Musical Chairs: Cadwalader Loses More Lawyers
The Lawyer is reporting that seven partners in Cadwalader’s London office have defected for Paul Hastings:
The Lawyer can exclusively reveal that the partners leaving the firm are Karl Clowry, Conor Downey, Michelle Duncan, Justin Jowitt, Tom O’Riordan, Christian Parker and Charles Roberts.The defections leave US firm Cadwalader with just four partners in London.
Yesterday, we noted that despite CWT’s profits per partner dropping by 30%, managing partner Chris White was still looking forward the firm bouncing back in 2009.
But maybe the London partners weren’t thrilled about the new firm numbers?
An insider suggested the move could prompt Cadwalader to shut down in London altogether: “I’d be bloody surprised if the office was still here this time next year. The office lease is about £2m and none of the partners left bill anything near that.”It is understood that firm chairman Christopher White … and former chairman Bob Link have flown in to London from New York for crisis talks with the London partners.
Cadwalader defenders share their views in the comments.
Cadwalader London hit by seven-partner walk out [The Lawyer]
Earlier: Cadwalader Profits Per Partner Down 30%




Comments
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CWT NY 05 Females to 190!
i went to London with my CWT NY 05 associate girlfriend. we went to a fancy restaurant and she wolfed down some spotted dick. after that she ordered some bangers and mash for dinner.
#2 = Valtrex commercial
CWT NY 05 Female associates drink like fish and are horny. Just go to their website.
anybody else think the 'insider' used british slang to gain credibility?
I wannna get me a motherfucking CWT '05 NY female associate - I hear they are SUPER HORNY!
Please raise your hand if you think these CWT NY 05 gf jokes are even marginally funny. Can't we at least agree that only humerous jokes should be recycled?
Cloris Leachman
7 - what are these "humerous" jokes you speak of? your spelling abilities are on par with mysTTTal's
I agree with #8.
Please raise your hand if you think these CWT NY 05 gf jokes are even marginally funny. Can't we at least agree that only humerous jokes should be recycled?
Looks like they're toast. They have minimal business in Charlotte no business in London, no business in Beijing, lost a very large client in DC and structured finance has dried up. A few antitrust cases and a bankruptcy does not allow this firm to survive as an independent entity. Bruce Zirinsky leaving (he was supposed to have been on the Management Committee, for crying out loud!) was a BIG deal, with alot of VS spread he had no business.
Chris White has to know this--all of it, and he is clearly angling for a merger. The partner exodux will continue, with some other corporate people and antitrust people next, from what I hear.
Can we start a MERGER WATCH for Cadwalader.
Please raise your hand if you think these CWT NY 05 gf jokes are even marginally funny. Can't we at least agree that only humerous jokes should be recycled?
Please raise your hand if you think these CWT NY 05 gf jokes are even marginally funny. Can't we at least agree that only humerous jokes should be recycled?
Looks like they're toast. They have minimal business in Charlotte no business in London, no business in Beijing, lost a very large client in DC and structured finance has dried up. A few antitrust cases and a bankruptcy does not allow this firm to survive as an independent entity. Bruce Zirinsky leaving (he was supposed to have been on the Management Committee, for crying out loud!) was a BIG deal, with alot of VS spread he had no business.
Chris White has to know this--all of it, and he is clearly angling for a merger. The partner exodux will continue, with some other corporate people and antitrust people next, from what I hear.
Can we start a MERGER WATCH for Cadwalader.
Cadwalader's knowledge of scientific biological transmogrification is only outmatched by its zest for kung fu treachery!
Black Dynamite.
#11 = Texas Big AIDS
I believe that Dennis Block's 1-year contract with CWT is up in either Feb or March ( Believe it or not, Dennis is a contract partner, why would anyone be an equity partner with these people?). Everyone knows that Block almost left last year (for Dewey) before his contract was renewed.
Zirinski and Bae followed Block to CWT from Weil 8/10 years ago and maintained a good relationship with him while at CWT. Bae did most of Block's restructuring work. Zirinski and Bae just left the FRD group at CWT. Anyone want to guess what happens next?
