Nationwide Layoff Watch: Baker & McKenzie Joins the List
The holidays are over. Now it’s time to get back to business, and in Biglaw these days that means getting back laying people off.
Multiple tipsters report that there were layoffs at Baker & McKenzie this morning. The firm just confirmed the news:
Therefore, consistent with our strategy and discipline, and in response to the economic conditions we are currently witnessing, we are taking proactive steps to ensure that we remain financially strong. In particular, we are proactively focusing on helping our clients manage through these turbulent times, and we are acting to reduce our own operating costs. These actions include, but are not limited to, slowing or deferring some long-term projects, travel and hiring restrictions, and some limited workforce reductions, including six associates in our New York office this week.
The laid off associates were given a 3 month severance package.
One tipster reports:
No one was safe from first years to senior associates to support staff which were terminated. … Those who are left are worried about more cuts.
Another tipster, who also claims that some first years were let go, adds this:
The reasons given were that not enough work was available.
Read Baker & McKenzie’s full statement after the jump.
BAKER & MCKENZIE — STATEMENT — LAYOFFS
The current economic climate is proving to be exceptionally challenging for most businesses, including many of our clients. Experts expect this to be one of the broadest global recessions in decades, and this is also affecting the legal profession.
We are in strong financial health, thanks in part to a sound strategy and fiscal discipline, as well as our Firm’s geographic and practice diversity. However, over the last few months, as a consequence of the downturn affecting the global economy, we have seen declines in some areas. Moreover, it is difficult at this time to predict the timing and pace of the recovery.
Therefore, consistent with our strategy and discipline, and in response to the economic conditions we are currently witnessing, we are taking proactive steps to ensure that we remain financially strong. In particular, we are proactively focusing on helping our clients manage through these turbulent times, and we are acting to reduce our own operating costs. These actions include, but are not limited to, slowing or deferring some long-term projects, travel and hiring restrictions, and some limited workforce reductions, including six associates in our New York office this week.
We believe these difficult measures are necessary to ensure our ongoing financial health in the increasingly challenging environment created by these uncertain times.
(164) 
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First
First to say fuck Islam
how many?
"The reasons given were that enough work was available."
Way to completely fuck up your tipster's quote, Elie.
Many firms have said they will be increasing salaries as expected. They constitute the majority as compared to those firms that have frozen salaries. People should know this.
NOT enough work was available, perhaps?
The reason (not reasons) given to the first years appears counter intuitive.
Wait, so the reason that they laid people off was because there WAS enough work available? This would be a new feat in layoff excuses. "We're doing great, and therefore must fire a whole bunch of people."
Retarded tipster, retarded Elie, or both?
"Nationwide Layof" Elie?
Again, that HLS degree shows its head with the EIC here. It's a shame doors open for you because of it. You don't deserve it.
Watch this CBS news video to see the nature of Jews http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev6ojm62qwA
The Pope calls Gaza a concentration camp. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL8378047
Jews have a reputation which precedes them, one established through thousands of years of such behavior. This despicable behavior manifests itself not just in Gaza, but in your dealings with them at your law firm.
Wow #2 is not holding any punches.
Wow. I'm not usually the guy to comment on typos, but for fuck's sake, you can't even get the TITLE of the post in without spelling errors?
Elie absolutely MUST be using this to generate comments at this point...
Muffelatta. That is all.
5's right. Law students should note those firms that are (especially) poorly managed while crediting those that have acted more judiciously.
Can someone confirm that first year associates were laid off? If so, how does the firm determine which ones to let go? Is it just a crap shoot?
I would like a friendly hand release from my secretary please.
#1 is right.
Elie MysTTTAL is the biggest, craptastic retard there is - I don't care about innocuous typos, but fucking up the tipster's quote is a new low for the fat fuck editor of this blog.
Elie's mother sucks c*cks in hell.
Or, more probably, since she's Elie's Mom, sucks c*cks in hel.
NY B&M associate here.
First year associates were laid off.
The criteria used was not specified, but the other layoffs were done based on performance.
Essentially the determined the number that needed to go and ran down the list of performance and work load. At the bottom - you're gone, regardless of year.
I can't take it anymore. I am starting a collection to raise money and buy Elie a computer that has a spell check feature. To contribute, please e-mail me at elieisafatslob@gmail.com.
Thanks.
Wow, 2 tell us how you really feel.
I think we need a post on the ridiculous attacks by Israel and their completel illegality (and immorality).
