First to say this is getting wilder by the day.

Wow - when it gets all the more real when you see the big firms starting to fall...

3rd?

It might make sense to speculate on the firms one believes will NOT be laying off in the next 6 months......

anyone?

Seems important to know what the "stealth layoff" numbers are, in addition to the 33 acknowledged by the firm. Any insiders have that number?

Props to Elie for getting it out first and working the sources.

Props to MB for not playing the douchery game and calling the layoffs for what they were...although I'm sure performance based reviews are considered a little differently when you know that you're about to have layoffs.

first to claim first

5, here is my list of firms I think are least likely to lay off associates.

1. WKLR
2. Cravath
3. Vinson & Elkins
4. Cleary
5. Davis Polk

10th

:'-(

Today is Biglaw's Black Thursday, a day that will forever live in infamy.

thank you for dinging me MB.

-CLS 2L Stud

I'll go with

Vinson and Elkins? Where did that come from?

WKLR, Cravath, Cleary, Davis Polk, Skadden

Elie handled this well. Didn't call it before it was confirmed. Got to the story before anyone else. Forced MB's hand to come public (though they might have anyway). Nice job Elie and best of luck to the newly laid off.

Jones Day will not lay people off.

I second that...please post about the firms Skadden, Watchell, etc..who more likely not have layoffs and why...that would be a great article to read on ATL..and it would put a spin on ALL the bad news we all read daily here..thanks.

>

THEN YOU'RE A BUNCH OF JERKS FOR LAYING PEOPLE OFF.

Elie, I am really starting to like your style. I was a pretty harsh critic of yours a couple of days ago but when you report on the law firms I think you do a very good job. It's just when you enter into politics that it starts going down hill. Nice work.

14, why is S&C more likely to have layoffs than Cleary, DP or Skadden?

9 is clearly a CLS 1L...wtf is WKLR?

CLS 2L Stud, really? You are a tool.

just out--Cravath pays half-bonus from last year (w/ no special bonus). this is the god's honest truth.

Class of 2008 -- $17,500 (pro-rated)
Class of 2007 -- $17,500
Class of 2006 -- $20,000
Class of 2005 -- $22,500
Class of 2004 -- $25,000
Class of 2003 -- $27,500
Class of 2002 -- $30,000
Class of 2001 -- $30,000

Has anyone heard of these firms revoking offers to incoming associates (3L's)???

12 - In a year nobody will remember

9, 14 -

What is WKLR? Is that a local broadcast television network?

- WLRK 4th year associate

WLRK, CSM, SC, DPW, STB, Weil, CGSH will all be fine.

At least 3 mid-levels in NY corporate were laid off prior to this (which was all mid-levels). At least 5 NY corporate juniors were laid off today.

What about Gibson Dunn, Covington and Burling, Arnold and Porter, Sidley, Kirkland? Any thoughts? Will they lay off?

try again 5. one of those firms already laid some people off... for performance, of course.

I'm going to ditto 14 and call shenanigans on 9. Vinson and Elkins? Trying to slip your own TTT firm into a list of otherwise excellent firms? Nice try bigshot, but your firm SUCKS.

Besides the usuals:
1. Quin
2. Latham
3. Schulte
4. A&P
5. Wilson Sonsini

This is really not that bad, when you consider MB's size and its exposure to the financial market meltdown. Absent some reason to believe that performance-related departures are any higher than normal, I'd say that this is far from evidence that MB is in any more trouble than any of its peer firms.

"This reduction does not include lawyers who were asked to leave this year through our performance review process. "

I suspect that number's pretty ugly.

Fried Frank axed 20 RE associates today. Black Thursday indeed...here comes the wave...

MB is not revoking offers to incoming associates.

Cleary has always done performance based layoffs so what would make it different this year?

Ellie should reach out to all v-100 firms and request info on whether they are planning layoffs and see if anyone bites.

Cravath announced 2 packs of newports and 2 40s as this years bonus. top billers are eligible for a carton upgrade and a choice of old gold, colt forty fizzle or king cobra. everyone else gets mickeys.

confirmation on fried frank?

no way on cravath bonuses

23 is full of it.

V&E won't lay off. I don't work there, but they're doing a hell of a lot better than most of our NYC firms right now. Talk your shit, but they'll be fine.

great idea 38---- Elie get on your job

HUGE ATTTLANTTTA LAYOFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other than the usual suspects already mentioned, I would be surprised if V&E lays off anybody. However, I have heard they they are going to have a pretty large SA class next summer. Don't know how that will play out.

