sit there bashing these people because you happened to be one of the "Unlucky Ones." If they were half as bad as you say, then why the hell did you stick around long enough to get laidoff? You should have been looking for a job long ago. Accept that things happen and move on. And, i'm sure that the people you are bashing on here are actually VERY competent. They wouldn't be in the positions they are if they were any less. FF doesn't have this master plan to destroy everyone's lives. Get over it and find a new job.

#103 - I hate to have to call you out , 103, but you're the one that sounds "bitter" and "angry." You must be one of the people called out on these posts for the snake that you are. Seeing that you still have a job (so do I), you should enjoy your "small wages" (because that's what Fried Frank is known for paying) and stay off of these boards. Grow up and grow a heart because you might be next.

#104 Exactly "Thank you".

I, too, was a former, long-term employee (20 years). I worked on three shifts at FF. I have seen many changes dating back to 1984 and up until the present. KAlcott fell into that position by chance. She was a secretary just like the rest of us, but soon forgot when she was promoted because of the passing of the Secretarial Mananger. She had no formal training as a manager and/or human resource person. She placed people in supervisory positions just because she liked them and they made her look better. She never defended the staff because she felt inferior to the higher-ups. There were a couple of Managers who were fair and balanced toward the staff but she never supported them. She would undermine their ability to manage. Partners at the Firm were allowed to be abusive towards secretaries, i.e., tantrums, scream, throw phones, you get the picture. Nothing was ever done to rectify the situation. They were never reprimanded. Swept under the carpet. It is not at all shocking to me to see this taking place at this Firm. I’m one of the lucky ones. I left a couple of years ago and never looked back.

#103 - FFNY layoffs was much over 50 and the ones in DC THAT FFNY ordered were close to 31 counting the men who will lose their jobs when they start outsourcing - which frankly will be a big joke and cause much grief to lawyers...well, FF should have thought of that; but by the looks of what is being written on here FF was only thinking of their Gold!

As for plotting to push their employees out the door so their families could starve - I'm quite sure that thought never entered mind; as I'm quite certain they couldn't have given a rat's arse less if those employees had families or not nor bothered finding out. So worry about children starving would not have been on their minds; anymore than worrying about laid off employees whom they threw on the streets would lose their homes because they had no money to pay the mortgage; nor worry about employees going without proper medical treatment when the healthcare lapsed; nor worry about employees who had been treated for cancer and may need further treatments down the road; nor worry about the people in their late 50's and early 60's trying to find a job as too early to take SS.

From what I gather from reading all the statements, FFNY didn't have a worry in the world re the employees, their total focus and goal in life is more gold to line their pockets.

#103 - Excuse me - you said something about the people being talked about in the FFNY office being "competent"? What planet are you from that you can't understand what has happened to the real competent people because of those so-called 'competent' people in the NYFF?

If they actually had a competent person at FFNY who had even half a brain that whole fiasco would not being talked about on here.

I'd be shocked if heads weren't rolling up in FFNY for the mess this turned into and the much deserved bad press FFNY is receiving - still a week later after the massacre.

The Gods and Goddesses in their minds only, who destroyed people's lives with the slight of the hand, sit up in NY in their Ivory Tower too busy dreaming and planning for more fame and gold and lost touch with the real world somewhere along the way.

The real world is: those were people who dedicated their lives to FF in both NY and DC. They are the ones who made FF succeed by working long hours days and nights to enable to lawyers to serve their clients; filings typed in proper form, completed on time and made certain they were filed in court on time; prepared speeches and presentations so the lawyers could convince potential clients they were the firm for them to hire; answered the phones and made certain the lawyers got the messages and returned the calls; opened correspondence for the lawyers to read and typed the responses; kept the lawyers calendars so a meeting or teleconference would not be missed; made plane reservations for them to fly off to meet clients; take vacations with wives and kids in tow; or take a boondoggle to an ABA or other meetings for glad-handing and seeing old acquaintances at the company's expenses; sent out hundreds of Christmas cards every year to clients and even personal friends of the lawyers; sent out invitations to parties, and took RSVPs, at the lawyer's home their wives were too good to do themselves; wrapped and sent out presents many times personal to family and friends, their wives were too good to do; sent flowers to their wives for them which they didn't take the time to do for birthdays and anniversaries; spent late hours at the office working on projects while the lawyers sat on their arses at home with their family and faxed papers back and forth to his home, while their own families ate without them; told white lies for the lawyers when they didn't feel like talking to a client that were behind closed doors and would have to call them back; then took the crap when the client called again when the lawyer still hadn't called them back; some even typed school papers for the lawyers snot nosed kids who were being taught that is what 'servants' are for; made certain the lawyers billing time was entered so they didn't miss collecting a penny from a client each month. They spent more hours at the office working hard and long hours to help make FF succeed than they did at home with their own families.

HELLO - YOU IN THAT IVORY TOWER - THAT IS THE REAL WORLD AS IT IS TODAY AND WAS!!

So how do you repay such dedication to FF - you kick them in the teeth in 5 minutes time; point to the door and throw them out on the streets carrying an envelope that inside is the ultimate insult and your way of saying "thank you"!

FFNY:

An observation and unsolicited advice from one who has worked in the corporate world for many years with people whose net worths would make all of you look like paupers both in the US and across the Pond..

I have been watching this site and read all that has been written with very few at the most defending FF and one can gather those few must still be employed by you.

This has left a well deserved black mark on you/FFNY.

I believe I read that Justin Spendlove announced that you were going to become a money making business. Now, I do believe law firms are hired by Corporations, who are in the business of making money, to give them legal advice to keep them out trouble with the multitude of Government Agencies, both Federal and State, where they do business and also under other countries' laws where they may do business. Also, too often they come to you for help once they violated the laws.

Really great Corporate successful businessmen surround themselves with good people they can trust to do their best for the Corporation. They DO NOT surround themselves with 'yes' men or arse kissers whose only interest is keeping a well paying job and can treat the employees any way they choose under them without repercussions from the top. They depend on those around them to keep them out of trouble and tell it as it is and not fearful in telling them no and give sound advice on how something should be done or could be done another way.

Yes, there have been sour grapes posted on here but many times people will tell the truth on exactly how it was or how they were treated by managers or directors, once they've been let go and have nothing to lose.

Yes, you are very busy day in and day out practicing law servicing clients well and moving forward in your endeavors. But you failed to remember Harry Truman's sign he kept on his desk: "The Buck Stops Here." When the crap hits the fan it goes straight to the top in the business world and obviously in the legal world by what has happened to you this past week and non-stopping.

In my humble opinion, it may bode you well to take the time out of your very busy schedules very soon in the near future and go behind close doors and review what is going on around you with regards to the staff, their treatment by not only questionable actions by the managers, directors and even lawyers.

Apparently you gave the edict 'off with their heads' and that was it. From that point on you were out of it and turned it over to your obvious 'yes people anything you want people. From what I've read your 'yes anything you want' people rather carried it out without thinking it through from all angles. Some fairly maybe but from reading on here personal feelings towards some staff were involved. Did anyone sit down ahead and write down with deep thought various ways in which to have that layoff without all the repercussions, backlash, and fall out that has happened from it and submit it for review?

You don't have time to review every little thing going on around you in the office but it is very important you have people who have the whole firm's best interest at heart and that includes staff's best interests and aren't afraid to say to you I understand what you want but I need to study it and then will get back to you with the best way to proceed for all involved.

If nothing else hire a few good trusted people who are impartial who will be directly under you and are your eyes and ears as to what takes place in the company. The will tolerate no in-house politics, no abuse of staff and have an open mind for staff or anyone else to go to who have grievances or problems without worry of negative backlash. And any plans or actions that affect the employees will have to be submitted to them by the managers.

The staff laid off were real people in a real world and people cared what happened to them even the public who don't even know them - as you well have found out.

.

.

FF is certainly getting a lot of press time. I am sure it is not the kind of publicity they like, but keep up the good work people.

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2008/08/after-layoffs-f.html

http://abajournal.com/news/fried_franks_cuts_administrative_staff/

I have been with a small firm for 6 years and don't have medical. I make less than $50k a year after the bonus and 2 weeks vacation max.

Just shows you, it can always be harder.

I bet many of you writing and reading this blog did not know that FF is a Pioneer in the area of labor disputes (well, at least in France). On its website, they created a Memorandum To Their Friends and Clients which states: "On January 18, 2005 the French Parliament adopted the Social Cohesion Act in an effort to deal with high unemployment rates and the prevalence of litigation in response to layoffs. The Act profoundly modifies French labor law concerning the rights of employees dismissed by a French employer on economic grounds and imposes stiffer sanctions for improper dismissal."

Congratulations to FF for your assistance with the protection of French employees who are unfairly treated and dismissed by their employers. We can now see the humanitarian side of your international efforts. Wow ... this Firm is my idol -- I will try to live up to the high standards it sets! Oh, I forgot ... this is the standard you helped set for others, but not the standard you live by yourself. How hippocritical can you be? I wonder how some of the people involved in these firings can look themselves in the mirror. 15% of the workforce is gone; you saved your money -- you can all now afford to take trips to Tahiti. Enjoy your new found wealth!

If you would like to see the entire Memorandum, please go to following location on Fried Frank's website: http://www.ffhsj.com/index.cfm?pageID=25&itemID=1986 (the memo is proudly displayed).

Kudos to Comment 112. I wonder what the French Parliament would think of how FF deals with their own labor disputes.

#112 What are the chances that this article was posted in France's legal publications, LOL!

Re-read the response no. 114 - it says I wonder what they would think. Meaning, if they only knew how FF treated their own people would they have hired them?

#112 - Will their arrogance and duplicity never end!

Coldly and calculatingly with absolutely no regard for their US staff they throw them on the streets but yet in France make their fame as the champion of the little people. Then tout it on their website so all clients can see the benevolent kind firm they hired.

Hey, do you think they are proudly posting on their website all these comments for their U.S. clients and ones in other countries to read?

Your post with the link might come in quite handy for the ex-employees who have hired lawyers for a couple of reasons ...

All of you I presume have seen where they touted they are named one of the top firms for working women by "Working Women Magainze." The percentage of women laid off was higher than the men laid off.

Guess they better hope Working Women Magazine doesn't have a habit of reading ATL. I'm not sure they'll be that lucky though banking on their clients not reading it with inhouse counsel who might be reading ATL to keep on top of what is going on in firms. ATL is great reading to begin with and then to see their outside counsel as a topic of conversation with such laudatory comments ... you can all most bet they have their marketing department burning the midnight oil to come up with some self-serving explanations in case a client calls ...

They are going to have a hard time explaining this away to their clients - they may be fools themselve but the clients aren't!

They haven't kept any of their stories straight yet...why the layoffs; never layoff lawyers but yet it was pointed out they indeed have a big lawyer layoff in the 90's; fudged the figures on the percentage of firm staff laid off by throwing in the European staff figures as a 'firmwide staff'...quit the BS, FF, you can fool some of the people some of the time but you can't fool all the people all of the time!

Valorie Jacob was telling the associates they were not to worry as FF was sound when she was talking to them after the staff layoffs. So, FF is financially sound; they never layoff lawyers; associates are not to worry ... then what explanation do they have for the 38 associates who left the DC office from Nov. 2006 to Jan. 2008? Not to mention the 5 Partners who walked out in DC over the past year? I would think some have left since Jan. 2008 to date ..and what is NY's office figures for associates who have left and Partners , may I ask?

"Oh What Tangled Webs We Weave .... "

Look at themselves in the Mirror? Surely you jest!

"

#114 and #115 - I won't be the least bit surprised if a local TV station doesn't somehow pick up on this and even the DC newspapers. This whole sad mess was FF's own doing when they opened Padoras Box and one highly doubts if the papers or TV would slant any story with kindess towards them.

I have yet to hear a lawyer joke where the punch line has one nice word about lawyers and the papers would get great press taking on a firm like them in reporting the human side of the story. This keeps up this may well make it to the UK press and others; as there are many US firms in Europe with US lawyers working and it'll take a few who read ATL to start talking to other law firms re did you read ATL, look what is going on with FF... and word is going to travel real fast! Some of the Tabloids in the UK thrive on printing gossip especially when it involves any one prominent and I've read some stories on law firms in them. FF has an office over there and Spendlove is from there ...

What is that old saying "Stay tuned folks...".

#103 - Shame on you! Find a new job???? At 61 years of age???? Are you kidding? You are CLEARLY NOT one of the staff who was laid off. If you were, you would not be so smug and self-righteous. You would know how frightening it is to have a financial obligations and health problems that require that you have coverage. You would know how stressful it is to have a job one day and be tossed out the door the next - AND given 30 minutes to leave the building - after 20 years of service! If I were you - I would watch who I defend - they're not worth it! What goes around, comes around - the way things are going, you could be next!!! And - for your information - I don't work for - nor have I every worked for Fried Frank. I am strictly an outside observer.

#103 - Shame on you! Find a new job???? At 61 years of age???? Are you kidding? You are CLEARLY NOT one of the staff who was laid off. If you were, you would not be so smug and self-righteous. You would know how frightening it is to have financial obligations and health problems that require that you have coverage. You would know how stressful it is to have a job one day and be tossed out the door the next - AND given 30 minutes to leave the building - after 20 years of service! If I were you - I would watch who I defend - they're not worth it! What goes around, comes around - the way things are going, you could be next!!! And - for your information - I don't work for - nor have I every worked for Fried Frank. I am strictly an outside observer.

uh, 112 what are you talking about? - the memo is about changes to the law. its a client memo discussing changes instituted by the French Parliament. It does not really come down on one side or the other of the issu.

FF did not realize two weeks ago that none of the millions that it was about to save annually by laying off dozens of its highest-paid low-paid employees (meaning, staff) age 40-plus can buy back the reputation is has utterly and irretrievably lost. And I'm sure FF rues the day it sent around the new-partner memo congratulating the five associates, whose first test of partnership was to keep silent while the firm massacred its long-serving employees.

And I don't think most people will take kindly to FF's using our children's need for medical care as its bargaining chip to force us to sign the waiver giving up the right to sue for fair treatment. Please note that the price for not signing the waiver is $1366/month for privately-paid medical coverage as of September 1st. The last two weeks of August leading up to the holiday weekend is not a great time to look into alternate medical plans; find a lawyer who can decipher a separation agreement that is rife with "technical jargon and long, complex sentences," as prohibited by 29 CFRS 1625.22b)(3); or look for a job. But that timing could not have been accidental.

I don't think that even the most cynical among us could have anticipated the sheer magnitude of FF's attack on its former employees, many of whom may soon lose their medical insurance and even their homes. And if any of us had illusions that there was any difference between a liberal, "good" employer and an evil, exploitative one, FF has ended that fantasy. Years ago, a secretary who left very unhappily after working for a top partner warned me, "Don't expect to retire at Fried, Frank." Unfortunately, she was right.

We are all facing desperate personal crises as a result of the layoffs, but please remember that Fried Frank cannot win. If through our legal challenges FF is forced to disgorge some of its profits to pay for its outrageous, unfair labor practices, it loses. But even If it succeeds in defeating us legally--it loses. Because too many people have had the courage to tell the truth about one of Working Mother's favorite law firms (I'm really going to miss the Harry Potter screenings): FF's decision to lay off many senior employees and the barbaric way in which it was done was a CHOICE.

The hell with you, Fried, Frank.

#121 - What you have said is so true. The law firm will never live this down - this has become a 'cause' that even the public have taken up for the way they treated their staff! I don't work for them but am married to a lawyer and they have to have their heads up their arses if they think this isn't being spread far and wide and they are looked on with disgust by many even in the legal world. Let's face it in case they haven't - by their actions they are throwing even more scorn on the unkind perceptions people have about the so-called honesty and kindness in the legal profession. There are no more degrading jokes about a profession than about the legal profession.

An example of their spreading 'fame' for fast becoming the arses of the year, last night in the fast checkout line at a grocery store a professional man in a business suit was talking to someone and saying 'something has to be done about that firm' and I thought instantly that has to be about that firm so I asked him and he said yes. We exchanged a few thoughts and he just shook his head in disgust, turns out he is a lawyer in the Government, thus their 'new found fame' has even spread to there.

That firm can put out all the cover their arses statements they want, and they may well be planning that with all the nasty backlash they are rightfully receiving, but it is far too late for that. Yes, other firms have laid off employees over the years, but none were as dirty as that firm pulled. One has to wonder if they were so caught up in their fool's world and looked on their employees as second class citizens, they didn't realize the longevity and dedication those employees had with the firm and how well loved they were. For employees to have been with the firm up to 28 or 30 years what more could a company ask for! And to put employees out on the streets in their 50's and 60's and some having had cancer over the last few years, from what one reads on here. That firm will never come out of this one unscathed and reputation ruined. They will have only themselves to blame for this!