Let us forget Elie for a moment. Do we know how many were laid off? Which offices? Practice areas? Or is this breaking news with details to follow.....
Maybe there was enough work available, but the first-years did not seek it out and had low hours notwithstanding the availability of billable work.
I can't take it anymore. I am starting a collection to raise money and buy Elie a computer that has a spell check feature. To contribute, please e-mail me at elieisafatslob@gmail.com.
Thanks.
I am a choreographer. That's what I do. You are cheerleaders. Cheerleaders are dancers who have gone retarded. What you do is a tiny, pathetic subset of dancing. I will attempt to turn your robotic routines into poetry, written with the human body. Follow me, or perish, sweater monkeys.
#10, go take your ignorant racist screed to the Neo-Nazi website where you and it belong, what is it doing here?
#10, go take your ignorant racist screed to the Neo-Nazi website where you and it belong, what is it doing here?
I feel sorry for 19 -- don't worry my child, whatever is troubling you shall pass.
Wow, 2 tell us how you really feel.
I think we need a post on the ridiculous attacks by Israel and their completel illegality (and immorality).
Cleveland rocks!
#10, go take your ignorant racist screed to the Neo-Nazi website where you and it belong, what is it doing here?
4,8,9,12,18,19,20,21,25=racists
An hour between posts and Mystal (1) can't spell "off" and (2) misquotes a tipster.
Hey Mystal, try "Crtl+C" and then "Crtl+V." This will help insure a slightly lower chance that you will fuck-up when posting on ATL.
24,
The attacks by Israel are justified, exactly in the way that quarantining your mom for rampant STD infections would be, you camel-jockey son of a bitch.
2
the statement says 6 associates in NY
BM to Bowel Movements
On top old smokey, all covered with cheese...........
#2 = SkaddenDC
I am a choreographer. That's what I do. You are cheerleaders. Cheerleaders are dancers who have gone retarded. What you do is a tiny, pathetic subset of dancing. I will attempt to turn your robotic routines into poetry, written with the human body. Follow me, or perish, sweater monkeys.
Dear 30, aka Captain 1L, what law did Israel violate? Who is the prosecutor for such violations?
What is the prescribed minimum and maximum sentences for violating that law?
"LAYOF"???????? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING?
I typically ignore threadjacks, but I feel compelled to chime in on this with a particularly on-point clip. Lost in all of the finger-pointing between Israelis and Palestinians is the roll of the British:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6jeEJQi8qk
So not enought work available, (which means its slow and you're the victim of the global economy), oe that enought work was available to bill and you didn't (which means you're a lazy ass.)
Which is it...
I just smile, wave, and NAIL SHEEP. No hate. Just woolly love.
41 - the law violated was that your mom was fucked without protection and you were born.
Not 30.
can we remove comment 2? Moderator???? That sort of stuff is patently offensive and takes away from atl.
And dare I say just another manifestation of baby killing blood thirsty israeli ideology. Way to show your true colors. Its always interesting to see what the perceived notion of anonymity as a poster on this site will enable people to reveal about their true character.
First to say denounce the israeli baby killing, and first to say that racist comments about all jews is inappropriate.
30 to Guantanamo.
Great, this is becoming just another message board where every thread turns into a rant about Israel, Obama, Bush, guns, or whatever.
48 hates himself.
Woooo dawgie!
ex 1st year B&Ms to Gaza!
48, when did commenter 2 say he is Jewish? Or did you just assume that?
Do you realize there are some Gentiles out there who dislike Islam?
Who is the racist now?
49 is on her period.
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera
49 is on her period.
I prefer to think of myself as a Texan first, American second, and Christian third but not necessarily in that order.
DallasPimp
I'm convinced that Elie actually goes back through his posts and introduces typos intentionally to give you grammar freaks a source of constant fodder.
48,
You wrote "first to say that racist comments about ALL jews is inappropriate" (emphasis added)
Way to show your true colors, 48. And Islam isn't a RACE, it's an ideology, just like fascism.
2
I'm convinced that Elie actually goes back through his posts and introduces typos intentionally to give you grammar freaks a source of constant fodder.
Lack of hours is a sucky reason to fire a first year, especially if she has actively sought work. I'd go through resumes again and read their summer reviews to determine who is most expendable.
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera
Do Muslims first grow hair or anger after they are born?
Me thinks all these anti-arab and anti-muslim carbozo students should stop hating on innocent women and children being slaughter by israel and go after Madoff, who is the one who really stole from you guys. Where is the Cardozo outrage!!!!!!!!! lmao. You genocide justifiers are so pathetic.