41--i work here, it's the truth

12, you are the epitome of why CLS 2Ls will be uniformly despised by fellow SAs this summer at firms throughout the country.

Will everyone STFU about V&E? It's a mediocre firm. No amount of ATL trolling will change that.

Better to mention layoffs from performance reviews and not give the number or not to mention them at all?

41, I'm hearing reports of it as well now. Shocking to me that CSM would do this in light of Skadden.

-23

23 & 46: Liarface

Seriously Ellie, a lot of recently laid-off attorneys will not be finding new legal work for a couple years. I think it would be great to do a panel-type post about non-legal jobs an attorney can take that look less-bad on the resume for someone looking to return to the legal profession once we have a money-based economy again.

Any 3L with an offer from a firm who is laying off should be very worried. I knew incoming associates at Thelen and Heller, and there is no reason to doubt that it won't happen to you.

try again 9. one of those firms already laid some people off... for performance, of course.

CSM is also increasing the minimum billable hours requirement to 2,400.

Feel bad for the MB troll who's been posting non-stop for two days. His post finally arrived and, for the most part, people are applauding MB's candor.

23 isn't lying. i work at cravath. we are all in shock right now.

Layoffs at WILDMAN HARROLD - you heard it here FIRST!

I cant imagine what muni/fed tax receipts are going to be like in 6 months, this is the worst demand contraction in human history, we need Obama to charter every available 747, fill them with bills, and have them blanket every urban area with cash. Seriously, this is not a ludicrous idea.

Brilliant, 26.

Thanks for that.

41 & 51, prepare to eat crow.

Cavath to half-bonuses and layoffs!!! Perhaps it can wipe its ass with the bonus money it is saving this year.

Cravath rumoers are not true. New bonus levels are actually a bit higher - memo to follow.

55: There is no billable requirement at CSM. Can't increase something that doesn't exist.

53 should be fired for his use of double negatives. (Only a dude could be this retarded.)

41 & 51, prepare to eat crow.

Someone post the memo, whatever it says.

OK 44 - who are the Atlanta layoffs?

Only Elie can post the fucking memo.

Sounds like someone just took it in the Mayer Brownhole.

69:

someone could scan it upload it and post a link in 2 minutes (if it exists)

WKLR? Isn't that a 1970s TV show?

68 - you

Anyone want to hazard an over/under on the total # of attorney layoffs reported on ATL between tomorrow morning and Dec. 31?

I'll take 230.

guys.. elie.. please .. any news on fried frank.. so def. layoffs.. can you find out whats the damage though and is it over or still on going?

Fried Frank only has 40 or so RE associates and maybe 15 partners. cutting 20 RE associates would be deep indeed.

41

Eat a d*ck.

74 - are you setting that over/under? in that case I'll take a dime on over.

If 74 is setting that at under, I got five on it.

Due to hardened economic times Cravath announced that all associates will receive one voucher for one free awesome blossom from Chili's with the purchase of an entree!

If rumors of Cravath announcing are true post the actual memo!

I don't understand about Cravath bonuses. Are those the base bonus for reaching hours? Are there merit bonuses on top, or are there only lockstep bonuses? I thought there were merit bonuses on top.

FFHSJ laid off 5 real estate associates, but many others in other departments.

Instead of graduating from law school this year, can I have my tuition money back? And three years of my life. Is that an option?

V&E has laid associates off before without catching much flak.

45-
Tell me what you've heard about large V&E summer classes (i.e., what offices, what kind of numbers, etc.).

29 -- GDC won't be laying people off. It's small and isn't tied to corporate for its revenues.

39-that made me laugh. And I needed a laugh.

V&E did it before and didn't catch much flak.

The Cravath stuff seems true. Check the main page of this blog for the newest post.

I heard ~50 associates total. NY and Chicago.

I'll put a bill on the over on 74's line, as long as Elie keeps doing his job and posts them all.

Elie, has Fried Frank really laid people off?

Bad, bad Mayer Brown
The baddest firm in the whole damn town (except for, you know, all those other TTTs like Cravath and CWT)

again.. what is TTT

so what is the story with Fried Frank. Can someone shed some light?

so what is the story with Fried Frank. Can someone shed some light?