What is really telling about that firm - one can only draw the conclusion from all being written on here they looked down their employees as second class citizens beneath them. So just discard them as nothings and no one will care what happened to them.

Those people truly must live in a fool's world. One can only presume they've lived in that fool's world for so long, in love with themselves, they lost touch with the world as it is today.

People in the US today truly care about each other - we all stand together united - look what the country went through with 9/11 -- that united the people forever in the US from all walks of life.

On August 18, 2008 ATL broke the news to the legal world nationwide that FF was laying off its employee that day and it had begun.

It is now August 27, 2008 and the outrage being expressed by employees, ex-employees and many just people from the public , concerned about such cold inhumane act towards dedicated people, many who were there for over 20 - 30 years, has now reached 204 postings and growing daily. That isn't even counting other blog sites ...

FFNY, you have been after more fame in the legal world!

Take a bow - you are well on your way ...

This is why Generation X will not think about keeping a job that long. We know and see how big business really works. To think of staying in 1 job for 30 years until retirement is crazy talk. I feel for the people that are in their 50/60s, but don't ever think that a job owes you anything and never think you owe a business anything.
At the end of the day, it's only about $ - not your feelings and dedication. You are a name on a piece of paper at that point.

With that amount of experience, you should be able to land a job if you are competent/well dressed and can type. You'll go into another lawfirm in a pool of other girls. Just don't think that you'll stay there long either. Jobs and job duties change, I would say every 4-5 years. So plan on that and getting a different job.

Gone are the days of getting a job and staying there until you retire girls.

And this is coming from a 32 year old Executive Legal Secretary.

To commentator 123, could you please let us know the other blog sites that you mentioned.

Thanks very much for your help.

from a laid off FF employee whose dermatologist is not available before the holiday to remove an actinic keratosis (pre-cancer)

#124 - Please don't take this response wrong or even directed at you. Thank you for your Generation X response though - seeing it through the new generations' eyes!

When those in their 50s and 60s grew up - values and ethics were real then. Corporations and law firms were somewhat different then, also. It wasn't just about the almighty money and step on anyone you had to to get what you wanted. Oh yes, there was that make money but that is why you surrounded yourself with dedicated and loyal staff - you could depend on them to be there with you through the thick and thin. So what if a paycheck was given to them a day or week late - they knew you wouldn't let them down. They were your best advertisement in a way, they bragged about their great employer, referred people they knew needed advice, They worked hard and as a team to help you grow and succeed during your years. They took as much pride as you did in watching you succeed through the many years. A closeness developed between employers and employees - attend funerals, weddings, remembered birthdays, attended Christenings, etc, watched each other's children grow up. Not only were the employees loyal but the employers were also to them as they knew knew and appreciated what all those dedicated employees did for them to enable them to become successful. And at a long term employees retirement party threw by the corporation or law firm real tears were shed and praise galore was given to them with true and sincere thank yous for a life-time of loyalty and dedication.

I will tell you something, Generation X - those type of corporations and law firms still exist today! There are excellent ethical and honest employers left out there.

What has happened to those employees at FF is an abdomination and a disgrace.

The love of money known as GREED is the root of all evil in this world today. People driven by GREED will step on anyone to get their almighty dollar.

#124 - Please don't take this response wrong or even directed at you. Thank you for your Generation X response though - seeing it through the new generations' eyes!

When those in their 50s and 60s grew up - values and ethics were real then. Corporations and law firms were somewhat different then, also. It wasn't just about the almighty money and step on anyone you had to to get what you wanted. Oh yes, there was that make money but that is why you surrounded yourself with dedicated and loyal staff - you could depend on them to be there with you through the thick and thin. So what if a paycheck was given to them a day or week late - they knew you wouldn't let them down. They were your best advertisement in a way, they bragged about their great employer, referred people they knew needed advice, They worked hard and as a team to help you grow and succeed during your years. They took as much pride as you did in watching you succeed through the many years. A closeness developed between employers and employees - attend funerals, weddings, remembered birthdays, attended Christenings, etc, watched each other's children grow up. Not only were the employees loyal but the employers were also to them as they knew knew and appreciated what all those dedicated employees did for them to enable them to become successful. And at a long term employees retirement party threw by the corporation or law firm real tears were shed and praise galore was given to them with true and sincere thank yous for a life-time of loyalty and dedication.

I will tell you something, Generation X - those type of corporations and law firms still exist today! There are excellent ethical and honest employers left out there.

What has happened to those employees at FF is an abdomination and a disgrace.

The love of money known as GREED is the root of all evil in this world today. People driven by GREED will step on anyone to get their almighty dollar.

#125 - #110 has two of them listed above you can leave comments on. Also, the WSJ had a comment section when it ran the story. You can most likely do a search in the WSJ for the story and leave comments now.

I haven't really looked around for blog sites on the internet to see if anyone picked this up from on ATL but I know I've seen Yahoo has blog sites people started issues on. '

Many newspapers have blog sites today so may be worthwhile goggling them and checking out what they do have, i.e. Washington Post, Washington Times, etc. and any newspapers that are published covering law issues may well have blog sites. Isn't there a New York Law Times newspaper in NY? Not sure of right name but a google will find it, I'm sure.

#125 - Saw you query above. I know of some blog sites associated with newspapers who run legal news here and in Europe let me research their websites and get back to you and list them on here.

I have been reading this site for a week with my heart hurting for you ex-employees and the horrible situation you are now in because of the actions of your ex-employer.

There is nothing I can do for all of you personally; as unfortunately, I don't own a big corporation. However, if I did, I'd be honoured to hire all of you and have you report to work tomorrow.

However, I have a friend who owns a newspaper, quite widely read, and I'm contacting him and sending him a link to ATL and this story with all the posts. I can't promise you the moon but sure will try to get your story out there for you.

#130 - thank you very much.

Dear poster in 130,

I too thank you profusely, and know that disseminating the news of our plight as widely as possible would undoubtedly help not only those of us who were laid off but may also protect other employees, at FF and elsewhere, who are still working and in precarious situations themselves.

By alerting employers to the bad publicity that can ensue if they attempt a "Fried Frank" your friend would accomplish a great public service.

Although Fried Frank has a long history of violating both the letter and the spirit of the law and has on record a number of documented instances of illegal employment practices, our fight will ultimately be won in the court of public opinion.

We are all so grateful for your support.

Thanks very much for the information on the other blogs. I haven't been able to find any yet, but if anyone does have information about some additional sites, I'd really appreciate it.

In the meantime, ATL--you're the best!

ATL - "that one week of pay for every year " is as untrue as it can be. Granted when FF announced a severance package along those lines offered to employees they left out 1 week of pay for every year BUT capped at 3 months no matter how many years an employee had loyally worked for them. Staff let go after 20 or 27 - 28 years receive only 3 months top! By the way those who got the severance package had to read the fine print to realize that!

What is that old saying "dazzle them with your brilliance or baffle them with your bull shit" - baffle is more appropo for that whole package offered.

The secretaries that were let go last week should have seen it coming. For the past 10 or so years they sat at a desk and did absolutely nothing. One poster here actually had to told to answer the ringing phone on her desk. She would come in sit at someone's desk and proceed to put 10 inches of personal correspondence and bills on the desk and the spend the entire day doing personal business. It was like the floaters came in and sat at a desk and only answered the phone. They received top pay to keep a chair warm. Only 2 came as a sock to the rest of us. The rest should have been let go years ago. They skill tested these people and they failed. One received a 9 out of 100 and they wonder what happened. Some were so rude to attorneys that it would make the most seasoned secretary blush. A lot of secretaries surf the web and watch TV all day long for excellent pay and benefits. One secretary was late 56 times last year - and doesn't understand why she was let go - hmmm that's a tough one. FF is a business whose loyalty is to the client and their profit and loss margins. So, if you think you had a sweet almost too perfect deal at FF - that is why you are now gone.

A lot of secretaries will say "oh, I don't really know Excel because I haven't worked on it for a while". Well, you should have practiced and kept up the skills. Every secretary at FF must be proficient in Work, Excel and Outlook. Yet 90% of them cannot do a basic spreadsheet. Some could not even do a document and was a macro and prompted you for specific information. I would like to say to future employees around the country - 401k and IRA. Depend on yourself not the firm you work for.

The only thing FF did wrong was in waiting so long to get rid of the dead weight. I cannot believe these people are so angry at FF when they should really be angry at themselves for it was their own actions or inactions that constituted being laid off.

#122 - Do you really believe that FF will never live this down? Because the paying clients could give two craps if they laid off the entire admin staff as long as their representation is being professional handled. No one care about support staff being fired. FF will never suffer because of this. You are seriously deluted in the brain cells and perhaps that is why you were fired and very bitter.

#138 - and I suppose you were kept on for your command of the English language -- "No one care" and "deluted"?

And FF kept you guys? Proofreading?

#137 & #138 - It is quite apparent they kept on people such as yourself because of like mentality ' "no one care about support staff being fired." Interesting all of you share like delusions about the real world outside the Ivory Tower walls. Real people in the public care about the denigrating actions FF took against loyal dedicated employees. FF has shown itself to be far from a professional firm, greatly lacking in class and not a drop of the milk of human kindess within its Ivory Tower offices.

I'm curious did you volunteer to take FF's side on here because you were trying to kiss arse to get brownie points so the next layoff won't include you? Or are you one of the managers who does kiss arse to keep their job and do FF dirty work and just deliberately made spelling and grammatical errors?

Either way it is quite obvious they truly laid the wrong ones off but then they didn't want intelligent, loyal, dedicated long-term employees around. They now want the money to put in their endeavors to capture the legal arena across the oceans. After all, did not what's his name Spendlove say they are now in the business to make money? Bet the clients loved hearing that - up goes the hourly rates. Don't delude yourself into thinking that FF treatment of their employees does not affect the client's thoughts and/or cause them to have second thoughts. This is escalating not going away quietly and if it turns into a free-for-all with newspaper coverage FF is not going to come out unscathed by a long shot.

One must remember those long-term employees stayed there out of dedication, loyalty and pride in the name of FF. FF kicked them in the teeth and the employees have no further need to be loyal or dedicated to FF - quite the opposite in fact.

#141 - you must know that those long-term employees stayed not out of dedication but because they were to lazy to be employed elsewhere. ALL major corporations have lay-offs. Citicorp has them every 6 months. What about car manufacturers who close plants and have extensive lay-offs? Nope, FF got rid of useless, cost deficient employees. Granted a mere few did come as quite a surprise but the majority should have been let go years ago.

As No. 97 above stated so eloquently, saving money by cutting staff does not make for more efficiency. Justin made a determination that he wanted to save money by cutting the head count. The skill set of the workers would have had little impact. He has made no secret out of his contempt for all the staff. He travels back and forth acrossed the seas regularly and treats himself to only the finest hotels and limousines. Somebody has to pay for that kind of care. If I were one of the remaining Partners, I would want to see exactly how much money he is spending on such luxuries. After all, don't all the Partners share the burden of those expenses.

Meanwhile, they will use and abuse the staff remaining, until they too are forced to seek other employment. Some of the cream of the milk is gone and I am sure the remaining cream will be departing soon.

#143 - Interesting comments you made. Guess Justin old chap forgot we chased their arses back across the Pond in the Revolutionary War and if it hadn't been for the US in the Second World War they'd be speaking German today as their country's language.

Some tidbits from WWII history if interested in reading. In WWII as we all know from reading history or our parents/grandparents speak of we went over to the UK and proudly fought side-by-side to help save their sorry arses and fight for freedom for all. Let's not forget the Holocaust and the concentration camps used to kill six million plus Jews out of a sick twisted hatred for them by the Germans. Thousands went 'knocking' on England's door begging for refuge from sure death in the concentration camps and England turned them away and refused safe refuge to them. Then there was a boat filled with only Jewish women with children and babies in arms tried to land on their shores and England turned them away. However, who was the caring country who helped the Jews find a place to go and to settle - the United States of America was that country who offered a caring helping hand.

Now for recent history. The UK has been known and is known for harboring terrorists for many years. Under their laws they cannot and could not put them out. The US has been warning them for many, many years past of the danger of those terrorists to not only themselves but the world. But their laws were not changed. How can anyone in the US forget 9/11 when we were hit by the terrorists! It is said some of those terrorists harbored by England were aware of the planning of it. England itself got a hit by their home grown terrorists and people died but not at the magnitude of our deaths.

England blames the US and all the Americans for the Iraqi War and their involvement and their lives lost. Yet they forget their own leader then, Tony Blair, with open eyes and well aware of maybe any hidden agendas, joined us in that War freely and willingly. That by the way eventually cost him his position as Prime Minister.

An American does not have to live in England to know of their hatred for us now and they have always looked down on the US as the simple people unlike them with their arrogant better than tho art ways, which they freely admit to being. We are known as the 'septics' and they openly speak of us in using that term even when speaking of individuals - 'the septics'. If you don't understand the word 'septic' --suggest you look it up!

So am I surprised to hear of Justin old chaps attitude towards staff? Not in the least especially when one has been extensively the UK, worked with people in the UK and listened to them constantly blaming all Americans for their ills. Majority of those ills brought on themselves! They are still very into the class system over there even regarding women in the business world.

I was friends with one of the staff and they called me the time to relate they had extended their hand to shake spendlove's hand when meeting him and he turned away.

Of course he is living high on the hog at FF's and also now ex-employees expense - look at the exchange rate between the UK pound and US dollar!

Does one actually think the partners care about the expenses he incurs for them and now the such lovely publicity they are receiving for following obviously his advice? Of course not, he is the 'Messiah' they hired at how many millions one can only imagine to take them forward and capture the gold and fame throughout the legal world as the biggest and the best and wealthiest!

#143 - Interesting comments you made. Guess Justin old chap forgot we chased their arses back across the Pond in the Revolutionary War and if it hadn't been for the US in the Second World War they'd be speaking German today as their country's language.

Some tidbits from WWII history if interested in reading. In WWII as we all know from reading history or our parents/grandparents speak of we went over to the UK and proudly fought side-by-side to help save their sorry arses and fight for freedom for all. Let's not forget the Holocaust and the concentration camps used to kill six million plus Jews out of a sick twisted hatred for them by the Germans. Thousands went 'knocking' on England's door begging for refuge from sure death in the concentration camps and England turned them away and refused safe refuge to them. Then there was a boat filled with only Jewish women with children and babies in arms tried to land on their shores and England turned them away. However, who was the caring country who helped the Jews find a place to go and to settle - the United States of America was that country who offered a caring helping hand.

Now for recent history. The UK has been known and is known for harboring terrorists for many years. Under their laws they cannot and could not put them out. The US has been warning them for many, many years past of the danger of those terrorists to not only themselves but the world. But their laws were not changed. How can anyone in the US forget 9/11 when we were hit by the terrorists! It is said some of those terrorists harbored by England were aware of the planning of it. England itself got a hit by their home grown terrorists and people died but not at the magnitude of our deaths.

England blames the US and all the Americans for the Iraqi War and their involvement and their lives lost. Yet they forget their own leader then, Tony Blair, with open eyes and well aware of maybe any hidden agendas, joined us in that War freely and willingly. That by the way eventually cost him his position as Prime Minister.

An American does not have to live in England to know of their hatred for us now and they have always looked down on the US as the simple people unlike them with their arrogant better than tho art ways, which they freely admit to being. We are known as the 'septics' and they openly speak of us in using that term even when speaking of individuals - 'the septics'. If you don't understand the word 'septic' --suggest you look it up!

So am I surprised to hear of Justin old chaps attitude towards staff? Not in the least especially when one has been extensively the UK, worked with people in the UK and listened to them constantly blaming all Americans for their ills. Majority of those ills brought on themselves! They are still very into the class system over there even regarding women in the business world.

I was friends with one of the staff and they called me the time to relate they had extended their hand to shake spendlove's hand when meeting him and he turned away.

Of course he is living high on the hog at FF's and also now ex-employees expense - look at the exchange rate between the UK pound and US dollar!

Does one actually think the partners care about the expenses he incurs for them and now the such lovely publicity they are receiving for following obviously his advice? Of course not, he is the 'Messiah' they hired at how many millions one can only imagine to take them forward and capture the gold and fame throughout the legal world as the biggest and the best and wealthiest!

#143 - Interesting comments you made. Guess Justin old chap forgot we chased their arses back across the Pond in the Revolutionary War and if it hadn't been for the US in the Second World War they'd be speaking German today as their country's language.