Me thinks all these anti-arab and anti-muslim carbozo students should stop hating on innocent women and children being slaughter by israel and go after Madoff, who is the one who really stole from you guys. Where is the Cardozo outrage!!!!!!!!! lmao. You genocide justifiers are so pathetic.
Me thinks all these anti-arab and anti-muslim carbozo students should stop hating on innocent women and children being slaughter by israel and go after Madoff, who is the one who really stole from you guys. Where is the Cardozo outrage!!!!!!!!! lmao. You genocide justifiers are so pathetic.
Me thinks all these anti-arab and anti-muslim carbozo students should stop hating on innocent women and children being slaughter by israel and go after Madoff, who is the one who really stole from you guys. Where is the Cardozo outrage!!!!!!!!! lmao. You genocide justifiers are so pathetic.
Were any of these layoffs in the Chicago office?
So we have references to Bring it On and That 70's show. How bout one of my all time favorites:
"It's the one that says bad mot**rfu**er on it"
You wanna make it right? Then when you go to Nationals... bring it. Don't slack off because you feel sorry for us. That way, when we beat you, we'll know it's because we're better.
61. Wrong. It's fairly elemental big firm Darwinism at work. Partners and senior associates staff their cases with people they think are the most talented. Period. Summer reviews are meaningless. If you are good/talented your are given work. If not, clean out your desk, post haste.
I thought this post was about someone's lost kidney? What the hell is going on?
Me thinks all these anti-arab and anti-muslim carbozo students should stop hating on innocent women and children being slaughter by israel and go after Madoff, who is the one who really stole from you guys. Where is the Cardozo outrage!!!!!!!!! lmao. You genocide justifiers are so pathetic.
64, 65, 66 and 76. Come again?
Interesting.....all but 1 of the pro-palestinaian/world justice folks have not used derogatory comments to express themselves. Yet every pro-isreal genocide justifiers have used a derogatory terms against pretty much anyone who disagrees with them.
“I see your true colors...and thats why I love you”
Interesting.....all but 1 of the pro-palestinaian/world justice folks have not used derogatory comments to express themselves. Yet every pro-isreal genocide justifiers have used a derogatory terms against pretty much anyone who disagrees with them.
“I see your true colors...and thats why I love you”
Interesting.....all but 1 of the pro-palestinaian/world justice folks have not used derogatory comments to express themselves. Yet every pro-isreal genocide justifiers have used a derogatory terms against pretty much anyone who disagrees with them.
“I see your true colors...and thats why I love you”
Interesting.....all but 1 of the pro-palestinaian/world justice folks have not used derogatory comments to express themselves. Yet every pro-isreal genocide justifiers have used a derogatory terms against pretty much anyone who disagrees with them.
“I see your true colors...and thats why I love you”
Me thinks all these anti-arab and anti-muslim carbozo students should stop hating on innocent women and children being slaughter by israel and go after Madoff, who is the one who really stole from you guys. Where is the Cardozo outrage!!!!!!!!! lmao. You genocide justifiers are so pathetic.
Me thinks all these anti-arab and anti-muslim carbozo students should stop hating on innocent women and children being slaughter by israel and go after Madoff, who is the one who really stole from you guys. Where is the Cardozo outrage!!!!!!!!! lmao. You genocide justifiers are so pathetic.
Me thinks all these anti-arab and anti-muslim carbozo students should stop hating on innocent women and children being slaughter by israel and go after Madoff, who is the one who really stole from you guys. Where is the Cardozo outrage!!!!!!!!! lmao. You genocide justifiers are so pathetic.
Me thinks that 64, 65, 66 and 67 is a putrid motherfucker. Munch on that, douchebag.
I hate to be predictable, but I don't give a shit! We learned that routine fair and square. We logged the man-hours. Don't punish the squad for Big Red's mistake. This isn't about cheating. This is about winning. Everyone in favor of winning?
61. Wrong. It's fairly elemental big firm Darwinism at work. Partners and senior associates staff their cases with people they think are the most talented. Period. Summer reviews are meaningless. If you are good/talented your are given work. If not, clean out your desk, post haste.
#48:
"The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error."
Move along, people. Nothing more to see here.
BITCH SPREAD DEM BUTTCHEEKS SO I CAN HIDE IN THOSE JUICY INSIDES AWAY FROM ALL OF THESE TERRORISTS!