You people are pathetic. You claim to work at “good” firms and rip any firm you feel is below yours. I know it’s difficult to find information about layoffs, but the “good” firms are the ones laying people off. You bash V&E. Yet, in May he/she will still have a job. Your “good” firm will have tossed you months earlier.

so what is the story with Fried Frank. Can someone shed some light?

Stealth layoffs have begun at Schulte. Two real estate midlevels were fired yesterday. The structured products group is already dead, but most juniors were shifted into other departments.

Jones Day will not lay anyone off. People trash the firm when bonuses are announced, but they are a conservatively managed firm with almost V&E-like leverage.

Can we get a chart summary of what firms have done layoffs, and how many each? And, if known, what years associates were? Thanks.

Is that true about Fried Frank?

Go Elie!

But what's the deal with refco

27 you forgot SASMF

Mayer laid off associates nation wide in large part because partners are fleeing like crazy.

Im pretty sure the final number laid off at FF today will be 3% of the firm's 650 total attorneys; ie 20 attys.
3% is the "market rate" for percentage of layoffs. At least for this round.

107, FF has already laid off 15 associates by my count (9 in coporate, 6 in RE), and multiple sources have indicated today was only Day I. so looks like FF will be above the "market rate" for the first time. so much for always being a follower.

as i side note, what a despicable thing to do to associates in dragging out layoffs over 2 days.

How about a post on the number of women associates who are getting pregnant to avoid being laid off? Believe me, it's happening.

does anyone have a count on which offices the associates were let go from?

I'm at MB and can't really confirm, but what I've heard, fwiw (which could be nothing), is total # is 150, i.e. ~ 10%, firmwide.

The 33 layoffs are in U.S. offices only. I think there have been layoffs overseas as well.

Is that where the 150 comes from?

Probably some overseas, but also some performance-based ones in US offices, a number MB hasn't disclosed.

111 -- I've heard the same re total number of MB layoffs.

111 -- I've heard the same re total number of MB layoffs.

Friend of mine was axed at Fried Frank today.

MB has been in dire straights for awhile. Blaiming associates for the firm's failure to secure and retain business is shameful but typical of the "let's pin our failure on everyone but our own inability to get enough business" management style of the likes of the firm's frightening leaders: Holzhauer and deHoyos.

First came the partners, now it's the associates...Pretty soon there won't be many left to blame.

MB has been in dire straights for awhile. Blaiming associates for the firm's failure to secure and retain business is shameful but typical of the "let's pin our failure on everyone but our own inability to get enough business" management style of the likes of the firm's frightening leaders: Holzhauer and deHoyos.

First came the partners, now it's the associates...Pretty soon there won't be many left to blame.

MB has been in dire straights for awhile. Blaiming associates for the firm's failure to secure and retain business is shameful but typical of the "let's pin our failure on everyone but our own inability to get enough business" management style of the likes of the firm's frightening leaders: Holzhauer and deHoyos.

First came the partners, now it's the associates...Pretty soon there won't be many left to blame.

Please dig into Fried Frank layoffs, Ellie.

The MB bosses are a bunch of beancounters, NOT rainmakers. They couldn't find new business with both hands and a roadmap - much less hang onto it. The Chicago office is doomed unless it changes management , and what few profitable branch office the firm has (DC?) will probably soon be reaffiliating with real firms. Stay tuned...

Does anyone know if any partners were terminated today at MB in addition to the associates?

Does anyone know if any partners were terminated today at MB in addition to the associates?

is it accurate to say DC firms haven't been hit as hard? this really is going to get worse, and probably will see more repeat lay offs into next year.

V&E? Isn't Baker Botts the Texas king?

V&E? Isn't Baker Botts the Texas king?

108, are the Fried Frank layoffs effective immediately? if they are "performance related," very possible more than 15 have been laid off. Not everyone wants to admit getting a stealth layoff.

108, are the Fried Frank layoffs effective immediately? if they are "performance related," very possible more than 15 have been laid off. Not everyone wants to admit getting a stealth layoff.

Spoke to a friend at FF. Word is it was not pretty with many people getting wacked but no confirmation on number. consistent with what's been posted, tomorrow, the carnage is to continue. friend said people are totally spooked.

ATL is now irrelevent. QUESTION: why are you not working on your careers instead of browsing this site. Things are bad out there. Really, really bad. Good luck to you all.

Yes. Law students need to get their heads in the game. We're charting new waters.

