Associate Bonus Watch 2008, Bonuses, Money

Associate Bonus Watch: Orrick Stands Behind Bonus Structure

By Elie Mystal

When we kicked off our associate bonus speculation, we mentioned that Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe had already locked themselves into a 2008 bonus structure. We wondered if Orrick might rethink their bonuses in light of the current state of the economy. Morgan Lewis has already announced that they will not be making bonus decisions until […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 10.31.08

By Elie Mystal

* Wendy Savage (pictured) is turning into Boston’s version of Joe the Plumber. [f/k/a] * Samuel “Pyro” Pontier has finally been disbarred. [Legal Blog Watch] * The law lags behind science. Especially weird science. [Drug and Device Law] * Sarah Palin is sure the First Amendment applies to her. She’s not so sure about whether […]

Dissolution, Thelen Reid & Priest

Thelen Dissolution Committee Revealed

By Elie Mystal

The Recorder has published the people who will be in charge of winding down operations at Thelen: The three members of Thelen’s dissolution committee are David Graybeal, Douglas Davidson and Thomas Hill. The firm has also hired as outside counsel Peter Gilhuly, the Latham & Watkins bankruptcy partner who advised Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison on […]

Law Firm Mergers, Powell Goldstein

Update: Powell Goldstein’s Internal Response to Bryan Cave Acquisition

By Elie Mystal

We reported earlier that Powell Goldstein is set to be acquired by Bryan Cave. We’ve been told to expect an official announcement from Bryan Cave on Monday. PoGo has still not directly responded to ATL about the rumors that a number of associates, staff, and partners could be on their way out of the door. […]

Associate Advice, Racism, Rank Stupidity, Rudeness, Sexism, Summer Associates

How To Get Fired (or Asked To Resign) from Sullivan & Cromwell (Part 2)

By Marin

Yesterday we introduced you to DB (not his real name — please keep it that way), formerly an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell. At S&C, and in law school before that, DB became notorious for bragging about his wealth and making politically incorrect remarks. We collected some of his impolitic quips in our prior post, […]

Job Searches, Law Schools

University of Buffalo Law School Students Try To Learn A Trade

By Elie Mystal

Instead of adding to the drumbeat of bad news, the University of Buffalo Law School has taken a novel approach to navigating the current economic climate. A UB student tipster reports: Job prospects at the University of Buffalo School of Law are so BAD that the CSO has given up hope! Instead of looking for […]

Books, Career Alternatives

Career Alternatives for Attorneys: Writer / Author

By Kashmir Hill

Earlier this year, we presented a series of threads on career alternatives for attorneys. As it turns out, there are things you can do with a law degree other than working for a large law firm — and now that large law firms are laying off lawyers and even dissolving, now is a good time […]

Law Firm Mergers, Powell Goldstein

Bryan Cave to Acquire Powell Goldstein

By Elie Mystal

Heller Ehrman and Thelen dissolved after big time mergers fell through. While our readers have been speculating on the next capitulation to the financial crisis, it seems that Powell Goldstein has narrowly avoided a full scale dissolution thanks to Bryan Cave. A tipster reports: Powell Goldstein, which has been an prominent firm in Atlanta since […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket 10.31.08

By Kashmir Hill

* Texan Toxic Tort attorney Fred Baron has died. His profile went national this year due to his support for John Edwards (and his mistress) and his campaign to secure an experimental drug to treat his cancer. [Dallas Morning News] * New York AG Andrew Cuomo is on the case of big executive bonuses in […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 10.30.08

By Elie Mystal

* Given the economy, it might be a good time to pull a Rip Van Winkle. [Corporette] * Barack and Michelle Obama have incomplete lawyer profiles. Is a new attack ad in the making? [Legal Blog Watch] * Law Professors who rule the blogosphere. [TaxProf Blog] * Milberg Weiss hires a ringer to win a […]

Holidays and Seasons, Layoffs, Parties, Secretaries / Administrative Assistants

DLA Piper Chicago Cancels Christmas/Staffers

By Elie Mystal

In what could be a trend, DLA Piper has canceled the holiday party for their Chicago office. The move is similar to Fried Frank’s decision to scrap their holiday festivities, but there is no indication on whether DLA intends to donate any of their party money to charity (as Fried Frank did). Spokespeople for DLA […]

Associate Advice, Racism, Rank Stupidity, Rudeness, Sexism, Summer Associates

How To Get Fired from Sullivan & Cromwell (Part 1)

By David Lat

Ah, Sullivan & Cromwell. It’s a top law firm — not just in prestige and profits, but also blog fodder. See, e.g., Carlos Spinelli-Noseda (partner who defrauded firm and clients of half a million dollars through expense fraud); Aaron Charney (associate who sued the firm for antigay discrimination, while still employed there). When people leave […]

Layoffs

Nationwide Layoff Watch: Bell Boyd Confirms Layoffs

By Elie Mystal

Bell Boyd & Lloyd managing partner Nancy Bertoglio has confirmed the layoffs we reported earlier today. She stated that 10 associates were laid off today: Like many firms, Bell Boyd is facing unprecedented market conditions and we are taking measures to ensure the firm’s efficient operation and growth. Today regrettably, Management, in individual meetings with […]

Heller Ehrman, Musical Chairs

Dechert Picks Up An Interesting Piece From Heller

By Elie Mystal

Dechert has just announced the hiring of former Heller chairman Matt Larrabee. His official partnership with Dechert is thought to be a mere formality. From Dechert’s press release: “Matt’s experience is unusually diverse, with each of his practice areas intersecting with a number of Dechert’s core litigation practices: class action defense, antitrust, fraud claims, and […]

Layoffs

Nationwide Layoff Watch: Bell Tolls at Bell Boyd

By Elie Mystal

The Chicago market is really tough these days. In the past month, 21 associates lost their jobs with Katten, 25 associates were laid off from Sonneschein, and Jenner Block parted ways with 10 partners. A tipster tells us that Bell Boyd’s Chicago office could be the next firm to suffer the layoff bug: 18 fired […]

Email Scandals, Nauseating Things, Women's Issues

‘Prissy potty puddles’ on the Yale Law School list-serv

By Kashmir Hill

There are moments in life when one is confronted with the inconsideration of others and can be moved to despise one’s fellow man — e.g., when stepping in discarded bubble gum, or passing through an exhaled cloud of smoke while jogging. One Yale Law School student had a moment like this in the ladies’ restroom, […]

Cold Offers, Job Searches, Summer Associates, White & Case

Accept Your Offers Part 7:
White & Case v. Nervous T-10 1L?

By Elie Mystal

We’ve reported that firms with “oversubscribed” summer classes are calling up 2Ls and encouraging them to not accept their 2009 summer associate offers. Unlike Akin Gump’s move, the tactic is a clever dodge around the NALP guidelines. As we understand it, firms are not committing these “cold offers” to email, instead using the telephone and […]

Associate Bonus Watch 2008

Associate Bonus Watch: Morgan Lewis Pushes Back Bonus Decisions

By Elie Mystal

A central theme running through this week’s bonus speculation was that bonus decisions would be made much later this year than last year. As first reported here, Cravath kicked off the bonus season last year on October 29th, 2007. But in 2006, Milbank didn’t get the ball rolling until December 8th. The first solid information […]