Lat: This season should've been gravy, ok? I handpicked the squad, I delivered an idiot-proof routine... Now, Platter... nationals, hello?
Elie: Don't you mean a stolen routine?
Lat: Don't be so naive, Elie. Look, the truth is I was real hitter, ok? I did what I had to do to win a nationals. And ever since I handed the reins over to you, you've run my squad straight into the ground! If I made any mistake as a squad leader, it wasn't borrowing cheers. It was announcing you as my successor.
Did Elie even pass the bar exam?
Lat: This season should've been gravy, ok? I handpicked the squad, I delivered an idiot-proof routine... Now, Platter... nationals, hello?
Elie: Don't you mean a stolen routine?
Lat: Don't be so naive, Elie. Look, the truth is I was real hitter, ok? I did what I had to do to win a nationals. And ever since I handed the reins over to you, you've run my squad straight into the ground! If I made any mistake as a squad leader, it wasn't borrowing cheers. It was announcing you as my successor.
w w w . h a a r e t z . c o m
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Last update - 02:21 08/01/2009
Israel's PR war
By Gideon Lichfield
It had to happen at some point. The army attacks a civilian building identified as a source of fire; dozens of civilians are killed, and what little sympathy Israel enjoyed in whatever war it's currently fighting evaporates. It happened in Qana during the Second Lebanon War, and yesterday a school in the Jabalya refugee camp became a global symbol of indiscriminate Israeli aggression.
When these things happen, Israel is quick to respond on the public-relations front. It didn't take long before we foreign correspondents started getting text messages from the Israel Defense Forces on our cell phones. One said that the school was targeted because it was "a source of mortar fire." Another informed us that video footage was available of rockets being fired from another UNRWA school several months earlier. A third told us the names of the Hamas operatives who were killed along with the children and mothers cowering nearby.
I frequently get asked by Israelis, "why aren't we winning the PR war? Why don't people understand that this is what we have to do?" Many are convinced that there is something wrong with Israeli hasbara (public advocacy), that the spokespeople aren't effective enough, or that the Palestinians have a huge and demonically efficient propaganda machine.
When I hear this I have to explain that Israeli hasbara is so sophisticated that there is still no adequate word for it in English; that some of Israel's spokespeople could talk the hind legs off a donkey and then persuade the donkey to dance the hora, and that the Palestinians barely even know what a spokesman is, let alone be able to provide one who is available when he needs to be and knows anything about what is actually going on. So why isn't Israel winning the PR war?
Partly, of course, it's because the numbers are against it. Six hundred Palestinians dead versus nine Israelis, as of today's figures: There's just no way to make that proportion look pretty. Retired generals can drone on all they like about what "proportionality" really means in the laws of war, ambassadors can helpfully point out that many more Germans were killed than British in the Second World War, but these are theoretical notions; on television, what looks bad looks bad. (Nor do I really buy the argument that if Israel's casualties were more visibly bloody - if, say, the media showed the gory pictures of the few people who have been hit by Qassams instead of holding them back to keep the home front from getting agitated - then you could counter the stream of barbaric images from Gaza. There's just no competition.)
But the deeper reason is this: Israeli hasbara is perpetually trying to answer the wrong question: "Why is this justified?" Of course, it's natural for either side in a conflict to try to explain why it, and not the other side, has the moral high ground. But, especially in a conflict where both sides have been claiming the moral high ground for decades, nobody in the outside world is all that interested. From a foreign correspondent's point of view, it makes for boring journalism: "The Israelis said this, but the Palestinians said that." And since we're all studiously trying to be "neutral," we'll always balance your view against theirs; so the fact that you make more of an effort to explain than they do doesn't really matter.
The question the foreign media really wants answered is invariably not "who's in the right?" but "how will this round of fighting improve the overall situation?" And on that point, Israel never has a convincing argument. Given the country's long history of engaging in wars that kill many more of its enemies than its own citizens but only buy a few months or years of calm, it's a tough call to explain how this latest escapade will change the strategic balance, bring peace and prevent the need for another such bloodbath further down the line. Often that's because there is in fact no good reason: Wars are fought for short-term gains. And it doesn't help that with the constant competition for power within Israeli coalitions, it's easy to interpret this war, like many others, as a political imperative, not a strategic one.
And so when the question the world is asking is not "who's right?" but "what works?" the consistent impression Israel leaves is that it kills people because, at best, it simply doesn't have any better ideas, and at worst, because some Israeli leader is trying to get the upper hand on one of his or her rivals. And no amount of hasbara can make that look good.