It's more than 33 lawyers. There are also 11 in their London office that are going....

http://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1183093/11+City+jobs+under+threat+in+Mayer+Brown+cuts.html

ELIE, follow up on FRIED FRANK PLEASE

ELIE, follow up on FRIED FRANK PLEASE

ELIE, follow up on FRIED FRANK PLEASE

Their website says they have 191 lawyers in NY (including about 10 partners (Fahner, Maher, Malkin, etc) who don't actually work in NY. I wonder how many they'll have by March?

3Ls with offers af Fried Frank would really like an update.

MB = basically, as acknowledged by management here, 33 layoffs due to the economic situation. As for the others let go for "performance related" reasons, it's about the same number (actually a few more), also in the US alone. No idea about non-US. Word is that income partners are going to be looked at next. Wouldn't want to be someone coming up to the 4-5 year mark as income partner (5 year up-or-out model) this year or in 2009. Good luck, all.

MOAR about Fired Frank

V&E has laid off associates before without getting much flak.

MB did indeed let some "counsel" or "senior counsel" go yesterday.

I heard some SA's at MB are getting the axe as well. Should have went with KE!

Boo hoo. I'm scared of getting laid off because I've spent all my time in a big firm and don't have any skills to show for it. Go learn to be a real lawyer.

I've heard the FF layoffs are performance related. And that it was thus far limited to RE, and a few associates in other groups that received poor reviews.

MB's DC office -- the profitable one -- should shed the albatross. chicago is just a drag.

V&E has definitely become the Texas king recently. Baker Botts is the former king.

MB's DC office blows. Look at the laterals they've hired. Ex-govt. lawyers who have no business to bring and nothing to show. Any decent business toting lawyer left long, long ago, even the best part of the China practice.

the final numbers were 33 in both the US and the UK (the 11 from the UK are included in the 33), and was a mix of associates, counsel, and a few income partners. 55 staff (mostly secretaries) were also let go.

And MB's DC office is not "the profitable one". Chicago hasn't been a drag on the bottom line in quite a while, notwithstanding the lower billing rates.

What is Mayer Brown providing in severance? I heard some firms are offering five months.

If you recall MB axed 42 partners in 2007 and then asked secretaries to take an incentive package and get out of Dodge...then long time employees were "retiring" or going elsewhere...after the move to expensive new offices and the new triumvirate of managers...MB has always been out of touch with reality in relation to being a decent, well run business---greed, greed, greed...blind in their ivory towers. Backstabbing loyal employees and doublespeak was always the name of the game there...a good EEOC case should put them to rest

If you recall MB axed 42 partners in 2007 and then asked secretaries to take an incentive package and get out of Dodge...then long time employees were "retiring" or going elsewhere...after the move to expensive new offices and the new triumvirate of managers...MB has always been out of touch with reality in relation to being a decent, well run business---greed, greed, greed...blind in their ivory towers. Backstabbing loyal employees and doublespeak was always the name of the game there...a good EEOC case should put them to rest

150/151, you say "MB has always been out of touch with reality in relation to being a decent, well run business"...well, the partner firings and the most recent moves are doing what makes business sense. Those 42 partners were holdovers from a bygone era and didn't have the business to cut it. MB should have been better about trimming the fat year in and year out, but they didn't. They finally woke up and saw the problem and corrected it. That is a good business move. As far as the secretaries, MB is ahead of many of its competitors that still insist on a 2:1 or 3:1 secretary:attorney ratio. Most younger attorneys do not use their secretaries as much as they have been in the past, so a new layer of fat has been created that wasn't there previously. As a result, MB is making adjustments to the secretarial model to increase efficiency. Again, this is good business sense. Finally, MB is notoriously conservative when it comes to financial management, and it would rather cut expenses than borrow money. This puts it ahead of many of its peers. There are plenty of reasons to fault MB (and even its business sense). But the moves you mention are not any of those reasons.

149 - the package is a "soft" 3 months for associates and 6 months for counsel/income partners.

MB has never run their business well. Just like letting go of people is not proof positive that a company runs its business poorly, letting go of people definitely does not constitute proof of running a business well. MB does not run its business well because they do have a good method of management of clients, partners or staff. Clients complain about MB's lack of follow-up and ethics. The partners fight among themselves over clients instead of working together to achieve the end goal. Partners have spoken publicly about the poor management of the Charlotte office. What MB is notoriously conservative about is not financial management, unless you consider it financial management when senior partners fail to approve profit pay outs to other partners so the senior partners can manage their own financial affairs. BTW I am not a junior partner.

27 - not true on SASMF. Layoffs begin in January.