Some tidbits from WWII history if interested in reading. In WWII as we all know from reading history or our parents/grandparents speak of we went over to the UK and proudly fought side-by-side to help save their sorry arses and fight for freedom for all. Let's not forget the Holocaust and the concentration camps used to kill six million plus Jews out of a sick twisted hatred for them by the Germans. Thousands went 'knocking' on England's door begging for refuge from sure death in the concentration camps and England turned them away and refused safe refuge to them. Then there was a boat filled with only Jewish women with children and babies in arms tried to land on their shores and England turned them away. However, who was the caring country who helped the Jews find a place to go and to settle - the United States of America was that country who offered a caring helping hand.

Now for recent history. The UK has been known and is known for harboring terrorists for many years. Under their laws they cannot and could not put them out. The US has been warning them for many, many years past of the danger of those terrorists to not only themselves but the world. But their laws were not changed. How can anyone in the US forget 9/11 when we were hit by the terrorists! It is said some of those terrorists harbored by England were aware of the planning of it. England itself got a hit by their home grown terrorists and people died but not at the magnitude of our deaths.

England blames the US and all the Americans for the Iraqi War and their involvement and their lives lost. Yet they forget their own leader then, Tony Blair, with open eyes and well aware of maybe any hidden agendas, joined us in that War freely and willingly. That by the way eventually cost him his position as Prime Minister.

An American does not have to live in England to know of their hatred for us now and they have always looked down on the US as the simple people unlike them with their arrogant better than tho art ways, which they freely admit to being. We are known as the 'septics' and they openly speak of us in using that term even when speaking of individuals - 'the septics'. If you don't understand the word 'septic' --suggest you look it up!

So am I surprised to hear of Justin old chaps attitude towards staff? Not in the least especially when one has been extensively the UK, worked with people in the UK and listened to them constantly blaming all Americans for their ills. Majority of those ills brought on themselves! They are still very into the class system over there even regarding women in the business world.

I was friends with one of the staff and they called me the time to relate they had extended their hand to shake spendlove's hand when meeting him and he turned away.

Of course he is living high on the hog at FF's and also now ex-employees expense - look at the exchange rate between the UK pound and US dollar!

Does one actually think the partners care about the expenses he incurs for them and now the such lovely publicity they are receiving for following obviously his advice? Of course not, he is the 'Messiah' they hired at how many millions one can only imagine to take them forward and capture the gold and fame throughout the legal world as the biggest and the best and wealthiest!

If there are ex-employees looking for outside counsel to advise them (free)

In Washington, DC:

DC Office of Human Rights
441 4th Street, NW

NY may have something similar

Friday, January 28, 2005
Re-Fried
We haven't spent too much time at Skallawwag discussing leadership shake-ups, but it's high time we start. Paul Reinstein has been ousted as co-managing partner of Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson, as the firm has adopted a new management structure. In addition to the creation of a four-attorney team to oversee overseas operation in Europe, the firm voted to install Brit Justin Spendlove as managing partner. Spendlove has only been with Fried for roughly a year, but he used to be managing partner at Ashurst, so everyone figured he'd be right for the job.

The other managing partner, Valerie Ford Jacob, has been renamed the firm's chair. No one has been named the firm's ottoman, because that'd be silly.

Source:
Spendlove takes lead in Fried Frank shake-up

Four years ago, it was the law firm merger everybody was talking about. Then it didn't happen.

The proposed combination between New York's Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and London's Ashurst Morris Crisp was to have been the first trans-Atlantic merger of firms of equal size, practice strength and profitability. But more than a year of discussions between the firms failed to produce a deal and talks were called off in May 2003.

Since then, Fried Frank has continued to strike many observers as the dream New York merger partner for would-be global megafirms. Indeed, with its strong Wall Street-focused practices, modest geographic footprint and profits per partner within reach, Fried Frank superficially resembles Dewey Ballantine, now in the final stages of sealing a blockbuster merger with San Francisco's Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

But a similar merger is not on the table for Fried Frank, said Valerie Ford Jacob, the firm's sole chair since the beginning of last year.

"We've successfully achieved our objectives without a merger," she said in an interview in the firm's Lower Manhattan offices last week.

Fried Frank's chief objective in pursuing a deal with the British firm now known simply as Ashurst was to rapidly become a major international player. In 2003, Fried Frank had only around 20 overseas lawyers, divided between London and Paris while Ashurst had offices throughout Europe and in the Middle East.

But in the past few years, Fried Frank has surged ahead with international expansion on its own. The firm boosted its London team to 49 lawyers, with the Paris number now at 30. The firm opened a Frankfurt office in 2004.

Now the firm is turning its attention to Asia. It is set to announce today the opening of a Hong Kong office. Six partners recruited from British firm Simmons & Simmons, led by China region managing partner Huen Wong, will launch the office for Fried Frank. Another three from Simmons & Simmons, including China corporate head Stephen Mok, will come aboard early next year.

Those nine partners will be joined by 20 associates. Moreover, six Fried Frank partners will relocate to Hong Kong from the United States and Britain. All in all, it is an unusually large Asian office launch.

The firm is also in the process of applying for a license to operate an office in Shanghai, where Jacob said the firm hopes to open an office later next year.

Of course, other American and British firms have been in Hong Kong for decades and Shanghai has also become crowded with foreign firms in recent years. But Fried Frank managing partner Justin Spendlove said the firm has drawn lessons from what others have done.

"We wanted a large group in Asia right away," he said, noting that many New York firms, in particular, have taken a tentative approach in the region, often relocating one or two partners they hope will attract some business. He said the Simmons & Simmons group was well-established and would bring an active practice to Fried Frank.

But the firm's Hong Kong office is still smaller than those of most large British firms, which is also fine with Spendlove.

"We want to be as small as we can be while being effective," he said.

Spendlove's presence at Fried Frank is perhaps the one tangible benefit of the firm's long dalliance with Ashurst. He was managing partner of the British firm during the merger talks, during which time he developed a good working relationship with Jacob. A year after the talks collapsed, he joined Fried Frank as head of their European operations. He became firmwide managing partner last year at the same time Jacob became chair.

The time is right for Fried Frank to move into Asia, he said, because the rampant discounting which made it hard for U.S. firms to prosper is fading.

"The types of deals in Asia is becoming different," he said. "There are more private equity deals and high-yield financings."

NEW YORK MODEL

Unlike Jacob, who continues to practice as head of the firm's capital markets practice, Mr. Spendlove is a full-time manager and strategist. He is pleased with the progress Fried Frank has made overseas in recent years, which he thinks has been more focused than would have been the case with a large merger.

"We are in the strategically important centers," he said, noting London, Paris and Hong Kong. "It puts us in a position to replicate our New York model."

Jacob and Spendlove both express enormous confidence in that model. They point to the firm's continued presence in major M & A and private equity deals, with roles in the recent $5 billion purchase of New York's Stuyvesant Town, the largest real estate deal in U.S. history, and the $17.6 billion leveraged buyout of Freescale Semiconductor.

But the firm has also withstood some major dislocations in the past few years. Fried Frank was among the firms hardest hit by the M&A downturn at the beginning of the decade. Profits per partner at the firm fell from just over $1 million in 2000 to $875,000 the following year.

Fried Frank also saw the departure of a number of its most senior and well-known partners around that time. M&A partner Charles Nathan left to join the New York office of Latham & Watkins in 2001. Washington, D.C., partner Harvey Pitt became Securities and Exchange Commission chair that year as well. In 2003, the firm saw the departures of structured finance head Laurence Isaacson to McKee Nelson and top corporate partner Stephen Fraidin to Kirkland & Ellis.

But those departures, noteworthy as they were, have not led to mass defections. And the firm's financial performance has steadily improved since 2001. The firm most recently reported profits per partner of $1.24 million last year.

COLLEGIAL APPROACH

Jacob said the departures in some ways proved a blessing in disguise, permitting the firm to elevate a new generation of practice leaders, most of whom are in their 50s rather than 60s. Though veteran M & A lawyer Arthur Fleischer remains perhaps the firm's most well-known partner, Jacob notes he is now joined at the helm of that practice by Warren S. de Wied. She said private equity practice group head Robert Schwenkel now leads one of the city's top practices in the area.

"It's really created an opportunity for people to raise their profile," she said. "It's also been an energizing experience for the firm."

Jonathan Mechanic, the firm's real estate practice head, praised Jacob for building a very team-oriented culture. "There's a real sense of people working together to facilitate everybody's business," he said.

Fried Frank has a modified lockstep partner compensation system, meaning the firm pays partners in part strictly by seniority and in part according to their performance. Jacob declined to quantify the split, but she said pay at the firm was definitely more lockstep than performance-driven.

Mechanic agreed, adding that even the performance component of partners' pay was not tied strictly to billing credit.

The firm's emphasis on collegiality at the possible expense of compensation runs counter to prevailing trends throughout the profession. Most firms have shown greater willingness to demote or remove partners who are deemed underperforming in terms of revenue generation.

One former partner said Fried Frank's current level of profitability lags behind that of other New York firms, many of whom are now above $2 million in profits per partner, because of its willingness to maintain as equity partners those who are not carrying their weight.

"They have a lot of good lawyers and good clients," he said. "Their problem is so obvious."

But the ex-partner also said that problem could well just be a matter of opinion.

"It doesn't seem to make them too upset and they're continuing to do fine," he said. "Maybe they're right."

Jacob said she believes that the firm's current strong feeling of camaraderie stems in part from recent tribulations, including the abortive merger.

"Change inspires people," she said. "People really stepped up."

#148 - How lovely! Just researched Skallawwag and unfortunately it is no longer up and running. However, what you found is still there for all to read on the internet!!

As will FF's latest ongoing 'fame' stay on for all to read and quote from for years to come!

Over $1 million a piece for Partner? Presume then they just needed 'pocket change' or give their kids a boast in allowance, so laid off long-term, dedicated and loyal employees figuring they wouldn't mind, since they were dedicated and loyal all those many years in the past helping FF succeed through long hours of work days and nights at computers, copy machines, fax machines, etc. to help put those millions in their pockets.

Over $1 million a piece for Partner? Presume then they just needed 'pocket change' or give their kids a boast in allowance, so laid off long-term, dedicated and loyal employees figuring they wouldn't mind, since they were dedicated and loyal all those many years in the past helping FF succeed through long hours of work days and nights at computers, copy machines, fax machines, etc. to help put those millions in their pockets.

In an effort to lighten things up - I submit the following:

A very successful lawyer parked his brand new Lexus in front
of the office, ready to show it off to his colleagues. As he
got out, a truck came along too close to the curb and
completely tore off the driver's door.
Fortunately, a cop in his cruiser was close enough to see
the accident and pulled up behind the Lexus, his lights flashing.
But, before the cop had a chance to ask any questions,
the lawyer started screaming hysterically about how his Lexus,
which he had just picked up that day, was now completely
ruined and would never be the same, no matter how the body
shop tried to make it new again.

After the lawyer finally wound down from his rant,
the cop shook his head in disgust and disbelief.
'I can't believe how materialistic you lawyers are,'
he said. 'You are so focused on your possessions that you
neglect the most important things in life.'

'How can you say such a thing?' asked the lawyer.

The cop replied, 'Don't you even realize that your left arm is
missing? It got ripped off when the truck hit you!!!'

'OH, MY GOD!' screamed the lawyer

'My Rolex!'

I rest my case!

It sucks to work in a law firm, no matter where you go admin staff will never get any respect. I can't wait for the day I say good bye to my law firm and leave the legal field once and for all. Biggest mistake my butt ever landed for a career choice.

Dear commentator 154, thanks so much, it's really good advice. I'll keep it in mind. It's occurred to me, did FF say anything in any official capacity to its laid-off staff to thank them? If you added up all the decades that 73 staff collectively gave to FF, it must have been several thousand years easily. I didn't see anything, not one sentence from FF like, we regret that, due to... etc., etc., thank you, we appreciate all that you have done...

I didn't see any expression of kindness, gratitude, regret and especially not concern for its ex-employees by FF. The only statement that I saw said, we weren't as efficient as other firms so we restructured.

It's still a shock to me that FF made no attempt at all to even fake concern for its laid-off staff who are suddenly without a job in a bad economy, but I guess I was more naive than I realized.

I've thought about what happened in the two weeks since the layoffs, and suddenly remembered my Jewish aunt and uncle, who in the late '40's or 50's came up with a product--iron-on patches--that alleviated the need to sew patches on blue jeans (in those days, it wasn't fashionable to wear jeans with holes).

They had a factory in Detroit, and I remember my uncle telling us proudly that when they'd had to move the factory to another side of town they'd only lost two workers in the move.

A couple of months ago, my cousin told me that when his parents finally sold the company, Uncle Leonard wanted to make sure that the new owners wouldn't be able to cheat the workers out of their pensions. So he made sure--is the term cashed out?--that the workers got the money that had accrued in their pensions before the company was sold.

I'm very proud of my aunt and uncle, who, although they became moderately wealthy from coming up with a great idea, still cared years later about the people who had helped make them successful. Unlike...

#155 - How can FF fake concern? They are fake people with pasted on fake smiles; speak with fake words at anniversary parties for employees when congratulating them for their years of dedication to the firm; express fake concern for employees well-being; walk around talking to employees with fake words of encouragement; look employees in the face when asked if the rumours of a cut-back in staff are true and tell them bare-faced lies in reply; address the staff as a whole telling them of needing them to help Fried Fank succeed when in fact they are planning their demise as staff. Fake people are just that Fake and they only know how to pretend! They care only for themselves and not for others. They are incapable of caring for others. They don't understand sincerity, loyalty, truth, unity, dedication or real human beings. They understand only one thing - GREED! The love of money is Greed. The root of all evil.

Fried Frank, knowing that they would be laying off employees of long-standing, could have, at least, thanked those employees and given them 6 months (until the end of the year) to find another position, or think about what they were going to do with their lives. By not giving them until the end of the year, those employees will not get FF's share into the 401K plan. More savings for THEM - but more loss to the employees. Common decency would have led them to a better way of doing things.

There was a time years ago FF would have had the care to properly thank the employees and do whatever it took to help them make a smooth transition back into the employement market.

However, that not totally a correct statement as FF has never coldly and calculating had a layoff of its employees. Years ago yes it laid off lawyers but never its dedicated loyal staff. It gives associates ample time to find another law firm when they don't work out at FF. One can walk down the hallways at FF and know which associates are on their way 'out'. They sit at their desk doing absolutely nothing or take long lunches or come in around noon, if at all. FF freezes them out with no work to do. One has to feel sorry for them being given the FF treatment. But far more humane than the treatment the dedicated and loyal employees received at the hands of the 'new cold blooded' Partners now in power in FFNY. Years ago one associate who was just newly there went to lunch and never came back - rather humorous when thinking of when that happened.

One could sit here list all those partners over the many years, now retired or those who just left the firm after many years leaving staff wondering why but now knowing why, who had the milk of human kindness in them towards the staff and a true caring from the heart for another human being. The Bob Juceams, who did retire, Dick Saubers, the Matt Morleys, the Michael Waldmans, and the other fine Partners who went their way from both DC and NY either into retirement, but still stay active in their own way, or those Partners who just plain got out when the "mercenary" partners started taking over.

Yes those real true Partners, who gave FF true fame along with the reputation of a loyal and kind firm ,who are now either retired or left FF, made money and fame but they never forgot the 'little' people who helped them achieve the money and fame and worked hard along beside them. They used their God given talent for being a lawyer as it should have been used and never abused the staff. Always a friendly smile, a heart felt thank you for a job well done, that milk of human kindness that one in hard pressed to find in the lawyers of FFNY today! Literally non-existent once the mercenary ones took over!

People who become caught up in 'themselves and their own self importance and power they have over people forget that a Superior Being gave them that talent upon birth and can just as easily take it away somewhere down the road in life. People receive back from life what they put into life - over time life will catch up with them and they will receive back two fold if they misuse that which was given to them to help others.

Everyone in this world wants money to help make life easier for themselves in caring for family, paying bills or the luxuries in life. But once it becomes their God it then turns into Greed and Greed is the root of all evil. People are given Power over others, some use it as kind and benevolent leaders but when they abuse that Power over others then the Power Corrupts.

What good does it do to Conquer the World if you lose your soul along the way!

FFNY FURTHER TURNS THE SCREWS on the ex-employees trying to force them into signing the Agreement without questioning the legality of the whole package.

Last week ex-employees received a certified letter two days before the long Labor Day weekend notifying them that on August 31 ALL benefits ceased - health, dental, life insurance, etc. TWO DAYS BEFORE A LONG WEEKEND knowing full well no one would have the time to find a new health insurance company to give them and their family members badly needed health insurance coverage.