Gideon Lichfield, until recently The Economist's Jerusalem correspondent, will be moving to the weekly's New York bureau.
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BitCH, SPREAD them puSSY LIPS so I can SMELL the pussy juICES.
SUGGESTION - all comments containing the following words should automatically be blocked on this site: israel, palestine, jew, jewish, muslim, arab, genocide, buttcheeks and "juicy insides."
71/84. Wrong. 61's proposal (reviewing their resumes and past work) is closer to "Darwinism" than cutting the first years who weren't lucky enough to land on an active case during their first three months.
I'd agree with you if we were talking about second years and up, but the number of hours that a first year logs in her first months has little if anything to do with talent and everything to do with practice group and luck.
40, maybe your body will start eating your ass!
w w w . h a a r e t z . c o m
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Last update - 02:21 08/01/2009
Israel's PR war
By Gideon Lichfield
It had to happen at some point. The army attacks a civilian building identified as a source of fire; dozens of civilians are killed, and what little sympathy Israel enjoyed in whatever war it's currently fighting evaporates. It happened in Qana during the Second Lebanon War, and yesterday a school in the Jabalya refugee camp became a global symbol of indiscriminate Israeli aggression.
When these things happen, Israel is quick to respond on the public-relations front. It didn't take long before we foreign correspondents started getting text messages from the Israel Defense Forces on our cell phones. One said that the school was targeted because it was "a source of mortar fire." Another informed us that video footage was available of rockets being fired from another UNRWA school several months earlier. A third told us the names of the Hamas operatives who were killed along with the children and mothers cowering nearby.
I frequently get asked by Israelis, "why aren't we winning the PR war? Why don't people understand that this is what we have to do?" Many are convinced that there is something wrong with Israeli hasbara (public advocacy), that the spokespeople aren't effective enough, or that the Palestinians have a huge and demonically efficient propaganda machine.
When I hear this I have to explain that Israeli hasbara is so sophisticated that there is still no adequate word for it in English; that some of Israel's spokespeople could talk the hind legs off a donkey and then persuade the donkey to dance the hora, and that the Palestinians barely even know what a spokesman is, let alone be able to provide one who is available when he needs to be and knows anything about what is actually going on. So why isn't Israel winning the PR war?
Partly, of course, it's because the numbers are against it. Six hundred Palestinians dead versus nine Israelis, as of today's figures: There's just no way to make that proportion look pretty. Retired generals can drone on all they like about what "proportionality" really means in the laws of war, ambassadors can helpfully point out that many more Germans were killed than British in the Second World War, but these are theoretical notions; on television, what looks bad looks bad. (Nor do I really buy the argument that if Israel's casualties were more visibly bloody - if, say, the media showed the gory pictures of the few people who have been hit by Qassams instead of holding them back to keep the home front from getting agitated - then you could counter the stream of barbaric images from Gaza. There's just no competition.)
But the deeper reason is this: Israeli hasbara is perpetually trying to answer the wrong question: "Why is this justified?" Of course, it's natural for either side in a conflict to try to explain why it, and not the other side, has the moral high ground. But, especially in a conflict where both sides have been claiming the moral high ground for decades, nobody in the outside world is all that interested. From a foreign correspondent's point of view, it makes for boring journalism: "The Israelis said this, but the Palestinians said that." And since we're all studiously trying to be "neutral," we'll always balance your view against theirs; so the fact that you make more of an effort to explain than they do doesn't really matter.
The question the foreign media really wants answered is invariably not "who's in the right?" but "how will this round of fighting improve the overall situation?" And on that point, Israel never has a convincing argument. Given the country's long history of engaging in wars that kill many more of its enemies than its own citizens but only buy a few months or years of calm, it's a tough call to explain how this latest escapade will change the strategic balance, bring peace and prevent the need for another such bloodbath further down the line. Often that's because there is in fact no good reason: Wars are fought for short-term gains. And it doesn't help that with the constant competition for power within Israeli coalitions, it's easy to interpret this war, like many others, as a political imperative, not a strategic one.
And so when the question the world is asking is not "who's right?" but "what works?" the consistent impression Israel leaves is that it kills people because, at best, it simply doesn't have any better ideas, and at worst, because some Israeli leader is trying to get the upper hand on one of his or her rivals. And no amount of hasbara can make that look good.
Gideon Lichfield, until recently The Economist's Jerusalem correspondent, will be moving to the weekly's New York bureau.