Somewhere in the 21st century, Bob Link is feverishly lobbying his partners that Chris White has been an unmitigated disaster and that a new project rightsize will make CWT a viable entity.
The litigation and restructuring partners leaving makes sense, why are CMBS guys going, and who wants to pay them in this market?
EXODUX
seriously. this is ridiculous. for a week i've been asking for news about CWT's dissolution. atl sucks. CWT DISSOLUTION NEWS???? ANYONE???
SADWALADER :-(
Anything on the rumors that Kash has a Lobster in her ass?
This place and it's artificially proped up partner profits has been a house of cards. It was always a pretender. And now the artifical PPP is going to preclude any merger with any decent firm. PREDICTION: continued flight by quality partners, and then a swallow up by a true TTT looking to expand into NYC.
This place and it's artificially proped up partner profits has been a house of cards. It was always a pretender. And now the artifical PPP is going to preclude any merger with any decent firm. PREDICTION: continued flight by quality partners, and then a swallow up by a true TTT looking to expand into NYC.
Link got his Hamptons mansion and his yacht, fuck it.
I feel bad for all of the staff. They were always nice to me.
16 wtf?
what goes around . . . .
29 - google Black dynamite and Kung fu treachery. Quite amusing
big splash into the hudson river a-comin' . . .
I am more interested in what meal will be served out of Kash's ass tonight?
What does this have to do with layoffs at Cahill?
Tough times. My prediction is that CWT will move to smaller and less expensive digs in London and Charlotte, turning them into service offices for existing clients (not drumming up their own business). Survival will depend on the NYC partners' willingness to stick around and see it out.
34 - obviously, if CWT dissolves then we can expect cahill to dissolve soon thereafter (or at least layoff 67.82% of associates). it's science.
"Can't we at least agree that only humerous jokes should be recycled?"
I second this motion. Only jokes about upper arm bones may be recycled.
PHJW announced no salary freezes
Does anybody ever confuse Cadwalader with Salamander? Cause I know I do.
and that they are still are terrible place to work.
Caadwalader London office is prime real estate in the west end- they also have 4 floors. each partner can now have his own floor
No salary freeze at PH is great news!
Too bad there will be no senior or midlevel attorneys left to enjoy it when the firm does their next level of stealth cuts in February.
If CWT were a publicly traded company me thinks hedge funds would be shorting the hell out of it right about now.
I heard Bob Neherly may move to the Londo office. If he does he will take some of his practice group colleagues and will surely revamp the CWT London office. Heck he may singlehandedly revamp the Law firm's reputation in Britain.
Cadwalader associates $1.90 begging on streets
please, guys. i'm really serious. i need to know if anyone has heard anything about CWT dissolving. i really need to know, ok? it doesn't matter why. would you just give it to me? come on CWT associates, just give me a little taste... CWT DISSOLUTION???!!!!????!!!
32 - Poor metaphorical choice. Get your head out of your ass.
overrated. The NY and London office were pretty much completely independent. Aside from the fact the people in London have the CWT name they have almost nothing to do with business in NY.
yeah, I'm also really interested in hearing more about whether CWT is dissolving or preparing for round 3 of layoffs. I hear things are pretty bleak over there. Anyone have any info?
49 - Yes, I have info for you: you are a retarded law student (and I don't mean to insult retarded people by putting you in their company), but you probably already knew that.
Additionally, A.) Nobody knows B.) If somebody claims to know they are lying C.) Its business as usual.
while i see the significance of partners leaving the uk office, i agree with 48. these offices are nice to have and give the firm an international presence, but not the engine behind the firm's financial success. NY is where the business is, DC is also a strong outpost. From what I hear, UK has always been in a building mode - never a powerhouse for the firm. CWT is in good shape considering the economy - better than other firms who are now just realizing that things are going south and realize that they have too many associates and partners. Antitrust, IP and Lit are booming as they should be in this market. The firm just has to pull together and muddle through.
31 - You made my day. That movie is great. Everyone follow 31's orders.