Of course, if we want to pay for it ourselves from this point on it will be $1300 under COBRA for medical insurance. Let's face it, those of us who have not yet signed had $1300 to spare we would pay it and would not have be out seeking free counsel talking with Human Rights Commission.

Please note: the cost of continuing medical, dental, and vision insurance for a family through COBRA is approximately $1540 per month--$1366 is the cost of medical insurance only.

Hi-The truth is while a few of the laid-off employees should have expected it, most of these people did not deserve to be treated like this. Suze Orman recommended some websites for those 50+: workforce50.com and fiveoclockclub.com. She also recommends aarp.org and type in "national employer team" into the search field. Best wishes and try to stay positive!

#161 - Truth be known NONE of them deserved the disgraceful treatment by FFNY. Not only did the dedicated of many years staff not deserve the despicable actions but the true few milk of human kindness lawyers left have been tainted also by those actions. Who is going to take the time to sort out the good guy lawyers from the cold blooded ones who formed the plan years ago along with the ones who gave their blessing to it when speaking of FF or stories written about FF now and down the road?

The repercussions from their despicable actions are far from over, in case they are sitting smug in their Ivory Tower thinking nothing can happen over their having ruined FF's great reputation. The great reputation that was built by the once great lawyers who founded it and were dedicated to FF will never be recaptured and people in the public and others will look on them with scorn as the story is told and passed down through the years.

With the poor shape the economy is in today; the ages of the people they laid off; mortgages being foreclosed on throughout the US at drastic rates -- FFNY admittedl to being in good financial shape throws long-term dedicated employees out on the streets in 5 minutes time so they can keep expanding across the oceans in gain of further fame and line their pockets with more millions.

I was reading an article about the potential suicides of people losing their homes in the US. Did those smug and greedy ones not care nor even think about the tragedies that could happen because of their heartless actions in this poor economy?

Karma is not far behind!

LET'S KEEP THE COMMENTS COMING both past and present employees. In time, things like this wind down which is the norm. However, keep in mind "they" are reading this site and we want to keep them in the spotlight for awhile longer.

We heard Spendlove and Jacob are out of hiding for the past two weeks.

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

I have a question re social security. What happens to the dollar amount of the monthly social security checks an ex-FF employee will eventually receive if the person's close to retirement age but (1) is still too young (less than 62) to begin collecting ss payments and (2) will have a gap in employment from the time of the layoff to the start, possibly, of a new job. Would a gap of earned income while an older ex-employee looks for a job significantly lower the dollar amount of future monthly social security payments?

Doesn't Social Security base a person's monthly ss payment on the average salary the employee earned over the last 10 years before retirement? Also, if, due to age discrimination and the current market, it takes an older person longer to find a job than a younger person (and result in a longer period the person has no earned income) as well as possibly having to take a lower salary--wouldn't the person then be stuck with a much lower monthly payment for life?

For some of us who may not be able to work another ten years to create a better salary history on which SS will calculate our future benefits, the long shadow of FF may continue to haunt us in the form of reduced ss checks for the rest of our lives.

It's scandalous that FF laid off its older workers in the way most calculated to damage our future survival, at the same time that workers in some other FF departments were given to the end of the year, with pay, to find a new job.

However, although this disastrous treatment of employees that FF attys decided they no longer needed is actually legal, the attitude behind it has resulted in some other actions that may in fact NOT be. FF was very cunning in the way it presented the layoffs to us and to the public, but the jury is still out on whether it has evaded and violated the law.

We know that FF is a formidable, ruthless adversary. Still, I hope that we will prevail and thus demonstrate that although you may be able to outsource a job, you can't outsource your humanity.

#164 - You mean Spender is back from hiding across the Pond and Jacob is back from self imposed isolation to escape any queries or daggers thrown her way?

Do you think he reported to his old cronies across the Pond what a job he did in destroying FF's good name when he had laid off those commoners so beneath him?

I heard a rumour from one of the ex-employees that one of those 'commoners' wasn't so ordinary and rather known about and liked by quite a few people in the UK who raised eyebrows when they heard the news.

What is that old saying "It isn't over until the fat woman sings"?

#164 - So back in action, are they! Great - maybe they can explain one's puzzlement why a long-time woman partner in the DC office 'quietly' left with no announcement, no good-bye party, no thank yous for your years devoted to FF - just seemed to disappear!

What? A Partner is missing and they weren't there to throw a farewell party? One would think they would have taken such an occasion to receive their own accolades from employees left down there for a job well done!

#169 - Yes, that is the picture as it stands right now -. missing long-time woman Partner; no announcement she was leaving; no goodbyes and thank you's to the Ivory Tower folks; no I'll miss Fried Frank; no farewell party... In fact, many were not even aware she had left at all.

We will just have to wait with bated breath for the spin to come out!

Was this disappearance recent?

Well one could logically assume since many were not even aware this week she was gone from the office it must have been quite recently! Like seen one week and 'poof' gone the next and no one even realizes it until asked where they are?

#166 - You asked good questions. Let us know if you find the answers, athough we think your assumptions are correct. And we agree 125% with your last sentence !! (Isn't 125% the percentage at which Spendhate wants employees to work? With all his overseas traveling, is he even working at 100%?)

Does anyone at FF know yet why the DC female partner left and what was her name?

We heard there are still NY secretaries who spend time on personal calls and walking away from the desk. Is it also true that one is over 66 and has difficulty moving around and could have retired in place of someone else who needed the job?

#173 - Surely what's his name must be working - isn't that what he is collecting millions to do? Limos to deliver him from airports to 4 star hotels and back to airports; sure would be interested in seeing his client/dinner bills - nothing but the best for the golden man who will make FF the most famous and wealthiest law firm across the oceans and many countries! Must remember he is turning FF into a "money making business" - name of the game - MONEY!!

No question over his motives! Did away with the fine reputation DCFF had with pride all those years and even written about that 'family' law firm in papers in DC over many years - no need for such mundane thngs as loyalties, dedication, longevity of staff - hell that does not make one money, got to be cut throat to survive in the money making business world, let people see how tough you are!

#174 - Why did she leave? I noted that someone above was happy to see the 'Mighty Ones"were back in action thinking they'd be able to spin a story on why the woman partner left so quietly.

#175 - They must keep the 66 year old so no one can claim age discrimination! One wonders how young the one was they sacrificed? Let's be charitable though even 66 year olds need a job in this day and age. Forget about those they laid off as the equal opportunity for layoff firm who had children in school; children in college; mortages to pay; medicines to buy; serious illnesses in the family needing medical insurance; single parent homes living from pay check to pay check.

Corporate Equality Index Names Fried Frank Among Top Businesses for LGBT Initiatives
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation Gives the Firm a 100% Rating

BOOOOOOOO!

September 4, 2008


Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP has been named to the list of highest-ranked businesses on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the seventh annual equality index produced by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Fried Frank received a 100 percent CEI rating, which analyzes businesses on a scale of 0-100% on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees, consumers and investors. The CEI evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices, including non-discrimination policies, transgender health benefits and domestic partner benefits, at 600 businesses in the United States.

"We believe in having a diverse environment that is reflective of the community where our attorneys, staff and clients live and work," said Michael Rivera, Washington, DC securities partner and the co-chair of the Firm's Diversity Committee. "Our top score on the Corporate Equality Index is indicative of our goals of establishing a workplace that values diversity, embraces differences, and respects individuality."

Fried Frank participates in LGBT career fairs and conferences, such as Lavender Law and LeGal; provides outreach at law schools and job fairs, and provides financial support to a number of LGBT organizations at law schools. An integral part of Fried Frank's ongoing diversity initiatives is to provide financial sponsorship and facilitate attorney participation to support law students, bar associations and community groups committed to fostering diversity in the legal profession and social equality for all people.

"For more than a decade, Fried Frank has supported LGBT-specific career fairs and conferences – which bring together LGBT students and attorneys from across the US – in addition to directly reaching to LGBT students at more than 25 law schools nationwide, as part of its recruitment process," said Robert Edwards, Fried Frank's New York Director of Legal Recruitment.

The CEI is compiled by the Human Rights Campaign, the largest civil rights organization in the US that works to achieve GLBT equality by advocating for equal rights and benefits in the workplace, ensuring equal treatment under the law and increasing public support through education and outreach programs.

#179 - True there but take note all geared towards lawyers or law students - not speaking of staff. You must remember there is that 'cast system quite prevalent in law firms. FFDC never had it but FFNY treated their staff like common peasants and that was common knowledge. FFNY is two-faced for lack of a better description of them. They do what brings them great glory in the newspapers in public - plastic smiles and all.

Then they bring in what's his name from the UK who is notorious for treating staff like they were the plague. And the cast system is still in effect in the UK in many ways and in companies. They are an arrogant and cold lot and don't think highly of those who are not from the UK or those of colour or not of UK 'breeding' through the centuries. . Frankly, if you study their history they are really nothig but mongrels re heritage

If the female partner resigned in protest over the layoffs, I would think that the firm would have required her not to make any statements denigrating FF in order to get whatever partnership benefits, etc. that she would be entitled to on leaving-- the same idea as in the conditions in the severance "agreement" (as if most employees had a choice and "agreed") that the laid-off employees got: that is, agree not to make disparaging remarks in exchange for money.

If she resigned very recently, and not pre-layoffs, I'm glad that someone among the attys seems to have a sense of honor and integrity.

Does anyone know how many people who have job shares were included among the secretaries listed in the New York "decisional unit"?

#181 - Neither of the two scenarios you suggested are the correct one! Rumours had been going around for sometime about 'suggestions' that had been made. It is one thing to have been so utterly stupid in not thinking through how the layoff should have been handled with the least amount of hard feelings and negative publicity, which they did not expect to receive-- as what was said to someone 'well we didn't think anyone would care about staff'; and another to just throw partners and or associates out on the street.

Yes, FF predicated the acceptance of the severance package and 3 months salary by all employees laid off on no law suits against them and no disparaging remarks. Those words 'no disparaging remarks' are interesting in that they felt the need to put that as one of the conditions of accepting the severance package. If they were such a kind and wonderful employer and treated all staff with the greatest of respect, human decency and kindness when working for them, then what had them so worried what could be said about them when they threw them out on the streets?

Read what all that has been written and that is your answer about that kind, decent and respectful employer people worked for for years and took whatever was dumped on them by some just to keep food on their table and bills paid and children cared for. One gets back from life what they give to life and NYFF is finding that out!

A friend call me to tell me they had run into a retired Partner for many years and looked at them without saying a word and the retired Partner said quite distraught "Shameful it is just shameful what has been done ..."

Greed is the root of all Evil and Power Corrupts and human decency goes out the window!

To 183, thanks for your comments, and just to clarify, did you mean that the woman partner was also thrown out?

JOB OPENINGS AT FRIED FRANK!!

Fried Frank has an opening for an Executive Assistant, full-time, as described on hotjobs.yahoo.com, posted September 10th:

Clerical/Administrative
Full-time employee
5-10 years experience

"Fried Frank . . . is seeking an Executive Assistant to work with one of the Firm's senior and most active partners . . . This is a career position . . . . expected to have the temperament and demeanor that is consistent and in sync with the senior partners at the Firm . . . The executive assistant will have a position of trust and must have the utmost integrity and character . . . 'Commitment and Dedication' consistent with that of the senior partner and his work schedule, efforts and time . . . . commitment as described above are key components to [sic] the qualifications of all applicants."

An additional position, for a Payroll Analyst, was posted on July 25th, but may have already been filled:

Payroll Analyst to work at our lower Manhattan location . . . . The Payroll Analyst will prepare and input payroll information . . . The candidate will be responsible for preparing payroll checks and answering questions from firm employees regarding payroll matters . . . . 2 years of related work experience in a professional work environment."

Exec. Asst. position may be for partner whose secretary is pregnant and is the highest paid in the firm. Problem is they hired second assistants for him many times and, when they did not work out, they became floaters. Floaters do not exist anymore.

#182: Job shares are still there. As for the female DC partner who left, Justin sent an email stating she left to join another firm with a partner she knew.

#187: "Floaters do not exist anymore"? We hope other firms reading this find out that was a HUGE MISTAKE. There is no one to cover for leaves of absence or vacation. Secretaries have been told to work through lunch for comp time, not pay. Yet, partners are having an expensive get-together in Arizona in November. How nice.

Heard they continue to list annual firm anniversaries in their daily newsletter. Those anniversaries are a death sentence. Will the surviving employees be able to retire or be thrown out in their 50's and 60's?

Buzz is that the director of secretaries has a million dollar vacation home. Anyone know if that's true? If it is, they should let her go since she can afford early retirement.

Guest #187: Second assistants don't work out because they have to take orders from the partner and his first secretary. Too many egos.

#187 - Did he and Valerie Jacob announce that after it came out she had departed the firm? By any chance, did he/they also announce when a party would be held for her since no Partner has left DCFF without a farewell party with accolades and much praise and thank yous for the many years they devoted to FF? I'm sure it must have been an oversight not to mention she would be leaving on such and such a date and please attend the farewell party for her in Main Conference room on such and such a date to wish her farewell! Those notices always go out prior to a partner leaving. Looks like things have gone down hill since the massacre Monday that no one even remembered to send out the notice of her leaving and arrange the farewell party prior to her leaving, so quietly!

#187 - See the "spin" has been spun by what's his name and did what's her name chime in also?

What is that old saying "you can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all the people all of the time"?

Wonder of the Ivory Tower is having problems with spider webs these days hanging in the corridors?

Interesting article below I ran across which ATL ran in 2007 -

"Consider the rumors about Dewey Ballantine and Fried Frank joining in the associate pay raise fun to be confirmed. We've been in touch with multiple sources at both shops.

We're working on getting a copy of the DB memo. Here is the text of the Fried Frank announcement (which reportedly went out by email at 2:11 PM today):

FRIED FRANK

To: All DC and New York Associates and Special Counsel
cc: All Partners
From: Valerie Jacob, Justin Spendlove

We are pleased to announce an increase to the associate base salary scale as follows:

Class Year Adjusted Base Salary
2006 $160,000
2005 $170,000
2004 $185,000
2003 $210,000
2002 $230,000
2001 $250,000
2000 $265,000
1999 $280,000
1998 $290,000

This increase is retroactive to January 1, 2007, and will be reflected in the February 9, 2007 payroll. Bonuses for 2007 will be determined at year-end, as usual.

Base salaries and bonuses for Special Counsel will be determined on an individual basis in the Spring, as usual.

The Firm's continued success depends upon the support and contribution of all our associates. We are very appreciative of the efforts and hard work of all our attorneys during this fiscal year and we look forward to continued success next year.

******************************
As several of you noted in the comments, news of a pay raise sounds even sweeter when it comes from a man named "Justin Spendlove."

Earlier: Previous announcements of law firm associate salary increases (scroll down through "Skaddenfreude" archives)"

How lovely what those what's their names did for the associates in 2007!

And look at what those what's their names did for the staff in 2008!

This information provided by everyone is enormously important. Does anyone have information on the following?

How many secretary job shares exist, and were the secretaries in job shares each counted as one secretary (i.e., as having a full-time job) in the FF "Decisional Unit" totals of Selected and Not Selected employees listed by age?

How many actual full-time (35 hours/week) secretary jobs (floater and non-floater) existed at the firm at the time of the layoffs compared to the total number of secretaries listed for the Decisional Unit?

How many secretaries who were laid off were on written warning compared to the number on written warning who were not laid off?

Why did FF categorize only nine employees as Floaters in the Decisional Unit totals. At the most recent floater luncheon in 2008, at least 15-plus floaters were included.

Which floaters were in fact listed as Secretary instead of Floater?

Why were evening and weekend secretaries not listed as floaters, when their function is identical to that of the day floaters?

How many secretaries actually functioned as floaters compared with the number officially listed in the Decisional Unit?

Were the hourly, part-time secretaries included in the Decisional Unit, and, if so, under what category.

Did the firm hire the Payroll Analyst it advertised for on July 25 and when?

Why is no job listed for Payroll Analyst in the Decisional Unit totals? Was the job category of Payroll Analyst changed to another category on the Decisional Unit listing? If so, how can we determine the age of the person who was hired as a Payroll Analyst immediately prior to or after the August 18th layoffs?

How many of the laid-off staff had recently been on Leaves of Absence for either medical, family, or other reasons in the recent past (several years). Had any of them NOT been on LOA?

What were the "selection criteria" used in determining which employees were laid off? Why were some employees told there was absolutely nothing wrong with their work, others told their jobs had been eliminated, and others laid off for "performance." Were the performance criteria applied consistently among the Selected and Not Selected employees?

#190
Does "Hamptons" ring a bell?