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"You people elected Hubert Humphrey president, and you killed Jesus!"
Wow. Since allowing the Muslim hate speech patrol to take over, this blog has gone to shit. (Hamas market bombers are freedom fighters against oppression! Jews are dirty baby eating murderers that control the world! And of course the posts pretending to be Jews posting hate speech - yeah, right, no Jewish person I've ever met talks like this...)
Damn it all Israel, kindly let Hamas catch up and murder off 600 or so of your population. Fair is fair.
Does anyone else find it absurd when people call what Israel is doing "genocide" or "baby killing?" I'm FAR from pro-Israel, but where do the Palestinians get off taking the moral high ground on genocide or baby killing? They use their own women and children as human shields! They send mindwashed teenagers into crowded restaurants with bombs strapped to them! I mean, obviously Israel's Gaza policy is fucked up and is leading to way too many civilian casualties, but you guys are in no place to talk either. Fix your own shit before you start pointing fingers at others... hypocrites.
EVERYBODY DANCE NOW!
SOYLENT GREEN is made of SHEEP that I NAILED while eating TWATWAFFLES made of SOYLENT GREEN!!!!
2 is probably a dick, but he's pretty damn funny.
The amount of posts being made about the Gaza strip situation on this blog, a biglaw blog, is ridiculous. Go spread your propaganda for either side somewhere else, e.g., in front of Dunkin' Donuts or jewelry stores.
I second 94. Moderator, do something. The people posting hate speech on both sides are choking this thing to death.
The only reason this blog gets love is based on how it used to be, not how it is.
Lat or Elie, do something. This is just pointless. This has become another listserv. Isn't there another outlet for these feelings?
agreed. this ish needs to go elsewhere.
this post is about B&M.
You have got to moderate and remove posts, because this is unrreadable.
104: "Moderator, moderator, do something becuase someone is saying something that I don't like!!!"
Labling something "hate speech" does little to obviate the fact that you are just trying to silence someone who is saying something that you disagree with. If you don't like it, ignore it. No one is force-feeding it to you.
Hamas and other Islamic terrorists should be allowed to fire rockets into Israel and send bomber after bomber into buses, markets, and everywhere else indefinitely.
Of course! The solution is just for Israel NOT to do anything about it.
After all, Israel can't really gain from combating the terror infrastructure anyway, it's only political. Right? Instead, they should just let the Islamists kill as many Jews as they can, day after day, year after year.
After all, they can't kill "civilians" that Hamas are using as shields and who elected Hamas in the first place and give them money and weapons and hiding places and who allow Hamas to put those weapons in schools and hospitals!
So the only alternative is to just give the the Islamo-Imperialists what they want and have waged war to obtain for decades - for Israel to cease to exist and for the entire middle east to be controlled by Islamic governments. It's a holy Muslim right to take that land! And in any case, you know, killing Jews is ALWAYS the right thing to do.
Agree with 49. I thought this board was moderated. Way to become autoadmit.
100-
Yes you are alone in thinking that. As I am sure you are alone in your thinking about most things. The UN and Red Cross, 2 neutral entities, call it genocide and baby killing. EVEN the vatican called it a concentration camp. So, unless your willing to say that genocide and baby killing did not take place in concentration camps, then those trems are more that apt to describe what isreal is doing.
Baby killing genocidal murderers.
My cites: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/world/middleeast/09mideast.html?hp
p.s. please dont ever offer an opinion again. ever. and if you are in law school, drop out now and save your money. If you have graduated from law school, give the degree back and apologize.
p.p.s. let me save you the trouble of responding to my post with superficial attacks on any mispellings in it. disclaimer: my post may contain mispellings, but the content is verified nonetheless.
Would the world weep if the Palestinians were simply removed from their squalid hovels in Gaza or the West Bank? Relocated to Egypt (they'd never take them) or Saudi Arabia (they'd never take them), Syria (they'd never take them), Lebanaon (they'd never take them), Libya (maybe!). Probably. For about a week. Then the world would sigh a god damn giant collective sigh of relief that we don't have to hear about these worthless people or their grievances ever again. Of course, we'd have to balance this blessed relief against the loss of the vibrant and unique Palestinian culture. I mean, think about all that would be lost!!! Would anybody care to take a stab at listing some of the great Palestinian contributions to mankind? Artistic, cultural, or economic?
Not holding my breath!
