AND SECOND!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha. "shopping holiday shopping."

"Locke Lord no-offered more than half of their summer associates."

Yee ha! That's Texas justice!

I suppose IP boutiques are a dying breed. Which one is next?

Still odd, you'd figure a firm that does only IP would be going pretty good right now. No corporate dept. that they would have to carry....

This is doomed. Morgan has been the living dead in the Ip field for over a year. The fact that their only option is Lord locke (or whatever you call it) shows how litle is left. No GP firm in New York would apparently touch them. Ouch.

care?

care?

Lord Cock is a 'Texas powerhouse'?

Morgan has been in dire straits for a while. Several partners (with large books) have left the firm, and its reliable clients have made an exodus for the greener pastures of GP firms. Not sure what LL is thinking, but I wouldn’t touch these guys with a 10 foot pole. Finnegan and Fish are the only true IP boutique players out there.

10 - you're making me laugh!

Have to agree with 11. But, not like LL is an IP giant either...

Maybe they'll hire Jeremy Pitcock back.

Come on. Let's keep ATL for biglaw comments. These no nothing firms just waste my time.

Come on. Let's keep ATL for biglaw comments. These no nothing firms just waste my time.

What's the deal with Texas firms acquiring NY IP boutiques? Isn't Baker Botts' NY office mostly some IP boutique that they ate up?

What do the other IP shops look like, financially? It seems like a strong IP shop could fetch a pretty high price these days for a sagging GP firm looking to get a quick boost. Or do firms only merge when they are both about to fail?

16 - the latter. why would any boutique with good financials want to be acquired by a gp firm that imposing restrictions, etc. on the partners. plus, if the boutique has good financials, other than cross selling, what is the advantage.

http://www.pitcocklawgroup.com/

Who?

What ever happened to S.Pitcock's lawsuit against Kasowitz Benson?

More about the latham salary freeze and how latham is the worst. firm. ever. period.

creating a bigger better toilet. long live the TTT.

Yup, pretty sure associates at the ever so prestigious Locke Lorde and Morgan & Finnegan haven't had their salaries frozen. Which leads me to conclude that prestige is stupid, at least when it comes to business. Money talks and prestige sits around collecting a frozen paycheck.

What's a V&E?

..anybody for a Texas-sized mustache ride?

Keep an eye on Darby & Darby

Pay Freeze List of Shame
-----------------------------------
Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins
McDermott Will & Emery
Bryan Cave
Womble Carlyle
Venable
Squire Sanders

Everyone Else
---------------------
Orrick
Skadden
Cravath
Simpson
Davis Polk
Cleary
Dewey
Milbank
Clifford Chance
Willkie
Boies Schiller
White & Case
Paul Weiss
Schulte Roth
Debevoise
Ropes & Gray
Fried Frank
Allen & Overy
Gibson Dunn
O'Melveny
Wachtell
Cadwalader
Sullivan & Cromwell
Sidley
Quinn
Hogan & Hartson
Weil
Dechert
Kirkland
Jones Day
Proskaur
Mayer Brown
Munger

Lock One, Lock Two, Lock Three, Locke Lord...

Law Students Deciding Between Locke and Latham Would Have a Tough Call

What, oh what is a Cock Lord?

Man bludgeoned to death on Christmas Day by illegal alien. Mainstream media fails to notice; too focused on death of Latino in N.Y. four weeks ago. MALDEF-LaRAZA-LULAC-AILA only calling for re-education of Americans and hate crime laws to protect immigrants; same groups continue to push for open-borders and immigration anarchy despite deaths of more Americans. A dead American doesn't bother these groups.

http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/501516.html

Fuck you, 31.

If it weren't illegal immigrants, no one would do the shitty, low paying jobs no Americans would ever take. Like being an associate at Latham.

Wastin' away again in low-pay Lathamville

Lookin' for my lost associate pay

Some people say that there's a recession to blame

But I know, its the partnership's fault

32 is probably a student at WCL. "Washington College of Law at American University."

WCL is ground zero for illegal immigranTTT supporters. When they're not busy trying to get library head.

Next stop for 32: competing with his 400 classmates for 10 openings at legal aid.

Any inside info on Kenyon & Kenyon? I hear they've been strong since the layoffs 2 years ago.

-1L future IP litigator

M&F cannot even pay for the lease and license renewals for 2009. The ship will fall soon or drag someone with it...

M&F cannot even pay for the lease and license renewals for 2009. The ship will fall soon or drag someone with it...