Wait, so did Cadwalader pick up the associates affected by the rumored Cahill layoffs?
ummm . . 47 -
32 is not talking about the london office . . .duh
anyone other than CWT recruiting (51)? come onnnnnnnnn, man! just give me a lil som som of dat CWT NYC DISSOLUTION POLLUTION!!!!
seriously. CWT NYC dissolution?
55 - Stop trying to make a new "Cahill layoffs" out of Cadwalader dissolution.
55--
Yes, the rumors are hot and heavy. Expect an anouncement on or about February 28. Transitioning the Lyondell BK is the biggest issue--they need to ensure that the team (including non-BK folk) can land together at an acceptable firm.
Happy now?
Wow, 57, that was oddly... specific. Could that possibly be actual info? In fairness, the "Cahill layoffs" annoyingness did, in fact, pre-date actual layoffs at Cahill.
YES! yes! thank you 57. finally. that was pretty intense for a while. ahhhhh, sweet CWT dissolution... you'll be the death me...
Hey London!
Welcome to THE REAL DEAL!
[insert cock-punch here]
CWT = the next THELEN/HELLER...mark my anonymous words!
CWT = the next THELEN/HELLER...mark my anonymous words!
fuck off trolls, get a life... or a job.
we had jobs, CWT fired us, now we just sit at home and wait for the judgment day.
58--
Sure, it could be. But no matter what, you didn't hear it from me. Off the record, on the QT and very hush-hush, you know.
-57
exactly 58.
everyone yelled at me when i kept asking about cahill layoffs, but i just really really wanted to know, you know? i just wanted to know SO BAD. it was all i could think about. then we finally got the news confirmed, and it was like, "ok, now we know." (all of the people who are still posting about cahill just suck at life and i'm sorry for them. seriously, i really am.)
but since then ALL i can think about it is the CWT dissolution! I CAN'T STAND IT! every day it's just like, "is this going to be the day?" "is this it?" and until 57 came along i didn't think there was any hope. i thought that we were once again doomed to wait in silence, our cries unanswered, until the day the fucking memo came out and elie cut and pasted it into a "post." but i had to keep trying, i had to keep calling out into the dark, "CWT DISSOLUTION??!??" and today, a day like any other, an angel stepped down from heaven and answered my prayers. real info on the CWT dissolution. god bless you 57.
until february 28th.
-the addict
66 - What's this you're saying about layoofs at Cahill?
Back in my day, there was one firm that was close to dissolution, but, at the last minute, I arranged a hostile takeover and sold off all the assets. Made a cool hundred mil.
Now here I am, watching as everything comes crashing down, ready to sleaze my way back to the top, 80's style!
31:
Will you marry me?
Oh ya, I almost forgot to add: POW!
CWT's practices are busier than 90% of NY right now....like it or not, the banks need lawyers and CWT is the firm to go to for finance work, restructuring work and corporate work....just go outside their offices at midnight to see the row of cars waiting to take people home....
Go home and cry yourself to sleep at 4pm bitches....
CWT is going down in '09. These guys did way too much structured finance work. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Last time I checked $1.8 million was still higher than many V-50 firms.
Haha. I love these posts about CWT. I hope associates keep choosing firms based upon the Vault rankings....priceless.
52, 69 You would be surprised at what you find when you can't make 30 hours/week in a corporate department and pretend to work by keeping your head down and surf the internet.
The movie is at Sundance.
http://www.blackdynamite.com/
OK, so these losers left CWT for PHJW or WEMED or whatever, and you folks think this is bad for CWT? Let's face facts, these numb-nuts got fired because they were dilutive to earnings. This is project Rightsize II (or 3 or 4 or whatever). Get rid of deadweight. They need to do this 20 or 30 more times.
76: If they were dead weight, why would Link/White fly over to London to convince them to stay?
The only thing that can save CWT now is black dynamite.
If the majority of comments on this site aren't being posted by out-of-work former associates and 3Ls who couldn't get jobs then there is much bloody work yet to be done in biglaw before this recession ends and 'twer well, it were done quickly
CWT first year here...sure hope my job doesn't disappear, but we have been pretty busy for the last few months
I left the office after 10pm today
71 - CWT associates are really going to miss the car service next month when CWT dissolves.