93,
With gusto, Jewish Jew men from Israel spread the buttcheeks and commit genocide on the juicy insides of Arab Muslims from Palestine.
king & spalding is also laying off
they are sucking wind
held their holiday parties in conference rooms in their offices
how the mighty have fallen
partners got no bonuses in 2007 ... 2008 must have been wonderful
110, where in your article does the UN or the Red Cross "call it genocide and baby killing"? Show me the line.
EPIC FAILURE
107,
No one is force feeding? Yeah, that's almost exactly what IS happening. I'm trying to find comments about big law stuff and have to wade through comment after comment of racially/religiously motivated "unhappy" speech (not hate speech, happy now?).
My complaint is more like "Moderator, do something because a bunch of people are saying random stuff, posting it repeatedly and getting in the way of what I came here to read about."
How about this: Moderator, I'm gone if this isn't fixed in a little bit. I'll continue to scan the headlines in google-reader to look for posts that say Nationwide Layoff Watch: "My Firm". Otherwise, I'll "Mark as Read" and I don't think you get blog hits for that.
Speaking of, I'm going to go take some blog hits, myself.
Fix the problem... or don't... I'll be fine either way.
-104
There is a lot of scary shit going on in the legal world right now, and it would be great if concerned (or at least interested) attorneys could discuss it on this forum without having to sift through the other 9/10ths of worthless posts.
king & spalding is also laying off
they are sucking wind
held their holiday parties in conference rooms in their offices
how the mighty have fallen
partners got no bonuses in 2007 ... 2008 must have been wonderful
115 - if you top reading/posting on ATL I will just have to post every one of my insane pointless comments twice to make up for the hits they will be missing.
-107 (yes I intentionally posted this twice)
115 - if you top reading/posting on ATL I will just have to post every one of my insane pointless comments twice to make up for the hits they will be missing.
-107 (yes I intentionally posted this twice)
110, you are a fucking retard and a disgrace to humanity once you realize that the UN and the Red Cross did not do what you said they did, and a Vatican employee speaking on his own is not the same as "EVEN the Vatican". But at least you're not claiming that the "Pope" called Gaza a concentration camp, like our rocket scientist friend $10.
Why can't Hamas apologists not lie in every sentence? Pathetic LOL.
SOME STUPID COMMENT!!!
Touche.
-115
Practice groups would be very helpful information......
What is happening at Paul Hastings?
Yeah, that's right, Hamas has no responsibility for the situation in Gaza, it has nothing to do with the continuing terror attacks, and we all know the Catholic church has always been neutral toward the Jews, like when it was helping the Nazis hunt them down and using them as slave labor, so any comment they make must be neutral...
all you people are lame. seriously, don't you have friends to discuss world events with? c'mon now, just leave.
I wonder if any of the laid off Baker people were ex Coudert. from the 2005 Baker take over.
110 - nice logic... the Pope compared Gaza to a concentration camp, at one point in history babies were killed in concentration camps, therefore babies are being killed in Gaza by the Israelis. Lmao, that is terrrrrrrible, even for a site loaded full of TTT 1Ls.
I have appreciated the moderation in place on this blog, and I hope it can be extended to prevent this kind of obvious trolling. I hope these people aren't actually lawyers.
Any news out of MB Chicago? Wtf with the holdup?
20 - do you have info. on whether the layoffs included stub first years (e.g. people that just started in '08)? Thanks.
NY 1973: "Soylent Green is people!!!"
NY 2009: "Soylent Green is associates!!!"
Layoffs at Cahill?
Layoffs at Cahill?
Baker & McKenzie is laying off staff in its other NAmerica offices. Wouldn't be surprised if attorneys are to follow.
There were layoffs at Cahill today.
People upset at the Israel/Hamas thread hijackers:
Don't you see the profound yet subtle analogy the hijackers are trying to communicate to you?
Baker & McKenzie = Babykilling, bloodthirsty Israelis
Baker & McKenzie attorneys and staff = Poor defenseless Gazan civilians
If anything, they're adding some creativity and pizazz to an otherwise boring string of comments. Appreciate!
fuck all you bitches, I didn't read this thread
It's not so bad people, I heard 1-800-ABOGADOS is hiring.
Now chin up, and get to work burnishing that resume!
132 - Thank you.
Ok, thanks ATL. The NYC market is set (half-skadden, a few layoffs and salary advancements as per normal). The Chicago, DC, Cali., national and "global" firms are a shit show of bonuses (based on billable requirements no one met), salary freezes, layoffs, firings and liquidations.
So far, the death of the Wall Street firm has been grossly overrated.
