Nationwide Layoff Watch: Drinker Biddle Could Be Letting People Go
We received multiple reports this morning that Drinker Biddle & Reath let go of approximately 20 people, all on Friday. Tipsters reported the information this morning, but a morning commenter had the best line:
Yes it’s true about DBR - on Friday afternoon. No stealth - they came around to every office - told everyone it was economy based.
Other tipsters confirmed that the dismissals were based on the economy and not associate performance. The firm would not confirm or deny the reports, as a matter of policy.
If true, axing people 13 days before Christmas is a sad sign of the times. Let’s hope that firms finish all of their 2008 associate cuts by the end of this week. Surely feelings and families should take precedence over burying layoff news in the holiday news cycle.
And, as always, good luck to all the former Drinker Biddle employees.
Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of law firm layoffs
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Drinker to merge with Thelen.
first
TTThird
Seriously, misspelling the firm's name in the title of the article. Poor form, Elie. Poor form.
once again, for your viewing pleasure...
http://www.ldlkm.com/attorneys/staff_partner_marcus_millet.asp
once again, for your viewing pleasure...
http://www.ldlkm.com/attorneys/staff_partner_marcus_millet.asp
Jefferson and Mayham letting people go!
I wish Drinker could merge with Thelen. Seriously. Better yet, I wish Drinker could merge with Brown Raysman. Those were the good old days :(
5-6:
Now THAT is a connoisseur, an afficianado, of the art of the mustache ride. No?
Drinker Bidde? Suck it, MysTTTal.
I wish Stephen A Smith was reporting these layoffs.
I would rather nail a Sheep than work at Drinker Bidde.
First to wonder about the Count's conspicuous absence.
What's the obsession with Lerner David? Had a callback there, they seemed like nice people. Accepted offer in the city instead.
Damn, damn, damn!
Esther Rolle
Nice mustacheo. sort of like the Beastie Boys.
14
seemed like nice people is right. accepting offer in the city was a smart move.
Any news of any other New Jersey firms laying off?
I have no opinion on Drinker Biddle.
Ed Stimes
18 - Non-BigLaw Jersey firms do things like no-offer summers and lay off people all the time.
I don't think any of the BigLaw firms that have a presence in the state (Greenberg Traurig, Latham) have gone through any layoffs at this time, at least in their Jersey offices. Even the Drinker layoffs are probably not in NJ.
What offices? Any news as to whether this affects the DC office?
What city were the layoffs in?
Which office? What kind of reporTTTing is this?
21 - Someone in the WolfBlock post said Phila, Princeton and Florham Park for DBR.
Any news on Cole Schotz? Have they had lay offs?
You NJ folk can rest easy. All the layoffs were in the Bratislava office.
layoffs? you wanna talk about layoff? layoffs?
seriously, are firms really laying people off? i had no clue
layoffs? you wanna talk about layoff? layoffs?
seriously, are firms really laying people off? i had no clue
12
You would probably rather nail a sheep than do most anything
practice groups?
I meant Phila, Chicago and Princeton for DBR.
VTY,
24
According to that same post, most of the layoffs were corporate. No major NJ firms have had widespread layoffs, nor have the NJ offices of national/regional firms. This market is like terrorism, your safer in the suburbs.
chicago layoffs
Any idea who they cut? What level/practice groups?
5 & 6 - totally looks like Howard Stern
I wish they would merge with Weiner & Cox to form Weiner & Cox Biddle Drinker
Are any firms laying off first year associates?
--First year associate
Is this based on some comment in the Wolf Block post or is there substance to this?
What about summer associates who worked at Drinker last summer? Should they be worried? Do firms ever rescind offers to incoming first years?
this is patently false.
I know someone who works at one of Drinker's NJ offices, and she tells me that no one from her office was let go and there have been no rumors/discussions re: same.
I know someone who works at one of Drinker's NJ offices, and she tells me that no one from her office was let go and there have been no rumors/discussions re: same.
I know someone who works at one of Drinker's NJ offices, and she tells me that no one from her office was let go and there have been no rumors/discussions re: same.