M&F cannot even pay for the lease and license renewals for 2009. The ship will fall soon or drag someone with it...

M&F cannot even pay for the lease and license renewals for 2009. The ship will fall soon or drag someone with it...

Locke Lord Whatever is a second rate shot. Check out the fool who they hired to run their DC office.

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Litigation Release No. 20152 / June 13, 2007
SEC v. David A. Schwinger, C.A. No. 1:07-CV-01047 (D.D.C.) (RMC)
SEC Files Settled Insider Trading Charges Against Former Managing Partner of National Law Firm's Washington, D.C. Office
The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed a settled civil injunctive action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against David A. Schwinger, an attorney and former managing partner of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP's (KMR) Washington, D.C. office. Schwinger was charged with engaging in illegal insider trading by purchasing shares of Vastera, Inc. (Vastera), a Virginia-based company assisting businesses in tracking information about international shipments, in violation of the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Without admitting or denying the allegations in the Commission's complaint, Schwinger has agreed to settle this matter by consenting to the entry of a final judgment against him which imposes injunctive and monetary relief.

The complaint alleges that Schwinger purchased Vastera common stock on November 5, 2004, on the basis of material, nonpublic information that an acquisition of Vastera was imminent. The complaint further alleges that Schwinger learned of the impending merger while interviewing Vastera's Chief Counsel, who was then seeking to be hired by KMR as a partner. In responding to Schwinger's inquiries during the interview process about the Chief Counsel's reasons for leaving Vastera, the Chief Counsel allegedly disclosed to Schwinger no later than October 27, 2004 that Vastera's acquisition was imminent. On the basis of that material, nonpublic information, the complaint alleges that Schwinger purchased 10,000 shares of Vastera common stock on November 5, 2004 at an average price of $1.70 per share. The complaint further alleges that Schwinger knew that Vastera was a KMR client at the time of the purchase.

According to the complaint, Vastera announced on January 7, 2005 that it was being acquired by JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. Vastera's share price, which had closed at $2.00 on January 6, rose 50% to $3 a share by the close of the market on January 7 on approximately four times the historical average daily trading volume.

The complaint alleges that Schwinger knew, or was reckless in not knowing, that he purchased Vastera shares based on material, nonpublic information obtained during the interview process and in breach of a fiduciary duty owed to his firm, KMR. Schwinger is alleged to have imputed profits of $13,027. Based on the facts alleged, the Commission charged Schwinger with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.

Without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, Schwinger has consented to the entry of a final judgment that: (i) permanently enjoins him from violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder; (ii) requires him to disgorge $13,027 in illicit gains and $1,940 in prejudgment interest thereon; and (iii) orders him to pay a civil penalty of $26,054.

The Commission acknowledges the assistance of the National Association of Securities Dealers in this matter.

SEC Complaint in this matter

http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2007/lr20152.htm

35 - wondering the same thing. I knew a few 3Ls who summered there and apparently everyone got offers, and the firm was pretty busy. Doubt they know anything about how the firm is doing right now though.

34 is probably a student at pig-fucker university. Next stop, competing with 400 students to get a job FUCKING PIGS.

35-k & k can't shed the losers who are senior, don't/can't move to litigation and so only churn prosecutions, and don't bring in any business. k & k needs to lay off these losers, but doesn't want to risk the rumors of its imminent demise, the way it did in 2007. question is: will k & k have the balls to get rid of the dead weight before it goes down? and do you want to risk it?

Everyone knows Locke Lord is a joke. No one really pays attention to them anyway. Why else would they hire some freak from SMU in their Houston office.

Terrible.

V&E4Y

Everyone knows Locke Lord is a joke. No one really pays attention to them anyway. Why else would they hire some freak from SMU in their Houston office.

Terrible.

V&E4Y

Are Latham associates ready for 2009?

Exclusing first years, whose salaries are impossible to freeze, Latham associates will be paid on average over $17,000 less in 2009 than their peers at other firms.

Latham 2nd Year: $10,000 less than peers
Latham 3rd Year: $15,000 less than peers
Latham 4th Year: $25,000 less than peers
Latham 5th Year: $20,000 less than peers
Latham 6th Year: $20,000 less than peers
Latham 7th Year: $15,000 less than peers
Latham 8th Year: $15,000 less than peers

Average=$17,142 less than peers

Hardest hit are mid-level associates in the 4th-6th years. In fact, a fourth year associate at Latham in 2009 will now make $5,000 less per year than he or she would have before the latest pay increases went into effect in 2007.