195 - What is the "Decisional Unit"? Your post is clearly to gain information for a lawsuit, so why are you seeking reliable information for litigation purposes from a blog full of opinions, innuendo, rumors, and hard feelings? Your questions are interesting to be sure, but why post them here?

195, the ex-employees were given a 12-page list entitled "Decisional Unit," which appeared to provide the job titles, ages, and numbers of all staff in both NY and Washington, and showed which employees by age, not name, were laid off. But It's difficult to determine from the listings the accuracy of the varied and sometimes conflicting explanations for why they were laid off that were given to individual employees by different FF supervisors and directors. Because FF laid off its ex-employees on no notice at all, it has been very difficult to obtain and share information among the laid-off staff. If, as you say, some blogs express opinions, innuendo, rumors, hard feelings, then knowing whether the layoffs were done fairly might dispel such notions. We don't need a lawsuit to raise some reasonable concerns.

One other question: what was the official reason given by FF for providing to the mailroom and maintenance staff four and a half months of paid employment, with benefits, through the end of the year before their jobs would be outsourced, in contrast to FF's laying off hundreds of employees on August 18th with no advance notice whatsoever. Given that some of the ex-employees laid off on August 18th who signed waivers got as little as seven weeks of continued pay and benefits (and some none at all), on the surface their treatment seems harsh, unreasonable, and unfair in comparison to that of the mailroom and maintenance staff.

195, I'm sorry, I meant, "in contrast to FF's laying off far more of its employees on August 18th with no advance notice whatsoever."

I don't have answers to the questions I've posted, and would be grateful if anyone can provide the information.

#195 and #197 - It is quite obvious why the questions were asked and legitiment questions to ask since many have knowledge of the layoffs and some went through it. Do not deceive yourself into thinking that all comments on here are posted by laid off employees, many are just by concerned public or friends who have seen their devastation over what happened to them and who truly care about the 'small people' who are often mistreated by those over them and cast aside. Further I would not call them "hard feelings' those posted by ex-employees, what is coming out on here is the truth finally being told that many held in all these years to hold a job to support a family and make it through to retirement taking everything heaped on them and swallowing their pride. They took it, kept their mouths shut and did a job they were paid to do to the best of their ability and FF just couldn't resist that final kick in the teeth! They owe them loyalty? They should say 'thank you, FF, for all the crap you heaped on me and I took it without saying a word and what a fitting ending." Rather reminds one of people who have dogs for pets and kicks them around and abuses them and all of a sudden that dog turns on them and bites them or attacks. And they ask themselves why?

From what I have been told yes one employee was home on workmen's comp and laid off and one had been recently on the Family Medical Leave Act and laid off. Three women laid off had under gone treatment for cancer over the past several years. Two of them were off for sometime undergoing very serious treatments and they were longer term employees.

#198 - I believe they were required to give that list under Federal Law as pertaining to laying off older staff re Age Discrimination. Highly doubt if they would have willing give that list out otherwise. Despite their great attempts to try to show the layoffs were fair, some eyebrows have been raised by lawyers consulted re the Age Discrimiation aspect, from what I was told. However, one lawyer cautioned that while age discrimination may well be glaring to keep in mind that many times Age Discrmination cases can take up to 8 years to get through the court system.

#198 - I believe they were required to give that list under Federal Law as pertaining to laying off older staff re Age Discrimination. Highly doubt if they would have willing give that list out otherwise. Despite their great attempts to try to show the layoffs were fair, some eyebrows have been raised by lawyers consulted re the Age Discrimiation aspect, from what I was told. However, one lawyer cautioned that while age discrimination may well be glaring to keep in mind that many times Age Discrmination cases can take up to 8 years to get through the court system.

To posters 200 and 201, your information is extremely helpful. Thank you!!!

#196 and #190 - If they could afford a million dollar vacation home in the Hamptons one has to ask why what's their names didn't just lay them off to gain more money for their claim to fame and leave the rest of the staff alone! What do they do up in NYFF - give money towards million dollar vacation homes in gratitude for helping target and destroy no longer wanted employees lives?

Dear 200,

What is a term employee?

#203 - Good luck but remember this is not the old FF all knew and loved, even the newspapers when writing of them, this is a FF under a new regime. Cold blooded actions alone should leave no doubt.

However, look back on history over past centuries of the many leaders who were on Power 'Highs,' forgetting they were mere mortals, the people revolted and the kingdoms came tumbling down!

#204 Yes, a reasonable person would think that - but, the higher ups needs somebody to clean up and hence, the mid level management which, in my opinion, are puppets. They do what they are told to do no matter how cruel and at what cost it may be. Somebody has to do it.

#207 - The old "I didn't do it, he/she did it" games people play, even in the business world. Well, small problem with pleading that one, the idiot powers that be forgot that old saying "The Buck Stops Here."

Massacre Monday did not have to turn into such a tragedy, if it had been well thought out, properly planned, employees talked with months before, honesty used and not deceit.

The whole action stank from top to mid-level and has left the Ivory Towers with quite a lingering long term putrid smell.

I'm a former FFDC attorney who went in-house. From time to time I have engaged FFDC on some matters. I will not be doing that anymore. It may seem unfair because the DC attorneys had nothing to do with the layoffs. And they are still good friends. But I simply cannot continue to support FF. I can get the same quality legal services from other firms (and probably at lower rates). I hope all the DC attorneys find better situations.

#208 Unfortunately, you get spineless mid level management people that are afraid of their own shadows and are unable to support the people that they manage so they just accept what they are told instead of sticking up for the dedicated loyal employees that they managed for years. It will be interesting to see how FF comes out of this, if in fact, they ever do.

#209 - Unfortunately that is and will remain a major problem - the putrid stench that fills the air in the Ivory Tower has wrongly spread somewhat to the DC office. The stench is not as overwhelming there but one picks up on a lingering smell in the air.

That is a very sad and unfortunate situation as one has to have had their head in the sand not to recognize what was going on years ago when the Power changed in the Ivory Tower and out went the known and liked.

Once that was put into place - one might say DC became the unwanted child. NY had people down there taking over everything, which had run quite well all those years without their interference, they were like fleas on a dog. The Partners lost their power over their own staff and running the DC office. Puppets on a string is quite an apt description for Partners and Managers. One would be a fool to think those Partners hadn't tried to fight for their employees but they had become small fish in a Ocean filled with sharks. One only had to notice those long-term Partners in the DC office walking out one by one over the past year and a half to realize what was going on and coming down on the DC office. Then that such self-serving pretentious speech about how FF was now going to be a money making business and conquer the world, so to speak, and to help or get out...well, the only thing left out of that speech was 'by the way you'll be laid off as we march across the oceans in our ongoing search for fame and Gold as you will no longer be needed.'

They destroyed the morale in the DC office a couple of years ago as all watched what they were doing to not only the Partners, Managers but staff alike. An air of distrust was about and some employees had enough sense to get out but the rest hung in out of loyalty to the FFDC office and those are the ones that paid for that loyalty BUT not by the hands of the Partners they were so loyal to. It is not over by a long shot and air is filled with unrest and the clock is ticking.

That FFDC we all knew that was famous as the 'family law firm' where all stood together is gone with its reputation destroyed.

#208 - Why should one be surprised to hear that! In real professional well-run corporations or businesses the top people usually surround themselves with strong people who aren't afraid to tell them no and give them input of their own thoughts with suggestions on how to handle matters. Rather like a democracy!

Then there are dictatorships ...

#208 - Why should one be surprised to hear that! In real professional well-run corporations or businesses the top people usually surround themselves with strong people who aren't afraid to tell them no and give them input of their own thoughts with suggestions on how to handle matters. Rather like a democracy!

Then there are dictatorships ...

TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 18TH!

Anyone from FFNY going down to FFDC to hold a wake in the Main Conference Room today on the one month anniversary of the Massacre of August 18th?

Surely what's their names have plans to go down today and glad hand around with their pasted on smiles and praise the staff for a job well done the past month and tell them they need not worry about next layoffs - they will be held at 5:30 p.m. next go round so they can sleep in the following day and not report for work.

Dear 209,

Thanks very much for your comments. It's heartening to know that in the legal community Fried Frank hasn't been able to get away with its egregious violations of law and morality.

Your words give courage to those of us who were laid off and are fighting for our rights. Thank you.

For those who missed this 'gem' about FF's separate actions on August 18 - below is the Legal Times Blog article written on August 20, 2008.

August 20, 2008

After Layoffs, Fried, Frank Announces Promotions
On the heels of the firm’s confirmation earlier today that it laid off administrative staff in D.C. and New York, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson has announced the promotion of five lawyers in those two offices to partner.

In an e-mailed joint statement, the firm’s chairperson Valerie Jacob and managing partner Justin Spendlove said the promotions “reflect the strength of the firm and its continuing growth.”

The following lawyers will be elevated to partner on Sept. 1: Corporate associates Andrew Barkan and Murray Goldfarb in the New York office; bankruptcy and restructuring associate Jennifer Rodburg in the New York office; real estate special counsel Michael Barker in the New York office; and corporate associate Bradford Lucas in the D.C. office.

Throw long-term dedicated loyal staff out on the streets from the DC office, known with fame as the "family law firm", and long term staff out of the NY office and announce the promotion to new Partners and tout they “reflect the strength of the firm and its continuing growth.”

With no respect meant it makes one wonder just what kind of mentalities run FF to have been so utterly stupid or so arrogantly uncaring as to put both announcements out at the same time.

Here is a link to a very interesting article published in the New York Times today!

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDE143CF931A2575BC0A966958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

#217 - Wait a minute something must be wrong - do I correctly recall what's her name was quoted last month as saying FF never laid of lawyers?

Why, right here it is in the ATL article above quoting the firm chair, Valerie Ford Jacob!

"What about attorneys? A spokesperson emphasized to us that Fried Frank "doesn't do lawyer layoffs," which was reiterated to associates by firm chair Valerie Ford Jacob at a meeting yesterday."

(Jacob also claimed that the firm has never laid off lawyers.)

Dear 217 and 218:

The article to which you refer (as published "today" 217) was published in 1990. Still wondering why you were fired? Idiots.

#219 - Of course it was written in 1990. The question was did Fried Frank ever layoff lawyers - FF said no they never laid of lawyers.

Excuse me - who is the idiot?

#220 - Reviewing 217's posting and 218's posting and then your attempts to put both down - rather looks like you put your foot in your mouth without thinking through what both were referring to. One should not call others idiots when in fact they make themselves look the idiot by doing so.

In looking above at the article, a spokesperson said first Fried Frank never laid off lawyers. Was that spokesperson one of the 'yes' people who never question a lawyer or an action to hold onto their job and thus said what they were told to? If they had used their head they should have checked out the facts and gone back and said 'wait a minute...it is best FF not make that statement.' By not checking out the facts and thus not bringing it to Ms. Jacob's attention they 'set her up' in essence to say something contrary to what was already known by many and what she may well not have remembered.

The above #221 was referring to #219's post not #220.

The above #221 was referring to #219's post not #220.

You all need to get a life!

You all need to get a life!

You all need to get a life!

#224-225-226 - From what I've gathered reading on here they had a life, which one would presume for most of the posters consisted of working full-time, raising children, mortgages to pay, possible college tuition to pay for children, food to put on the table and the other necessities that go with every day living. However, it seems that life they had was deliberately, cold bloodedly and rather nastily destroyed on August 18 by their employer without warnings of any kind. Obviously by what has been written majority of those people were long-term, dedicated and loyal to the company that literally threw them on the streets. See, they had a life they were living but it was destroyed.

Could any of us who haven't gone through that begin to understand or imagine the psychological trauma they have gone through, their spouses went through, their children went through all wondering if there would be food on the table, rent or mortgages paid or they'd face eviction or foreclosure,where the money would come from to even pay the bare necessities in life? What about the children who were facing going back to school and had a growth spurt during the summer - where would the money come from to put clothes on them that would fit, what about money for lunch at school - where would that come from?

In this economy today to cold bloodedly throw dedicated employees out on the street and expect them to find a job instantly? One highly doubts their pockets are lined with gold or they live in million dollars homes, as those who threw them out are, so what are or were they to do?

Yes, they had a life at one time but it was destroyed by those people who deserve every word of scorn written on here about them and then some!

#227 - Well written. For the person who said "get a life", you are on this site for a reason. No one is forcing you to read the comments.

Justin, Valerie and partners: We are no longer your dedicated support staff. We do not trust you and wonder who will make it to retirement without being let go. You made no attempt to comment on the issue to those who surivived. You did not give respect. You will not receive respect.

If Harvey Pitt was still there, he would have had something to say. He was not happy with the selfish, egotistical partners as it was. He wanted them to share the wealth and they would not.

At this point, many would smile if the firm goes bankrupt one day - or if someone on the streets of London slaps Spend[hate] in the face.

Thank you, #217, for the link to the revealing 1990 New York Times article. In a way, It's even more relevant today.

Bravo 227. It will not be easy for any of the unfortunate laid off employees to get work immediately. FF is grossly behind the times with their software. Most law firms are using Word 2003 now and many have recently gone to Word 2007, which is drastically different from Word 2000. When you go to an agency for employment, they will not even test you on Word 2000. So before these poor people can even begin to look for work, they have to buy books or purchase some training, which they may not be able to afford, in order to can get themselves up to speed with the newer versions of Word. No. 226 are you unable to empathize with these people on any level? Many of these people are older and absolutely terrified at the prospect of being out of work in such a poor economy. This website has not only been helpful to them by letting them vent, it also reaffirms for them that the majority of employees currently at FF and those who have long gone, do care about their plight.

#233 - Not only is this webite helpful to all people in the public,ex-employees and current employess of FF in letting them vent their anger, fears and outrage but it shows all interested readers what Greed does in this world to people and, thus, has done to that once great firm.

#229 - Do you really think they care if they receive respect or not from employees? That is not a factor in their game - their game is to gain even more gold to line their pockets, more fame and conquer the world across the oceans. The will step on anyone to gain that fame, gold and conquer the world through their Greed - and on each other. Yes, none of them deserve respect - only the shame heaped upon them.

#231 - Highly doubtful anyone would lower themselves to slap his face in London, deserving that he would be; however, no doubt in my mind his 'fame' for what has happened in the US will somehow make the news in the UK.

233, wow, thanks for warning us.

#229 - How could you ever in your wildest dreams expect What'stheirnames and other Ivory Tower inhabitants to ever address the remaining employees on what they did, why they did, and what their plans are for the remaining employees?

One would like to think they wouldn't out of shame of what they did but that is not even a reality thought. Don't you understand that in their arrogant and cold blooded ways they have made it quite plain the remaining staff are a 'nothing' to them as the ex-employees were. They wouldn't lower themselves to address such common people as they know, and as you should realize, each word out of their mouths would be looked upon as lies and deceptions, as was that self-serving speech given to staff over a year ago about now becoming a money making business and they needed everyone's help or get out.

They did nothing wrong so why explain their actions to others? There has already been proven that statements put out were not accurate and deceptive. Think they'll chance getting caught again in the webs they weave? No Way!

If I were them I'd be paranoid as hell wondering what could possibly be said next from ex-employees, employees or just plain concerned public. They kicked long-term loyal and dedicated employees in the teeth, threw them on the streets in this economy, without blinking an eye. They thought "no one would care after all they are just staff", they are finding out people really care in this world today about mistreatment of others. They are paying the price for those uncalled for actions in the cold blooded way that they did it and they'll never regain FF's excellent reputation as a good and kind employer NEVER and they know that and it will come back to haunt them through the years. This can't be swept under the rug, it is all over the internet, just do a google!

You are very welcome 235. I bought a couple of very good books at Barnes and Noble. My favorite was the Word Smart Series, because it came with a practice CD. I also purchased Videos online from the Video Professor. The cost of the videos was $189.00, but well worth it. You can also choose a free CD. I would recommend selecting Outlook, since Outlook has also gone under some major renovations as well. Each lesson is very clear and user friendly and then is followed by a quiz. Also the CD is packaged so that you can learn Word 2002, 2003 or 2007. I would focus more on Word 2003 and 2007. Good luck.

#228 - Of course the "Get a Life" is on the site for a reason. They are monitoring this site and every so often a spineless kiss arse employee puts something on here in hopes to ridicule the posters. It has back-fired every time!

I was reading through all the comments last evening from both days and some outright shocking posts about that employer some of you on here were laid off by. The Pen is indeed mightier than the Sword and I saw a suggestion that people should picket the offices in protest. Now, that action would have given and would still give wide attention to the public, as newspapers and TV would cover that and listen to the stories. No need to picket yourselves if you fear retribution send friends or their friends to walk around carrying signs if just for a half-hour at prime time - noon. They threw you out on the streets - well, take the issue to the streets!

Dear 239, you're absolutely right about picketing and demonstrating, it's essential.