I work at Drinker in New Jersey and have heard no rumors regarding any layoffs.
SKADDEN TO 190!!!!!!
I'm in Drinker's Chicago office and the rumors are rampant here. I guess NJ got a reprieve.
I'm in Drinker's Chicago office and the rumors are rampant here. I guess NJ got a reprieve.
I'm at Drinker- Hackensack, and I just received a mustache ride!
Large downtown law firm just canned 20 to 30 contract attorneys. No one received severance pay or a Christmas/Hanukkah/Ramadan/Kwanza/Festivus bonus.
What is impressive about this is how quite management has kept this internally (NJ offices). DBR Philly here and THIS IS TRUE.
First year- White & Case has laid off First years
2 associates laid off in chicago
Yes, 25. They are in talks with Drinker to merge. The new firm is to be called Drinker Schotz.
any layoffs in NJ????
They could merge with Luce Forward and rename the firm Luce Drinker.
dick move laying off associates 12 days before christmas
Drinker Biddle is so stingy it pretended to lose my NALP reimbursement form, and it took much effort on my part to get the measely check.
Any more info about layoffs at Dick Move?
DM First Year
Drinker Princeton was hit hardest, the word was 10 associates from that relatively small office. 5 associates from Drinker Philly (Corporate) were let go--mostly 2nd-5th years, but I have incomplete data outside Philly on seniority. The rest were in Chicago or Florham Park. Word is that there are no more layoffs planned, but who knows.
15 - that shit was hilarious. Nice old school reference.
There are only about 10 associates in the entire princeton office. So that's clearly wrong. Moreover, my sister works at that office, and she tells me that no associates were let go.
FYI, massive layoffs at MWE in all offices.
What about summer associates who worked at Drinker last summer? Should they be worried? Do firms ever rescind offers to incoming first years?
Did they provide any severance package to the associates?
DLA Piper would've offered the associates miniscule equity partnership for a mere $150,000 capital contribution....then layed them off in February and returned capital in five installments over the next ten years, per the partnership agreement. Drinker Fiddle About's management lacks imagination/creativity.
Apparently some Drinker equity partners were de-equitized (now non-equity partners). So no DLA Piper buy-in here.
There is some major misinformation here regarding Drinker.
I heard they are considering a merger with Weiner & Cox, to form Weiner & Cox Biddle Drinker.
I heard they are considering a merger with Weiner & Cox, to form Weiner & Cox Biddle Drinker.
I heard they are considering a merger with Weiner & Cox, to form Weiner & Cox Biddle Drinker.
61- ther are about 60 in Princeton. Just look at the web.
71 -- 60 associates in the princeton office?? Check the website. I counted 19, which is much closer to 10 than 60, if you weren't a math major.
not sure what site you checked but I just checked again and still got over 50 attorneys.
yes about 50 attorneys, but only 19 associates. Originally, I was replying to 59's post re: 10 associates being fired at the Princeton office and how this has to be greatly overstated since there are 10 (actually 19) associates in the entire office.
I agree with that. I heard 2 associates gone in Princeton and can only confirm 1.
Florham Park layoffs?
There were layoffs in Philadelphia, Princeton and Chicago only. Some of my friends at the firm were let go. What is really upsetting is that the Corporate group hired 6 laterals in these offices and laid off the same number of associates in these offices.
Corporate thought it was doing great (and it was) up until September. The mighty ego of partners to think they could hire when everyone else was letting go. Good luck to all who were let go.
Without question, Drinker let people go, including people in Princeton, Philly and Chicago. Corporate was affected. A damn shame!! What a disgrace.
I think the merge would help to save jobs because there are more resources between two companies
the law allows companies to combine as long as a reasonable contract is drawn up. It would be a corporation business and consists of more than one owner and a board of directors. This means it will be double taxation.
the law allows companies to combine as long as a reasonable contract is drawn up. It would be a corporation business and consists of more than one owner and a board of directors. This means it will be double taxation.
the law allows companies to combine as long as a reasonable contract is drawn up. It would be a corporation business and consists of more than one owner and a board of directors. This means it will be double taxation.