So, for those of you who have a job in 2009, first be thankful that you aren't laid off (yet); and second, be thankful that you aren't an associate at Latham.

Morgan lost a more than 100 million $ jury verdict to Latham last year. How do you like them apples?

Locke Lord = where SMU's go to die!!!!!!

Ahah

so 42 / 32 is a student at WCL. "Washington College of Law at American University"

Sounds like he was unsuccesful in his attempt to get library head.

So he's going to pay $ 150 k in tuition, and graduate with no head and no job.

Sucks to have gone to such a TTT, no ?

Ahah

so 42 / 32 is a student at WCL. "Washington College of Law at American University"

Sounds like he was unsuccesful in his attempt to get library head.

So he's going to pay $ 150 k in tuition, and graduate with no head and no job.

Sucks to have gone to such a TTT, no ?

SMU SMU, what cha gunna do with a guy named Mathan Done?

Nobody with a chance at any other V20 firm should accept an offer with Latham for the next 10 years.

LOL @ 52. People said the same thing last year about OMM.

It's kind of hilarious that every post on this site now becomes about the Latham pay freeze. Is this really that big of a deal? Seriously, who cares? In the long run, it was probably a smart move by Latham as the country plunges head first into Great Depression 2.0.

Dear Latham whiners,

This is what a Latham partner would say to you if you actually had the balls to confront them directly instead of bitching anonymously over the Internet:
"If you don't like the pay, then leave. We need to get attrition back to historical levels. Only those of you not on partnership track are seriously contemplating leaving anyway. And don't let the door hit your whiny ass on the way out."

big tex-oilcrashpwn3d-firm? or powerhouse?

you decide

Only a SMU would work at Cocke Lord Houston.

That place is a dumping ground for has beens and SMU chum.

Only a SMU would work at Cocke Lord Houston.

That place is a dumping ground for has beens and SMU chum.

SMU SMU, what cha gunna do with a guy named Mathan Done?

SMU SMU, what cha gunna do with a guy named Mathan Done?

Merger that has to happen
Duane Morris + Reed Smith = Duane Reed
hahahahahaha

For cat pictures fans check out lolfed.com (via nytimes)

DLA Piper doing stealth layoffs in NY. 5 associates in litigation let go on Friday with the likelihood of more cuts to follow this week.

SMU SMU SMU are you?
SMU SMU SMU are you?
You are a SMU who works at Cocke Lord Houston, thats who......!!!

Locke Lord, where SMU's go to die...

35: go to jones day, ip boutiques are a creature of the past. K &K are a sinking ship as well.

35: K&K is strong, despite what the other commentators say. Everyone is very busy, most associates hit their hours this year.

The problem is that it's just too hard to extract a profit from a pure prosecutor who's getting paid 160k. PPP should be a welcome surprise this year at K&K.

If you want a boutique, also take a look at Fitzpatrick Cella. Darby has been in bad shape since Fehlner left for Baker Botts, they are probably the next to go.

Generally, the GP firms treat their IP people like shit, just don't go to a crappy boutique (Darby, Morgan) and you'll be fine. Kenyon is one of the good ones now, if they didn't go down a couple of years ago they won't go down now.

Kenyon is awful. They will be gone in 2009. They lose more and more litigation work each year. The prosecution, they make no money doing. They are a nobody in NY. Dont go there if you have any choice.

I agree. Kenyon is done. It is a has been.

I second 63 - DLA piper is canning associates big time...

35 - check out the commenter on greedy associates. one unhappy laid off camper.

Second 68 and 67.

*farts*

*shits*

aww yeah

55, you're a jackass and a complete fucking idiot.

The pay freeze will go down in history as the single worst decision Latham has ever made, and if your stated rationale is in fact Latham's rationale, it will prove entirely counterproductive.

If they want to push people out, there are a number of alternatives: fire them, lay them off, tell them they should start looking for work elsewhere, don't give them bonuses, etc. Importantly, these are all targeted approaches that do not indiscriminately punish valued associates (stars, high billers, experienced associates in busy practice areas, etc.). That is exactly what the pay freeze does.

Here's what's going to happen:

- Latham will lose valued associates who are still a bit too junior (4-6th years) to know for sure (or think they know for sure) whether they are on the partnership track.

- Latham's ability to recruit top law students and lateral associates will be destroyed. No one will choose Latham over a firm that pays market.

