Add RSS RSS

Nationwide No Offer Watch: Buchanan Ingersoll

Thursday, September 4, 2008 2:36 PM - By Elie Mystal

bic layoffs no offers.jpgWhile we continue to pester firms about no offer information, it appears that one firm dipped significantly below the 90% threshold for summer associate offers, at least in the New York office.

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney is another firm that has reported an oversubscribed summer associate class. That said, Buchanan Ingersoll spokesperson Lori Lecker reports that the summers were at least busy:

[W]e had more than enough work to keep all of our summer associates busy throughout the course of the program, and we received positive feedback from the class on the quality of work. We generated over 300 projects for our summers to work on this year.

Most firms don’t bother to tout how much work their summer class had, but Buchanan is fighting specific reports that attorneys are struggling to make their billables firmwide. Just two weeks ago it was reported that barely a quarter of the firms 500 lawyers were on target, and that average associate hours had fallen below 1,650.

So the summers had work, but did they get jobs? More on that after the jump.

The firm extended offers to 13 summer associates overall. But in New York, only one out of five summers received an offer. Lecker characterized the sole offer as entirely consistent with what the Pittsburgh-based firm has done in the past.

Summers are not the only Buchanan people feeling a pinch. It’s been widely reported that Buchanan has recently lost 35 attorneys.

We had received tips that more partners left this week, but Lecker denied further defections. “We lost no shareholders this week in any of our offices,” she said.

While the firm maintains its commitment to growing in legal markets like New York and DC, the firm’s recent struggles have more to do with decisions made outside of the northeast corridor. According to the Legal Times:

Unlike rival Pittsburgh firms Reed Smith and K&L Gates, the firm didn’t trim its Pennsylvania growth in its push for a national presence. Instead, it merged with 120-lawyer Klett Rooney to dominate the Pennsylvania market and give itself the financial base to expand.

Remember not to judge an entire firm based on one office. But remember which offices traditionally hire only one summer per class.

Economy, Exits Hurt Buchanan Ingersoll [Law.com]

Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of no offers

(77) Comments
Posted in: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, No Offers, Summer Associates

Comments

Comments hidden for your protection. Show them anyway!

Post Your Comment