Oh, and see you next bonus season (there's nothing worth reading on here for now).
I'm on ambien so this seems significant.
I'm on ambien so this seems significant.
I'm on ambien so this seems significant.
As a former Baker & McNuggets associate, all I have to say is LEAVE!!
--> RECESSION FRIDAY MAKES IT HAPPY FRIDAY! <--
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/cas/985940343.html
baker laid off more than 6 people and it was just this week....total PR management. More were asked to leave. sheesh
Only 6 associates? Hardly newsworthy. Props to B&M though for admitting that these layoffs were due to the economy, instead of trying to couch them as being "performance-based" like some firms do.
Well said, 137. Despite your keen observation, though, it's still irritating that to read anything about the BM layoffs you have to hit ctrl-F to skip the dominating Palestine-Israel ranting.
I'm a pretty avid follower of ATL and I have never seen a thread with this much unrelated middle eastern political mess.
It seems to me that Baker & McKenzie hijacked this post to deter attention from their LAYING OFF OF FIRST-YEAR ASSOCIATES!
Upper level attorneys have years of experience at a big law firm. They will be fine. They will get another job. First years are just screwed.
Law students, beware. If Baker is going to lay off first year associates then either: (1) you will get laid off when you go; or (2) they are in deep financial trouble right now.
At this point, having four months of experience and not being admitted to the New York bar (even though you passed the exam), you are at your most vulnerable point.
This blog has a purpose, and its not world religious conflicts, its the legal world and workplace. Please moderate.
Readers: stop attacking typos. Its not helping any of us.
Editors: please proofread so grammar nazis will remain in their friendless caves.
B&M: don't fire First-Years, and stop hijacking this thread.
Whats the total head count? I know the post says 6, but what is the real number?
Anyone know the answer to 152? I want to know too.
-not 152
Real head count is 9.
6 last week and 3 a month ago.
That's NY only. No clue about any other office.
Thanks 154
- 152
Anyone that summers at Baker went to a 3rd tier law school and could not get any other offer, Baker is a TTT piece of shit
Anyone that summers at Baker went to a 3rd tier law school and could not get any other offer, Baker is a TTT piece of shit
Baker has had layoffs in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Dallas. Both attorneys and staff.
their severance for staff, at least for me, was RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP
I've never heard of this firm, but my sympathy goes out to all of the laid off attorneys. Good luck!
I got layed off from Baker & Mckenzie. I was part of the staff. The so called severance was BS!!!! Check this out, when they asked me to go to the conference room, I KNEW what was about to happen. You just sense these things. Anyways, after it happened, I went to the partner I worked for and told him, I'm sure you know what i'm about to tell you - he looked at me as if he were surprised - PLEASE cut the charade man! Nevertheless long story short, he looks at me and tells me - you know, I may actually have to take a pay cut that's how bad the economy is. In my brain I was throwing sh%^&T all around cause, HOW dare you compare your financial situation to mine. Okay, so you'll have to live with one less house! when I'm on the verge of FORECLOSURE WITH MY ONE HOUSE!!!
I know most folks who frequent this blog are more interested in attorney layoffs, but just think of the message being sent by Baker by them laying off their staff. It's the whole outsourcing of the library scenario all over again. The Executive Director in the San Francisco, Palo Alto office obviously tried to avoid the bad press the NY office received by laying off first year associates. Rather than face any bad press, she laid off well respected staff members. A pregnant accountant, a senior secretary well into her 60's with 23 years tenure, the library assistant...should see the library now...marketing staff, recruiting. Well known folks with tenure. Not the folks you say, I wondered when that would come, but employees with great reputations. Then the attorneys, well respected senior associates with families. The message being sent by this firm is that there is no loyalty, no compassion...no one is safe.
There's much talk about a summer program...good luck there...doubt they will even have one. Don't have anything else. Minimal recruiting?? Over loaded secretaries...good luck new associates in getting some help!! No library to speak of.
Then, let's talk about how it went down, calling folks in one by one to some small windowless conference room and telling each and everyone of them same BS line about the economy. No respect for their efforts over the years. No sympathy no apologies. Although they were quite kind passing out taxi vouchers and allowing the laid off individuals to stay as long as they needed to get their things in order...what a firm. If you work at Baker and get called to a conference room for no good reason...it's not a surprise party...just pack your things and head for the door...
Times are tough. I'm sure this is only the beginning!
Yeah, the pocket full of taxi vouchers was a classy touch!!