- The "dead weight" that Latham is trying to force out will stick around. They likely have few options and are probably hoping that the pay freeze will buy them some time.

- Latham will set new records for horrendous associate morale (shattering records previously held by Cahill and Cads), and their associates will destroy them in all the surveys (Vault, AmLaw, etc.).

- Clients will question why the pay freeze has not translated into a billing rate freeze.

IN SUM, THE PAY FREEZE HAS SOWN THE SEEDS OF LATHAM'S FALL FROM THE TOP TIER. LATHAM IS NOW OFFICIALLY A TTT.

To those oh so cool members of the classes of '07 and '08 who went to Latham because "it's just different there--it's better for us because we're not like you sheep," I have only one thing to say:

HA HA!

72 - if you are a 4th year (much less a 6th year) and do not know you are on track for partnership, you are not on track.

Good luck dumbass...Latham will be able to attract those who matter (partners with book, not summer associates) with this excellent plan to get thru the Depression version 2.0.

NO MORE LATHAM POSTS.

74, a 4th-6th year who "knows" he or she is on the partnership track, is as arrogant as he or she is stupid. There are so many intangibles, most of which are outside of one's control. Just ask any of the amazing M&A/cap markets associates who were passed over this year. Besides, if they believe they are that good, why not go be on the partnership track somewhere else and make more money in the meantime? Sounds like you're just the dead weight hoping the pay freeze will help you get through the "Depression version 2.0."

76 is clearly a top shelf legal mind..."deadweight" typically defends rainmakers of course.

You're "on track" 76 - don't let anyone tell you otherwise SONNNNNN

one thing is certain - if you've not already made partner, in particular equity partner, you've been Depression - pwn3d and won't be "making" shit for the next 5-8 years. Best find a new profession - maybe hedge fund manager?

"Dead weight" associates do typically defend rain makers, you fucking idiot--they have a symbiotic relationship of sorts. When it rains, lots of billable on the table for all the crap associates, like you, to pick up. When work is lean, those crap associates, like you, get cut out of the loop because there's a flight to quality, and they end up spending their time on ATL defending the pay freeze. Crap associates, like you, are always complaining that the firm shouldn't be laying them off because it's the partners fault for not "bringing in the business," i.e., leaving lots of easy billables on the table for them. Sorry I don't have any DTC letters for you to draft; go take a CLE!

Internet rants won't change things 79. You ain't making partner SONNNN

Who cares about Latham? Why would you cry about your pay freeze in a random story? What a douchebag.

Darby & Darby is done

Last.

None of you guys are making partner any time soon. Especially if you waste your days on this site.

82 - I think you're right. It's only a matter of time for Darby.

66- they were having problems before Fehlner left (i.e. when Horwitz left) and the full-fledged crumbling began in 2008.

In all of the news regarding layoffs, salary freezes, etc why is there absolutely no mention of the support staff who make all of you look good ! From the paralegal to the librarian to the receptionist -- support staffers play a part in the success of a law firm as well. Do we not matter in the least. The only mention we get is that "x firm laid off 15 support staff." We need jobs too...

AT least Locke Lord gave out bonuses and didn't cancel their Xmas party and want to expand.

AT least Locke Lord gave out bonuses and didn't cancel their Xmas party and want to expand.

AT least Locke Lord gave out bonuses and didn't cancel their Xmas party and want to expand.

AT least Locke Lord gave out bonuses and didn't cancel their Xmas party and want to expand.

AT least Locke Lord gave out bonuses and didn't cancel their Xmas party and want to expand.

AT least Locke Lord gave out bonuses and didn't cancel their Xmas party and want to expand.

AT least Locke Lord gave out bonuses and didn't cancel their Xmas party and want to expand.

AT least Locke Lord gave out bonuses and didn't cancel their Xmas party and want to expand.

87-94: we get it. you work at locke lord and are trying to support your loser-ass firm. no one in dallas takes your firm seriously.

What firm to you isn't a loser-ass firm?

There is so much arrogance here - someday it may come back and bite you in the ass.

87, this place is called abovetheLAW, not abovetheSUPPORTSTAFF.

99, yes!!!

any further news on whether this deal went through?

Went through as lateral hires, not a merger.

sorry, but what does that mean? Will M&F cease to exist?

M&F is supposedly announcing its dissolution tomorrow. That's what I heard from someone that still works there.

any idea where most of the M&F partners are heading?

any further news on what's happening at M&F?

Yes. This is going through (at least in part).

so when's the last day at M&F? are idea on how many layoffs?