I had an idea for a protest outside that luncheon in midtown in September that was held by Working Mother Magazine to honor some supposedly women-friendly law firms (actually, for firms friendly to women LAWYERS, obviously not staff), where we could have had women pushing baby carriages and dragging dolls along the ground, babies with bright red spots all over their skin because their families had lost their medical coverage; patients in hospital gowns and slippers pushing metal poles on wheels with IV drips--the staff who have medical problems who were expeditiously let go because they were running up the cost of the firm's annual insurance contracts (that special benefits section on the FF intranet about expanded cancer resources obviously wasn't intended for some staff members whom FF laid off precisely because they WERE utilizing the resources); and lawyers with Spendlove masks dressed in suits with dollar bills instead of silk handkerchiefs folded in the breast pockets of their jackets. Street theater is protected by a fairly recent Supreme Court decision.

I wish we could have done this, but didn't want anyone to get retaliated against. But, yes, we need demonstrations, a union, and a national workers/ labor party. We can't depend on even liberal politicians, either, because they respond to the mood and struggles going on in the country, they don't lead movements, which is what's needed. As a teacher told me long ago, we owe an a LOT to those early unionists and what they sacrificed for us. Otherwise we'd still be working seven days a week and sleeping over in factories.

Those workers risked their lives to improve working conditions for all of us. And the struggle isn't over. Civil rights are always under attack and have to continually be fought for. Fried Frank did what it did because it could get away with it (and manipulated all the categories of employees in the false data it presented in its 12-page Decisional Unit to hide how many laid off-staff really were older; and also laid off many people of color and many staff who had medical problems).

Some of the people laid off had been lauded at the annual FF "anniversary" parties for their contributions to the firm over many years. It was ultimately a hoax, but it may have kept people from looking for other jobs. They spent years specializing in jobs specific to Fried Frank, and had they not been misled into thinking they had a future at the firm might have gone elsewhere and developed more universally marketable experience. Apparently it's not unusual for employers to induce workers to stay under the pretense of "life-long employment" (a legal term); and also not unusual to get rid of them when they get older and "too expensive." The FF press release lauding the five associates it promoted to partner interestingly used the same talk, about all their years of dedication...

Fried Frank has shown us the raw face of capitalism, without the mask. I remember years ago when I had to lie to get a "permanent" job for the summer because I was a student and couldn't get a job if I told the employer that I was going back to school in September. I felt guilty about having to lie, and asked one of the leaders of the movement group I was in what to do. I said, "I don't want to lie to them because I wouldn't want them to lie to me."

He said that was ridiculous. I still remember his words: "They'd fire you without a DAY's notice. Without an HOUR's notice."

I also learned that all the great revolutionaries had organized their movements through a newspaper. We have something now even that's even better--the internet.

Thank you so much to everybody.

The internet is great, yes, but power of the press is greater. It is no secret that lawyers are not held in high esteem in fact are quite known as shisters and always after the almighty dollar! You have to get to the press - make a phone call and ask for a reporter who does local human interest stories and same for local TV stations - they'd love this human interest story about employees put on the streets in this economy especially when the company is in good financial shape and expanding across the oceans.

I wouldn't be inclined to use a spendwhat'shisname mask in demonstrating. Don't disgrace our fine country by having a face mask shown on our streets, remember our great country went over across the Pond and saved their arses in WWII and now look how it has come back to haunt us!

Mislead the employees is an understatement! Deceived is the more appropriate word to use. Whatshisname addresses all employees in a meeting and tells them the wonderful things FF is going to do, pretentious self-serving talk that it was, and tells them all they need their help.....An outright crock of crap! Needed them just long enough to get the plan of restructuring into effect and then threw them out the door!

This story to tell is not stale by a long shot - Sept. 24th and the postings and stories keep going on.

From what I've been told those who sign or signed the insulting severance agreement cannot turn around and sue FF. BUT they can cooperate with any ERISA or other Government Agencies in actions brought by ex-employees who don't sign it. Granted they are idiots but they know that is nothing they could stop or even attempt to intimidate employees or ex-employees who are asked questions by appropriate Government agencies. From reading on here there is no doubt their are some who are bringing charges against them and refusing to sign the agreement. One may want to make it plain to any friends who are fellow ex-employees and bringing a suit you'd be more than happy to talk to their lawyer and/or any agency investigating. In fact, can one turn them in to a Government Agency one feels they violated their Rights under that particular Law and not to sue just to put that Agency on alert one feels the law was violated in whichever law pertained to them.

It is time there are laws put into effect through cases brought by all employees laid off across the country that puts all employers on notice that pull such a stunt in a deceptive under-handed way then they will answer under the laws . In fact, I believe on the other site from first day that someone mentioned a class action should be brought by all laid off employees across the country against all employers.

Laws should be put into effect that stipulate every step an employer has to take and meet when laying off employees.

It is time all employers who pull such dastardly actions without proper notice and thus ruining people's lives fall on their own swords!

#242 - Interesting thoughts! One notices Corporations that get into trouble under the law that many times the head people of the Corporations are the ones who are charged under the law and sometimes sued by employees or shareholders, Enron is an example that comes to mind. Do you know if one can sue individual people and NOT the company or corporation who they feel were involved in violating their Rights under a given Law?

THE BUZZ: a lousy, stressful environment these days. Some partners have complained about lack of secretarial coverage. Some didn't even know there were no more floaters to cover desks. These partners need to speak up. WHO DOES THE FIRM BELONG TO - THE PARTNERS OR JUSTIN?

They wanted support staff to be busier but undue stress is not healthy and we foresee medical issues in this firm's future -- while the London guy rides back and forth on a plane and does nothing but hold court with his followers and give commands.

They wanted support staff to be busier but stress is not healthy and we foresee medical issues in this firm's future -- while the London guy rides back and forth on a plane and does nothing but hold court with his followers and give commands.

#244 - Who does the Firm belong to - the Partners or what'shisface name? Well, take a look at the 5 major Partners who have walked out of FFDC, and the one rcently who left mysteriously and very quietly, over the past year and that might be your answer: not the Partners. Of course, none of us know how many Partners walked out on FFNY the past several years or the real reasons why as they tend to keep things quiet up there or rather not so noticeable with fantastic PR written as to why they are leaving or maybe not so truthful!

They brought their 'Messiah' in some years ago with what one hears at fantastic money including benefits of first class everywhere with money no option...sort of looking like it wasn't such a 'heavenly' deal - major Partners walking out, staff layoff which were so badly handled and mangled that FF's great reputation as a great fair and loyal firm is destroyed beyond repair.

Well, I see an article that was posted on here 'outing' FF for telling an untruth about Lawyer layoffs in the past is used in a great story printed on here on Friday called "Back to the Future: Stealth Layoffs in 1990".

FFNY certainly can't complain they aren't getting Press write-up these days, can they!

Thanks so much, 244, this is extremely valuable information. To everyone, please continue to keep us posted.

#244 and #249 - On the day of the layoffs in FFDC the Associates had no idea there were even layoffs planned and didn't know until they saw their staff packing up their desks and went ballistic when they found out why. They had to hold an emergency meeting to calm the Associates down and tell them the truth there was a layoff taking place ordered by FFNY! Some of the Partners were not even aware of the extent of the layoffs.

#246 - Have they held classes in teaching the staff how to curtsy or bow properly in his presence? Women remembering to walk two paces behind him?

Noticed something interesting in reading the Hellerman story today. ATL mentioned the WARN Act
http://www.doleta.gov/programs/factsht/warn.htm and their adhering to it.

Would that be applicable at all to what FF did not do in laying off its staff? Granted they 'fudged' the percentage of layoffs by saying firm-wide staff; yet my belief always was they deliberately used that term trying to throw in staffs across the Oceans in that percentage of 'firm wide' staff laid off. Really they only laid off US staff - New York and DC. Other countries are not US employees. One would think they would have had to form those law firms under the appropriate country's laws. And they are a money making business now - we all heard those words out of what'shisface name.

#250 - Yes and if one recalls correctly whatshername face with the frozen on smile addressed the associates in NY and tried to convince them FF never laid off lawyers and other malarkey she fed them. Lawyers always say a client has to be totally truthful with them so no surprises down the road in a case; yet they don't practice what the preach!

#251 - What? Curtsy and bow before whathisname face? Don't tell me staff think he seems to act like some kind of royalty from the UK?

Well, in recalling UK history they did have a few Kings who didn't exactly end in fame in their reigns - King Charles I lost his head at the hands of his own people. Then there was King George III who was reigning in the UK when we chased their arses back across the Ocean in the Revolutionary War. Rather known as the King who lost the American Colonies during his reign!

#254 - Oh dear, rather looks like the ghost of King George III has come back to exact his revenge. Loyal, dedicated and hard working US employees put out on the streets and the fine reputation of the US firm who had once treated those employees in kind destroyed beyond repair.

Nothing much to say anymore. Some employees hear from those who were laid off. The shock has lessened but reality sinks in with no interviews or call backs. Testing is tough since firms are using Word 2007. Give thanks to Fried Frank for keeping us in prehistoric times.

And we heard two are very depressed. All will be out of medical ins. unless they pay hundreds for COBRA. If anything happens, their families know who to go after.

To present employees: Are they planning another expensive Christmas party with all the money they saved?

#256 - What is interesting, here is a statement that pastedonsmile jacob supposedly said from above article " (5) our support function are not as efficient as our peer firms, so we restructured." FFNY was so stinking cheap they kept using out-of-date programs. Then they turn around, if you look above, and blame it on the support staff.

Stinking cheap when it came to staff and needed programs and sickening extravagant when it came to wonder boy!

#257 - Has it been verified through other laid off employees how very depressed those two are? What do you mean if 'anything happens, their families know who to go after?" Know to go after? Dear God, if anything so horrible happens as you seem to be hinting to - those families should go straight to the newspapers and major TV stations and announce to the nation what happened and what caused it to happen and then...take appropriate action.

I think someone put on here a month or so ago about the article appearing in the news on the potential of suicides with people just losing their homes through foreclosure.

COBRA is not just hundreds it runs in many cases over a thousand!

#258 - Surely you jest? Spend the money on an extravagant Christmas party for remaining employees?

I'd think it would be spent more along the lines on a European boon-doggle for the next Partners' retreat on the French Riviera or at some outrageously priced castle in Scotland with golfing to go along with it.!

Take a hard look at what GREED has done to this country and world today! The crisis this country is in today is all because of GREED! The GREED in this country has put the financial markets throughout the world in serious conditions!

Look what the GREED in this country has done to the people throughout the world!

Look what GREED did to close to home!

Does anyone have any count on how many are suing FF for what they did?

There is one that I know of and will be going for the jugular! What they did to all was dirty and low. It was not like they do when they lay off those lawyers "they never lay off'" - they give them time to find a job and keep paying them while looking. They put employees out on the streets and held back any severance unless they agreed not to sue their sorry greedy arses. Interesting they felt the need to hold money over their heads to keep from being sued. Neither money nor perfume will ever take away the putrid stench that fills the air in the Ivory Tower.

What GREED does to people - through that nasty evil GREED they destroyed the fine and upstanding reputation of their own firm as a loyal and kind firm without a second thought. They destroyed the lives of dedicated and loyal employees. They made untrue statements that came back to haunt them when the truth was revealed.

Microsoft.com has free tutorials on all of their products. I tried a couple this weekend and found them to be user friendly. Hope this helps.

Also please remember, some times Karma is slow to come around, but when it does look out FF. Does the Number 13 ring a bell?

#265 - No. 13 as in above? Or is that an other 'significant' Number 13 you speak of?

Although there are those who have been forced into taking the severance package to put food on their table, pay rent or mortgages or get an extra 2-3 months of health insurance, they can't be stopped from talking to lawyers who contact them on behalf of ex-employees who may be filing or to Government agencies who may do an investigation into any alleged violations of Federal laws protecting employees. Some Government agencies will in fact take a complaint without an employee willing to file a suit and look into the allegations on their own for any violation of the law under them.

FFNY did the following:

1. By a speech lead employees to believe they were to be part of a team to help with pride the company turn into a money making business. In fact, the restructuring of the staff had already begun to be planned when that self-serving pretentious speech was given to them.
2. Lolled into a feeling of ongoing job security, they were then laid off about two years later with 5 minutes notice on August 18, 2008.
3. They were offered a severance package so not to sue that offered from 2 - 3 months pay and health benefits paid for 2 - 3 months.
4. Outright deceptions in statements made public were:

(a) employees would receive severance package according to their years at FF. When in fact the top severance pay was capped at 3 months PERIOD! Employees who had been there for even over 20 - 27 years would receive the same pacakge.

(b) Alluded the support staff was not up to par as FF's peer. In fact FF's current software programs are antiquated and staff does not have the expereince on the programs required by FF's so-called peers and thus finding a job is quite difficult if not prohibative without the laid off employees now spending what little if any money left buying their own to self-teach or taking expensive classes they can ill afford the money to pay for.

(c) The COBRA on the health insurance cost is close to impossible if not impossible for any employee to afford once the coverage by FF runs out this month or next. That leaves ex-employees open to financial ruin for years to come if a life threatening sickness hits them or one of their family members. Employees who now take possibly life-saving drugs, which will cost a small fortune without prescription coverage, may well be forced to give them up with no money to pay for them.

ALL of the ABOVE and then some FF was well aware of and didn't give a second thought to what would and/or could happen to any employee or one of their family members.

I really appreciate the information I've learned from these comments. I'd like to add my own, but at this time I don't want to discuss details of how I'm following up. I'm not giving up. A lawyer today said that he'd had a case against Fried Frank in the past.

#267 - That is not surprising, no doubt other lawyers over the years have been consulted but like with everything else it was just swept under the rug.

How I wish you well and that you and any others taking a stand not give up.

As is said 'what wrongs you do to others comes back on you two fold' and the time is coming that the Ivory Tower will learn that lesson.

Ex-employees and those who cared - some sad news already coming out of the massacre:

One ex-employee's very serious cancer has returned and needs treatment asap, and, in fact, had returned before they were laid off but had not told the other employees. One ex-employee had to pay the outrageous COBRA in order to get an hysterectomy that had to be done asap; one ex-employee was rushed to a local hospital yesterday - fears are it was a stroke.

Take a bow GREEDY ones look at the additional money you saved! You got them out just in time, didn't you!!!!!

Oh no! Surely all the wondrous ones in the Ivory Towers will dig deep into their gold-lined pockets or FF budget and find a way to extend the COBRA payments by FF on their behalf?

After all, the one with the serious returning cancer they knew had serious cancer treatments in the past before being thrown on the streets; the one rushed to the hospital with a possible stroke also had serious health problems in the past; and the one who had to pay their own COBRA for immediate needed hysterectomy has no job. In fact, from what I hear only ONE person out of that DC layoffs has been able to find employment!

#270 - Lovely thoughts of what could be done but that law firm that was once known as the family law firm who stood behind and loyal to its hard working, dedicated and loyal employees no longer exists. It was methodically taken over and torn apart and the command given from the Ivory Tower to execute on bloody Monday August 18 was its final ending. However, if that law firm still existed as it was back then they would still be employed and there would be no concern about what to do about coverage.

One has to wonder if the person and persons responsible for permitting their GREED to overcome and destroy the milk of human kindness some years ago when they made changes in command in the Ivory Tower have any regrets or twinges of conscience at all!

#269 - Are the ex-employees in your post all from the DC office?

#272 - Yes. The one who may have had a stroke was operated on this morning and no one knows the outcome as of yet nor status of her condition after the surgery.

#272 - Yes. The one who may have had a stroke was operated on this morning and no one knows the outcome as of yet nor status of her condition after the surgery.

How can we get in touch with you in Washington or through some neutral person? I believe we are seeing more of this discrimination based on disability and need the facts, if there's a way someone might communicate with us. My prayers for our brothers and sisters who have been put under such horrendous stress, which is undoubtedly having a horrible effect on their bodies.

PS I may be able to find a person or agency you could give the information to anonymously so that we can follow up. I'll look into this. In the meantime, please tell the three that our thoughts are with them.

Update - she survived the surgery but unknown at this time how much therapy or help will be needed, i.e., speech therapy, care, etc.

The stress has indeed been terrible on everyone and the worst part is what is now taking place with the economical crises this country and whole world is in.
Tragic news is coming out of the crises, last week the LA headlines carried the story of a man who had lost his job months ago with a company took the life of his 3 children, wife, mother-in-law and then himself. People are losing their homes right and left and last weekend another story carried an announcement by a Sheriff in a town who was refusing the deliver anymore eviction notices and said he'd face contempt of court before he'd ever deliver another.