51 -- Building mode? You don't know what you're talking about. Just because the practices were independent doesn't mean nothing was going on in London. The London RE and structured finance practice was extremely profitable before the credit crunch started. But with all their major RE clients in London having completely stopped new originations and CMBS (if not virtually eliminated those groups), that's changed. They had some structured syndications work for a while, but that's about it. No idea why PH wants them now, except in anticipation of that work coming back sooner than the rest of us anticipate. Or perhaps to help the restructuring guys with RE & CMBS workouts. It's a bit of a climb down for the CWT partners, because the RE/CMBS partners turned down a move to PH London a year ago.
Wow. Any question about big law being filled to the brim with Douches has been answered by this thread. Real people jobs on the line, their collective professional lives on the line, and it's a punch-line to you assholes.
the bank lawyers are busy as hell. the m&a guys at the "vault 10" shops are not busy yet but that will change.
we are witnessing a blowoff top in pessimism, which is good - creates opportunities.
Is anyone keeping track of the number of partner departures at CWT? Seems like a lot. In a good economy, they could probably survive it, but in case no one has noticed, we're in the midst of Global Economic Collapse. It's a fine institution with great people, as were Heller/Thelen, but there's no way they survive this year. Bank on 57.
PH does love picking up dead weight and then announcing to the world that they have discovered gold.
Ask yourself this question if these guys were so great why would you go from one struggling US outpost to another. The London office of PH never got off the ground and has itself seen massive turnover over the years with the firm alternatively declaring London, Paris and then London again as the center of their European operations.
If PPP was 1.9m this year at CWT why would these partners leave to go to a firm with a lower PPP?
I loathe CWT but I suspect that this is not a major blow to the firm.
Bob Link won't care about CWT dissolving; he'll just blame it on Chris White.
He has his yacht. At least until the repo men take it along with the house in the Hamptons.
Kind of ironic that "Project RIghtsize 2" ends up taking down the partners.
78- I don't know, Biglaw is "The Man" technically.
80 - you have my job....
so they finally put that a**hole out to pasture.... about time. He destroyed the NY office with his lack of leadership and arrogance, and he is supposed to be "rebuilding" the London office?? Haha. The English will never tolerate him. They are too sophisticated...
so they finally put that a**hole out to pasture.... about time. He destroyed the NY office with his lack of leadership and arrogance, and he is supposed to be "rebuilding" the London office?? Haha. The English will never tolerate him. They are too sophisticated...
32 Sounds like you had some inside info on that US Airways plane coming down today with that comin down in the hudson comment...guess CWT is a goner.
32 Sounds like you had some inside info on that US Airways plane coming down today with that comin down in the hudson comment...guess CWT is a goner.
32 Sounds like you had some inside info on that US Airways plane coming down today with that comin down in the hudson comment...guess CWT is a goner.
32 Sounds like you had some inside info on that US Airways plane coming down today with that comin down in the hudson comment...guess CWT is a goner.
Given a golden opportunity and unable to see it. Open your eyes! already. Sink the ship before it sinks you. Damn. Wake up! How did the large firms begin? A few lowly associates breaking away from rules and regulations not supportive of their goals. Where's the courage today? Who are those lowly associates today? Take the years of experienced staff with you and make it happen. What large firm can operate without you? Eliminate the PPP profits and start afresh, put them out of business! Show 'em who's boss and kick 'em to the curb already.
-An unlaid off staff member willing to see it happen during this scam powerless crisis and hoping to see a boomerang effect.
Given a golden opportunity and unable to see it. Open your eyes! already. Sink the ship before it sinks you. Damn. Wake up! How did the large firms begin? A few lowly associates breaking away from rules and regulations not supportive of their goals. Where's the courage today? Who are those lowly associates today? Take the years of experienced staff with you and make it happen. What large firm can operate without you? Eliminate the PPP profits and start afresh, put them out of business! Show 'em who's boss and kick 'em to the curb already.
-An unlaid off staff member willing to see it happen during this scam powerless crisis and hoping to see a boomerang effect.
given my word... it will take place with these lawyers.
--an experienced 25+ year staff member. All inquired to @96.