The ruthless way the current regime in the Ivory Towers took action in putting out unsuspecting loyal, dedicated and long term employees in 5 minutes time is bound to have long term psychological if not physical effects. They can't even plead they were caught up in any crises to have taken that action. Unless whattheirnames faces were blowing smoke out their ****** it was even announced FF was in good financial stable shape and on top of that immediately announced the promotion of 5 associates to Partner positions as soon as the layoffs were announced.

#275 - If you go back and read all that has been posted from the first day - August 18 site - to the update site (this one) you should get a good feel for all the various reasons ones felt they could have been chosen - age, major sicknesses in the past, etc. One I believe I read was on Workmen's Comp at the time. People on here have posted manager's names they felt were unjust or personally picking on a said employee in choosing some who were laid off. One might remember a couple of years ago when the leave policy was changed and not in favour of the employees by a long shot. Was there at that time an unspoken reason for that looking down the road?

Fried Frank Hong Kong has just laid off a few associates last week. The managing partner was lying.

#279 - So, the layoffs of the "no lawyers ever laid off" has started across the oceans, have they! Business that great in the Hong Kong Office they decided to layoff associates to have more gold in their pockets or just maybe the very serious worldwide economical crises is hitting them in the pockets now?

Do believe I've seen the word 'KARMA' written on here several times...

Managing Partner was lying? Now isn't that a shock! Perish the thoughts that anyone from the Irvory Tower would ever attempt to deceive - they just twist reality to suit their own purposes or have memory lapses. But then as we all know, when they do get their memory lapses there is always someone more than willing to refresh their memories for them.

Example, we've all known that from the beginning when the attempts to deceive about 'no lawyers ever laid off'' statement was made, one of the posters on here found the article to prove that was far from true and ATL did a story on the said NYT article from 1990.

Rumour has it that the partners have switched their yearly extravagant boon-doggle retreat to New Jersey this year. That should be a culture shock for wonder boy and his entourage! Not any 4 star hotels or like resorts located there.

Rumour has it that the partners have switched their yearly extravagant boon-doggle retreat to New Jersey this year. That should be a culture shock for wonder boy and his entourage! Not any 4 star hotels or like resorts located there.

Rumour has it that the partners have switched their yearly extravagant boon-doggle retreat to New Jersey this year. That should be a culture shock for wonder boy and his entourage! Not any 4 star hotels or like resorts located there.

A weekend spent with more baffling than dazzling no doubt!

#284 - Why surely there will be time on the agenda for those who were responsible for the plotting for over two years and then ordering the Monday massacre on August 18th to stand up and take a bow for a job well done. It was handled with such finesse and forethought, that look FF has had continuous coverage ever since.

#284 - Why surely there will be time on the agenda for those who were responsible for the plotting for over two years and then ordering the Monday massacre on August 18th to stand up and take a bow for a job well done. It was handled with such finesse and forethought, that look FF has had continuous coverage ever since.

#284 - Why surely there will be time on the agenda for those who were responsible for the plotting for over two years and then ordering the Monday massacre on August 18th to stand up and take a bow for a job well done. It was handled with such finesse and forethought, that look FF has had continuous coverage ever since.

They should all take their hip boots with them ...

One has to ask will any Partner or Partners who attends that retreat have the courage to address directly what happened to the once great reputation of FFDC and how the loyal, dedicated and long-term employees were treated and ask for a holding of those responsible and accountable for the irrevocable damage done to the fine name of the Firm.

FF is no longer a democracy, as the Partners should have realized over the last years - it is now a dictatorship and best they wake up!

#288 - What good would it do them to confront directly the one or ones who are directly responsible for what happened to FF? Look at the great Partners who have walked out after being with FF for many years - that should tell you something for them to have left a firm they dedicated their years and lives to.

Greed is the root of all evil and Power Corrupts.

I worked at FF-NYC office for over 7 years. The director for the 1st dept I worked for was forced to give my "group" up because they claimed she couldn’t handle the smaller groups that reported to her (she was involved with so many ongoing projects). She was the BEST. The second director I worked under, had freaking doorknobs for managers. Secretarial services… the staff was the best! The day shift management never listened to anything I (or another coworker of mine) said and to this day I claim for two reasons. 1- My age (I was the baby in the group) and 2- I am a women of color. So when a position in operations opened up, I went for it. That was the BIGGEST mistake I ever made. Susan Scattergood is insane. When she isn’t spying on her own staff, she is pretending to hear you when you speak but in reality, she is thinking who she can manipulate to work OT without paying them. I know of a manger that left the firm because she FORCED him to come to work while on jury duty. When he gently reminded her that he was on jury duty she said something like, that is during the day, you can still work your regular night shift. ARE YOU FLIPPING SERIOUS!! I was on family leave with my child in the hospital with pneumonia when she called I thought she was calling because she was concerned. No this stupid women called me to ask when I was returning because my work was piling up and I should not depend on other people to do my work for me. She doesn’t listen to reason and a lot of staff (management included) felt it was better to leave "our family" rather than be there with her.

To all ex FF….. We should meet and celebrate getting away from a place that treated once loyal staff, as slaves.

I worked at FF for over 7 years. The director for the 1st dept I worked for was forced to give my "group" up because they claimed she couldn’t handle the smaller groups that reported to her since she was involved with so many ongoing projects that needed her undivided attention. She was the BEST director ever. The second director I worked under had freaking doorknobs for managers. Secretarial Services- the day shift management never listened to anything I (or another coworker of mine) said and to this day I claim for two reasons. 1- My age (I was the youngest in my group) and 2- I am a women of color. So when a position in operations opened up, I went for it. That was the BIGGEST mistake I ever made. Susan Scattergood is insane. When she wasn’t spying on her own staff, she was pretending to hear you when you speak but in reality, she was thinking who she can manipulate to work overtime without paying them.

I know of a manger that left the firm because she FORCED him to come to work while on jury duty. When he gently reminded her that he was on jury duty, she said something like that is during the day, you can still work your regular night shift.

ARE YOU FLIPPING SERIOUS!!

I was on family leave with my child, in the hospital, with pneumonia when she called. I thought she was calling because she was concerned about my childs well-being... No, this stupid woman called me to ask when I was returning because my work was piling up and I should not depend on other people to do my work for me. She doesn’t listen to reason and a lot of staff (management included) felt it was better to leave "our family" rather than be there with her.

To all ex FF employees….. We should meet and celebrate getting away from a place that treated once loyal staff, as slaves.

#291 - One can well believe every word you wrote above. The mentality of that manager and others up there who mistreated the staff and continue to represents the mentality of the lawyers who gave them full freedom to treat staff as they did/do.

FFDC employees would hear the horror stories from the staff up there over the many years and give great thanks for the wonderful lawyers and managers we worked for and with in DC. FFDC never treated its staff as slaves - we all worked in harmony, treated each other with the hightest respect, lawyers never ceased to thank staff at the end of a day or at the end of long hours working as a team, flowers were sent to staff in the hospital from FFDC and from lawyers; presents given on the birth of a new baby; lawyers attended funerals of staff members' families, lawyers attended funerals of staff members; lawyers visited sick staff in the hospital - FFDC was a true family!

However, once the 'new regime' was put in place in 2004 up in NY, we all literally had a sickening feeling that the wonderful FFDC we all loved and were devoted to was going to be torn apart. And how true those sickening feelings were and turned into a living nightmare over the past four years. And FFDC that famous family law firm ended on Massacre Monday, August 18, 2008.

However, in fairness to some of the NY Partners back then - there was Bob Juceam who when in DC treated the staff as if gold and always an hello, a thank you and smile as he walked the halls and all the names he never forgot. That man was worshipped by staff and the milk of human kindness he was filled with was overflowing in him. Audrey Strauss was another Partner who never forgot to say thank you to staff who worked with her when she would come to the DC office and always a smile and an hello when she'd pass them in the hall over the years. L. Rothenberg always had a kind word and kind voice when talking with DC Staff. And there were many other NY lawyers who didn't pull an arrogant attitude with DC staff. There are those who had and have the milk of human kindness in them for others and always a sincere kind smile and thank you whether in person or on the telephone.

It is very sad what happened also to those really 'true' lawyers we held in the highest respect as they have been tainted by the actions of the other(s) who sit high in the Ivory Tower!

Greed is the root of all evil and Power Corrupts!

One aspect about the whole sorry mess and tragic-like ending for FFDC Staff and FFNY staff that will never make sense - whatever possessed the Partners to bring into FF an outsider, not even from our own Country, and give them absolute power over the Firm, as they did.

#293 - G R E E D !!!!!

To Marketing in FFNY:

I presume you have been keeping copies of the postings from this site on ATL. Shame on you if you haven't been - these should be copied and distributed daily for all to read throughout FFNY - in fact ,put the updates in the daily newsletter you send out to baffle the employees with latest claims to fame FF has re cases, activities or awards given out. Guarantee the insider newsletter will get 100% reading instead of instant delete as many were doing.

I have a great idea for you to get back in the good graces of whatstheirfaces' names, after all you weren't so great letting whatsherfaces name get caught being outright deceptive ....naughty, naughty...and then that stupid PR blunder announcing a layoff and next hour announcing 5 new partners made .... get a grip on what PR and Marketing is all about - a good PR person is hired to make even an idiot look good and when you write up marketing pieces make sure it can baffle even the sharpest critic sorting through the BS.

Get nice quality albums and make copies of the stories written on here referring to FF layoffs along with all the postings and put them in chronological order between plastic pages to keep them neat. Do the same for all announcements or statements made surrounding Massacre Monday, August 18, 2008; google the internet for any other papers, sites that carried that great moment in FF history and make copies of them and put in the albums.

On the front of the Albums have printed in gold:

"OUR PERSONAL GREATEST CONTRIBUTION TO FRIED FRANK HISTORY "

Put whatsherfaces name in gold _______________
Put whatshis faces name in gold ______________

Date: August 18, 2008

Have enough albums made up for all Partners of FF worldwide for whatstheirfaces names to hand out to all attending the Retreat and mail to those who don't attend. Make extra copies of course for associates to look at and staff members also and you may want to put some out in the reception areas so when clients come in and are waiting for meetings they can leaf through them in idle time.

Is FF laying off associates, as some people have posted on ABL?

#296 - Have you read the postings on here? Did you read the one where whatsherface name had made the statement they never laid off lawyers? Did you read the posting with the NYT article directly proving the outright deceptive statement? Have you read the postings on here of ones who observed how they 'freeze' associates out? In fact, go above to #248, read what they posted and go back to the article referred to and then read the blogs that went with that article.

So you can have your choice - you can believe the statements made by whatsherface name or you can believe the other posters and the newspaper article.

Keep one thing in mind, yes there are some quite ugly statements made on here BUT remember FFNY threw out on the streets loyal dedicated employees many who had been there for 20 - 28 years and put up with pure *hit (those from NY) all those years and kept working and kept their mouths shut. DC staff heard the horror stories for years from NY staff and also knew that their days were numbered since the famous reputation FFDC had as the family law firm was directly opposite of the reputation of FFYNY ...Listen it was no lie one of the idiot managers from NY involved in the layoffs made the statement re all the publicity that took place 'we never thought anyone would care they were only staff...' THAT is the mentality at FFNY and how their staff was treated and is treated ...

One might say what is happening on here is the Ivory Tower arrogants are now reaping what they sowed and finding out that pay-back is real bitch as the truth is being posted.

#293 - Excellent point about a managing director who dictated the layoffs, yet is from another country !! And isn't it ironic that many U.S. companies outsource their work or customer service reps. And Fried Frank has outsourced an American law firm to an English bastard.

Reliable sources said there is not enough staff in the secretarial center, duplicating, mailroom or library. Employees are overwhelmed and afraid to speak up. Many desk secretaries are assigned to 5-7 attorneys. Floor coordinators have to move secretaries around and cover reception breaks. Employees will break down at some point.

Justin, Most of your present staff do not want a Christmas party or any more anniversary parties. The reasons should be obvious. But they better get a bonus due to all the money you have saved and the extra workloads they are carrying !! Wonder how much you are getting and the directors.

#300 - Do you honestly think he gives a flying F about any extra bonuses to those peasants who work for FF or whether you have a Xmas party or anniversary parties? What is he getting? That is a closely guarded secret except one hint is he travels first class, 4 star hotels, special water was brought in to suit his tastes, and he was made managing director over the UK office AND US office!

The ones who should be forever ashamed of the actions taken against the long-term and dedicated employees should be the partners who brought him in and who gave him carte blanche power out of GREED!

What good does it do to conquer the world if you lose your soul along the way!

#298 - You have to understand the background - at one time FFNY was in talks with a British law firm to merge with but in the end it fell through. That is where HE came from - that British firm. It was interesting, the merger fell through and he ended up coming to FF about a year later....and given all that power within a year's time. If you'll recall that self-serving pretentious speech he gave about FF going to become a money-making business - that tells you right there what 'he is all about' -- to take them across the Pond and Oceans and expand and conquer, so to speak. Do you actually think he would have any reason to give a damn about those peasants beneath his feet who work in the US offices? Get a grip on reality - he has to have promised the Partners at FF to lead them to great wealth and fame across the oceans to be in the power position he is in now. The focus is expanding to other countries - US employees per se do not have a part in that long-term game plan across the ocean.

Thus, did they as you say "outsource an American law firm to a British Bastard" ? No, they did not. They gave that man total control over the US firm and UK firm in order to expand across the oceans and Asian market and make them even more wealthier and more fame and they don't and didn't give a damn what happened to the US employees -- they are focused on the promised more GOLD and further expansion across the oceans to gain their fame in that foreign market.

Greed is the root of all evil and Power Corrupts!

#299 - You are so correct - there is not enough staff in either office - NY or DC - to properly support the lawyers/Partners and various areas. And yes the employees will soon start breaking down - health and many will quit , which I'm sure some are planning to do. This was deliberately done by the lay-offs - they cut back so drastically all staff is at the breaking point!

Best you remaining staff ask yourselves WHY? WHY are you being pushed to the breaking point? Food for thought - forcing you all to walk out sure does save another ongoing major scandal by putting you out! What are the long-term plans for FFNY and FFDC? FFNY is really a must as it is the headquarters but how big will it be as FF expands across the oceans?

As for FFDC - rumours have been going around for a couple of years it would be just a satellite office with minimum staff and place for the NY partners to park their arses when in DC on business. They've already lost 5 major partners who walked on them the past year and one who 'quietly' left ... They literally forced FFDC to layoff many of their valued employees, many who were there for 26 - 30 years ...

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to sort through all that....

FOR THOSE WONDERING JUST HOW 'WONDER BOY' GOT INTO FF AND TOTAL POWER, READ POST 149 AND THE INFORMATION IS ALL THERE. YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT POST 148 ALSO.

LOOKS LIKE HIS CO-CHAIR BUDDY JACOB MAY HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN SELLING HIM TO THE OTHERS, SINCE IT MENTIONED HE "DEVELOPED A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH JACOB DURING THE YEAR THE UK FIRM WAS IN MERGER TALKS WITH FF."

FASCINATING READING -- HE WAS THE MANAGING PARTNER OF THE UK FIRM THEY WERE HAVING THE MERGER TALKS WITH FOR A YEAR....THE TALKS BREAK OFF - A YEAR LATER HIS ARSE IS PARKED OVER HERE IN FF AND A YEAR AFTER THAT HE IS FIRM-WIDE MANAGING PARTNER AND JACOB IS MADE THE CHAIR ....

ALL ABOUT POWER ...

Here is a link to an article that is interesting reading re Jacob

http://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/content/view/21/28/

Here is a link to an article that is interesting reading re Jacob

http://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/content/view/21/28/

BELOW IS THE SHORT ARTICLE IN THE LINK ABOVE.

SO IT WAS AND IS ALL ABOUT POWER ....

May 2004 Issue 144

COVER STORY: Who needs Ashurst

Fried Frank's Valerie Ford Jacob embarks on some hastily revised London plans

JACOB PROFILE Jacob's ladder to Europe
Valerie Ford Jacob is indefatigable, a New York capital markets lawyer increasingly aware of her powers. As co-managing partner of Fried Frank and principal proponent of her firm's Ashurst merger talks, she could have withered with their collapse. Instead, she hired Ashurst's erstwhile managing partner, Justin Spendlove, and is asking him to create a European firm. Claire Smith can't fault her ambition

#307 - Thank you for that link to the short story.

The missing pieces are now fitting together ....

Well, what do we have here? Whatshisface name is getting all the piss for the ruthless and cutthroat actions taken against the loyal, dedicated and long-term employees at FF and everyone has more or less overlooked another ...

Why didn't FF give their employees advance notice? Why didnt they offer some the option of early retirement?

Has anyone done a count thus far of those laid off on August 18th? How many were near retirement age? How many were women? How many could have been offered early retirement? What was the ratio of ages?

Someone gave me some figures which are quite interesting to say the least.

NY laid off 18 -- ages 50 - 65; they laid off 25 -- ages 20 - 43. How many were women in those age groups?

DC laid off employees on NY's orders - 9 laid off - ages 58 - 72; they were all women; 5 laid off - ages 23 - 47; 2 if not 3 of the 5 were women.

Then there are more layoffs to come from the out-sourcing planned for the copy rooms and mail rooms.

Justin old chap, you are getting on the ball you actually announced the departure of yet another DC Partner before he walked out the door.

Not looking too good for FFDC with the Partners still walking out - wouldn't you agree, old chap? How many is the count up to? Why I think it is 7 in a little over two years now.

Sure hope you and whatsherfaces name aren't getting a complex over this thinking that maybe people in the public and staff are rather looking askance at you and wondering how FFDC could be going to hell in a hand basket over the past 4 years, when they've always had a great and solid reputation as a "Family Firm" and never a rumour of employees being laid off or Partners walking out !

#258 - Spendlove announced on Friday there would be no Christmas party this year! They are going to give the money to appropriate charities for the needy. Do hope he starts with FF laid off employee's list!

It was no surprise to DC staff when the email announcing the cancellation of the Xmas Party this year arrived from their highnesses - we all knew last year's party was the last one DC would be having.

What is an interesting note, their highnesses have yet to travel to DC to pay a visit to the FFDC office to receive their homage from the remaining staff, associates and partners since the massacre was carried out upon their order on August 18, 2008.

#313 - Maybe their Highnesses have some fears of suffering (figuratively) the same fates as King Charles I and/or King George III ...

There leaders in Power who are kind and benevolent and loved by the people and then there are those leaders who abuse their Power and in time will receive their just desserts ...

I don't think anyone is fooled by FF's tax-deductible opportunism. Just as the money spent on Xmas parties past was a typical corporate business expense, the current public display of donating the xmas-party budget is a cynical attempt at PR. What an incredible insult to the current staff by a firm that has just saved itself millions by terminating the accelerated pension contributions that it would have had to pay its laid-off, long-term workers who were nearing retirement.

Only a fool fools themselves and thus they fooled themselves thinking they can fool the public and staff. Of course, they saved themselves millions by terminating the accelerated pension contributions it owed the staff nearing retirement.

What some staff didn't realize was when they cut back on the leave policies and took leave away and instead put in that 10 week emergency leave for an employee in case of illness. My money has always been on that was put in there with the full knowledge they'd be laying off the staff within the next two years and would never have to pay it for older employees. Hello any out there who have lawyers - review that leave policy carefully!

What is a very sad commentary about FFNY - laid off staff is not suppose to talk disparagingly about FF! Yet, when it is all said and done and the truth is finally being told there is NOT one nice word can be said about the treatment of staff by FFNY while they were employed!

Those Ivory Tower arrogants could not resist that final kick in the teeth and opened Pandoras Box!

Dear 316, could you please elaborate on the 10-week emergency leave policy? I must have missed the memo, because I didn't know about the change in policy--or maybe I was on leave myself when the policy was changed. This information IS extremely significant, and I'd really appreciate it if you could please state clearly in as much detail as possible what the old and new leave policies were. Was the 10-week emergency leave a replacement for FMLA--the federally mandated unpaid 12-week leave that an employee can take either for himself or to care for another family member without loss of his job? Was the 10 week leave paid or unpaid time? What was it in particular that the firm didn't have to pay the employees it laid off.

Thank you, and I'd really appreciate having the information as soon as possible.

The 10 week leave was a special leave that would be credited to each employees account beginning of each year for them. If it was not used then it would be held and each year another 10 week added in. It was for use only by the employee all most like a 'bridge' between short term and long term medical leave. It was to be used for say a serious operation requiring more than 6 weeks leave for short term, cancer treatments, etc. -- don't equate it with the Federal manadated Famiy Medical Leave Act - as it was only to be used for the employee. And it was going to require approval by the insurance company, I believe, before it would be acceptable to invoke it. In putting that into place, they took away the many years of accruing sick leave and annual leave and carrryig them over from year to year. No longer would one receive so many hours of sick a pay period and so many hours of annual a pay period. Those who had hundreds and one or two thousands of leave accrued had to use them up and some I believe were paid for them. Those who had many hours left had so much time to use them up. But no more accruing leave and no more so-called sick days - only so many hours of annual a payday were given and could not be carried over. It caused quite an unrest amongst the employees. They were given only 3 days notice of the changes and a meeting was held. Now you might say that sounds great accruing 10 weeks for emergency long term sickness of any kind but the example given at the time was the employees were getting older and some serious illnesses had already occurred when that leave was not there to cover the bridge needed between short term and long term leave....now that 10 weeks was in lieu of leave taken away from being accrued each month and NOT payable if an employee left. Could NOT be used to care for a family member seriously ill either. So if not used another 10 weeks would be added each year BUT if not ever used would NOT be paid to the employee upon leaving.

So what did they give: 10 weeks leave each year to be used ONLY for serious illness approved for the leave to be used. BUT the example given was the employees were getting older and more illnesses might be cropping up. Who was laid off - long term employees in their 50's and 60's approaching retirement. And some of those employees had been seriously ill over the last prior years.

As for the employees thrown out after years of dedication and loyalty to FF, I was told it was timed prior to when FF would have had to make another payment to their pension fund and FF's payment to their 401(k) plan. Those older ones thrown out were thrown out before FF had to pay an even bigger payment to the pension fund on their behalf. They did not offer any of the older employees an option of taking an early retirement thus saving themselves many thousands of dollars.

#318 - Never heard of the leave you described. Was this in the NY office and how many years ago?

#318 - Never heard of the leave you described. Was this in the NY office and how many years ago?

#318 - Put into effect two years ago - presume in both DC and NY offices. You are/were an employee of FF?

Dear 318,

I'm the one who asked you for the detail, and thank you so, so much for the long answer. But I really don't know about this long-term leave you've mentioned. Or the meeting three days before the new policy went into effect. Was this in DC? In NY, the only paid combined sick/vacation time we were able to accrue was two weeks per year. If you hadn't taken these two (out of your total allotted) time for that year, you had until the end of March of the next year (three months) to either use it up or take it in pay.

Also, with long-term disability, I thought that the first week that an employee was out had to be paid out of the employee's accrued sick/vacation time (or not paid, if the employee didn't have a week of sick/vacation time at that point); and THEN disability insurance would kick in, at, I believe, 60% of salary. This is the only "bridge" that I knew about.

However, there was a change that I remember from a long, long time ago (about 15 years)--something about a sickness/disability "bank" that got changed from a more liberal to a cheaper policy. It had to do with how much time you could be out on a medical leave--as paid time. If I remember correctly, what changed was that previously you could have had, say, one medical issue and if it was medically necessary, you could be out for x number of months (the time may have been considered disability at 60% salary, or maybe it was at 100%, I just don't remember); then if later some other medical issue arose, you could be out on paid leave again if it was medically necessary. So you didn't exhaust the time--I think the amount of time you could be paid did depend on how long you'd been at FF.

At some point, that policy was done away with and replaced with the idea of a "bank" from which an employee could use up some finite amount of time, which would then deplete the bank.

I never heard anything about this much more complicated system you've mentioned whereby employees previously could accrue months and months of days that were, it appears, "rolled over" from one year to the next. Also, it sounds way, way more generous than anything in NY--was the plan unique to DC?

Most important of all, could you and other employees who were there at the time confirm that comment about the employees getting older, probably sicker (and, hey, MORE EXPENSIVE!). We need that evidence. I appreciate so much your involvement in our situation as a group, and I'll let you know as soon as I can what way we might be able to follow up and get in touch with each other.

Again, thank you SO much, and keep fighting.

One other thing--some of the other columns on ATL describe current associate layoffs ("stealth") layoffs going on now at FF--does anyone have any information?

Dear 318,

I'm the one who asked you for the detail, and thank you so, so much for the long answer. But I really don't know about this long-term leave you've mentioned. Or the meeting three days before the new policy went into effect. Was this in DC? In NY, the only paid combined sick/vacation time we were able to accrue was two weeks per year. If you hadn't taken these two (out of your total allotted) time for that year, you had until the end of March of the next year (three months) to either use it up or take it in pay.

Also, with long-term disability, I thought that the first week that an employee was out had to be paid out of the employee's accrued sick/vacation time (or not paid, if the employee didn't have a week of sick/vacation time at that point); and THEN disability insurance would kick in, at, I believe, 60% of salary. This is the only "bridge" that I knew about.

However, there was a change that I remember from a long, long time ago (about 15 years)--something about a sickness/disability "bank" that got changed from a more liberal to a cheaper policy. It had to do with how much time you could be out on a medical leave--as paid time. If I remember correctly, what changed was that previously you could have had, say, one medical issue and if it was medically necessary, you could be out for x number of months (the time may have been considered disability at 60% salary, or maybe it was at 100%, I just don't remember); then if later some other medical issue arose, you could be out on paid leave again if it was medically necessary. So you didn't exhaust the time--I think the amount of time you could be paid did depend on how long you'd been at FF.

At some point, that policy was done away with and replaced with the idea of a "bank" from which an employee could use up some finite amount of time, which would then deplete the bank.

I never heard anything about this much more complicated system you've mentioned whereby employees previously could accrue months and months of days that were, it appears, "rolled over" from one year to the next. Also, it sounds way, way more generous than anything in NY--was the plan unique to DC?

Most important of all, could you and other employees who were there at the time confirm that comment about the employees getting older, probably sicker (and, hey, MORE EXPENSIVE!). We need that evidence. I appreciate so much your involvement in our situation as a group, and I'll let you know as soon as I can what way we might be able to follow up and get in touch with each other.

Again, thank you SO much, and keep fighting.

One other thing--some of the other columns on ATL describe associate layoffs ("stealth layoffs") going on now at FF--does anyone have any information?

#323 - It guess it was 'unique' to DC. We were much on our own down there and with a reputation throughout DC as a very fine firm and we held our heads high in pride. When they brought their Messiah in four years ago up in NY things began to change very fast in DC. Nothing but downhill from that point on. Morale started falling, rumours abounding daily, people put in place from NY, managers from NY on egotistical 'highs' telling our managers what to do ... one could see the strain on our lawyers, partners started leaving, the staff was edgy, mistrust start setting in towards managers as rumours picked up. In my eyes the most despicable actions were when that self-serving pretentious speech was given to the staff in DC leading to believe they'd be part of a team as FF went on to further fame. And then when 'pasted on smile' and 'bow before me' started frequent visits to talk with lawyers further deceiving the staff with smiles and friendly hellos was beyond the pale when one realized and experienced their true intentions. Those two have yet to show their faces in the DC office since their plan and dastardly deed was carried out.

Yes, that was outright falsehood Jacob told no associates ever laid off. Been going on all the time. They freeze them out and it is very sad to watch it happen. Partners are given longer times to leave, those who have been given the word over the years they might want to look elsewhere. Of course FFNY will deny that also. But the ones who walked out in DC walked out on their own and many of us realized they knew something we didn't but we were fast catching on.

#323 - Yes I guess it was unique to DC but that order came down from FFNY and DC had to tell us. Yes with only 3 days notice and you can imagine the reaction by all the staff who were affected by it! Yes that was the example given about employees getting older. Please keep in mind from when the Messiah came in FFDC lost all control and were literally puppets on a string for FFNY! They took over everything and that is no exaggeration! Did everything but tell Managers when they could go to the restrooms! They put people in place at our offices and managers would come down weekly to survey their new 'domain' they were now in charge of. Talk about a morale killer and deliberate frankly.

Look above at what #310 wrote about with the ages laid off.

#323 and Others: Want a real eye-opener? Go back and review all the comments - how many now (counting duplicates) - 325!

I just did and I can't find one wrong word said against the FFDC in all the rants with the truth in them posted on here!

#326 - Correction to your tally of on-going publicity for FF - review all the 'lovely' postings on the article about the cancelled Xmas Party - 154 comments there and 326 on this site! Grand total of 480.

FF appears to be attempting to cut costs these days . One suggestion is they could cut out their PR/Marketing Department, as spendruck and jacob are doing quite well themselves getting publicity for FF via actions and announcements they are making these past few months.

#323 - Re further information on "stealth" associate layoffs go to the article printed on here referred to by #248 for more insight.

#326 and #327 - Wait a minute, you show 480 but one must not forget all the postings that refererenced FF from the article "Back to the Future: Stealth Layoffs in 1990, #328 referred to. That should take the total well over 500!

#327 - You are absolutely correct they sure don't need to be spending all that money for that Marketing/PR Department - their Press Releases they send out have never gotten FF this much publicity in a year least of all in 2 1/2 months!

Read the rumor where the bonuses for the support staff are going to be cut way back this year. No Xmas party, now bonuses being cut way back...wonder what sacrifices spendruck and jacob will be making for themselves and the Partners..

Bet the associates aren't feeling very warm and cozy these days. The old gal herself held a meeting with them when the massacre took place and assured them FF was in good stable financial shape; they had no fear as FF never laid off lawyers; support staff was laid off as it was not up to par with their peers at other firms ...

Wonders of wonders what did they find out, FF did indeed layoff lawyers in the past and present and was quite adept at freezing associates out; then the staff not being up to par with their peers at other firms, that turned out to mean that FF's software is so antiquated that other firms don't even use it; himself and herself announce no Xmas party this year but they'll make donations to the needy chartities. Let's see, there is going to be a cut back in staff bonuses; no Xmas party this year; oh yes, let's not forget they made a late switch from a lovely resort out West to New Jersey for the Partners annual retreat, where before no money was ever spared to keep them all comfy and happy while on their 'working' retreat; then not to mention 7 Partners thus far have left FFDC over the past year and a half; then was it 38 associates had left just from Nov. 2006 to Jan. 2008 in DC and who knows the count since then in both NY and DC; and wasn't it announced recently a layoff of associates in the Hong Kong office?

#310 - If you go back and review all the comments from the story about spendruck and jacob cancelling the Xmas Party and blowing hot air about giving money to charities instead, you'll note that one person pointed out they are saving millions by laying off the long-term employees when they did so they would not have to put accelerated payments into their pension plans. That explains why those near retirement were not offered early retirement.

What is tragic about all of this - not only were dedicated and loyal staff thrown out on the streets and their lives left in shambles but so was that fine reputation of FF and the long time lawyers who were known for their milk of human kindness and loyalty and appreciation for their staff. That fine reputation was built by its Founders with pride and carried on through the years.

Those who became obsessed with Power and Greed and sold out loyalty and dedication have to have their heads where the sun doesn't shine if they think what happened to and at FF hasn't travelled wide and far and even across the Pond. One doesn't have to worry about staff speaking disparagingly about FF, the actions alone those at FF took says it all without any need of input from those employees who lives were destroyed.

August 18, 2008 is a day that will forever stay in the history of FF and can never be swept under the rug.

#323 - If you are still watching this site an agency contacted me for information and then gave me another number to call and talk with them, also. I explained to them that those of us who had signed the severance agreement could not turn around and sue but they could not stop us from talking with any Govt. agency or lawyer who contacted us.

Dear #333,

Thank you so much. How can I get in touch with this agency? I don't want to go into detail here, but I think it might still be possible to sue even for those who signed.

#323

#323 - EEOC

The Department of Labor governs the Federal Family Medical Leave Act and the American Disabilities Act.

#334 - I believe in the Severance Agreement it is mentioned that one can file a complaint with the EEOC but may not collect monetary damages if the severance has been signed. You may want to check the agreement to see if that is correct. Further, two separate medical doctors have said that anyone over 55 and above has to have signed that agreement under duress and extreme stress no matter how long FF made them wait, under Federal law, to sign it.

#337 - That is very true about the physical and psychological effect on older people laid off. Point in fact, hasn't one already had a stroke? Health insurance has already ceased for many and end of November FF will have more money to put in their pockets as COBRA payments will have ceased for all remaining laid-off thrown aside ex-employees. In some statements made at the time of the lay-offs FF had that in the planning for two years - deliberate acts without a care of the extreme physical and emotional stress they'd be subjecting the older employees to upon lay-off. Maybe they can explain that to the Court. No doubt in my mind that many are going after them whether they signed the agreement or not. As one said to me they are giving their money back and telling whatstheirfaces names where to put it and will see them court.

Dear 335, Thank you so much for the contact info. And, 337, what are the implications of the doctors' opinions? That the severance agreement is not valid? Please explain if you can in detail.

Thank you both, I really appreciate your valuable contributions.