Comments on: Ropes on the Rise: Ropes & Gray wants to take a big bite out of the Big Apple http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/ Above the Law: A Legal Web Site – News, Commentary, and Opinions on Law Firms, Lawyers, Law School, Law Suits, Judges and Courts Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:42:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444696 guest Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:57:57 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444696 I have to agree with 101. With the exception of a few rare gems, the Ropes management is both vast and incompetent. In a way, though, I don't blame staff management as I often believe they are firmly under the thumb of upper management and are told to "make it happen" or something to that effect. At any rate, the tone that management ultimately takes with staff is set from way above, and that is where the true failure is. I have over 10 years of staff experience at several different large law firms, and the sheer size of Ropes' middle management is amazing. At times I think they have as many practice group managers as they do billing staff...no kidding!!! The irony here is that, as far as law firms go, Ropes is actually not a half-bad place to work. I just wish it were managed a whole lot better. I have to agree with 101. With the exception of a few rare gems, the Ropes management is both vast and incompetent. In a way, though, I don’t blame staff management as I often believe they are firmly under the thumb of upper management and are told to “make it happen” or something to that effect. At any rate, the tone that management ultimately takes with staff is set from way above, and that is where the true failure is. I have over 10 years of staff experience at several different large law firms, and the sheer size of Ropes’ middle management is amazing. At times I think they have as many practice group managers as they do billing staff…no kidding!!! The irony here is that, as far as law firms go, Ropes is actually not a half-bad place to work. I just wish it were managed a whole lot better.

]]> By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444693 guest Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:54:24 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444693 90- Is totally right. Though no written memo went out Ropes did freeze staff salaries and paid out lesser bonuses this year. This information was relayed to employees through a series of meetings and conference calls. The lesser bonuses were supposedly based on performance. Funny performance must be at an all time low for Ropes staff since the story was the same for almost everyone on the staff side. Ropes has also started to let people go for "performance" reasons on both sides of the house. But it's not all of it is performance. Some of it is "manager's whim" on the staff side. The reasons for some of these layoff's are flimsy at best and at worst completely fabricated. The staff management at Ropes is some of the worst I've encountered in my 20+ years. So the layoff's at Ropes are stealth and are being done in a way that makes the former employee doubt themselves and the quality of their work despite years good performance reviews. 90- Is totally right. Though no written memo went out Ropes did freeze staff salaries and paid out lesser bonuses this year. This information was relayed to employees through a series of meetings and conference calls.

The lesser bonuses were supposedly based on performance. Funny performance must be at an all time low for Ropes staff since the story was the same for almost everyone on the staff side.

Ropes has also started to let people go for “performance” reasons on both sides of the house. But it’s not all of it is performance. Some of it is “manager’s whim” on the staff side. The reasons for some of these layoff’s are flimsy at best and at worst completely fabricated.

The staff management at Ropes is some of the worst I’ve encountered in my 20+ years.

So the layoff’s at Ropes are stealth and are being done in a way that makes the former employee doubt themselves and the quality of their work despite years good performance reviews.

]]> By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444690 guest Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:32:13 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444690 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 25+ years experienced 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 25+ years experienced staff member willing to see it happen during this scam powerless crisis and hoping to see a boomerang effect.

]]> By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444688 guest Fri, 16 Jan 2009 04:50:52 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444688 98-NO. They're stealthy. Mum's the word. sssshhhhhh......... 98-NO. They’re stealthy. Mum’s the word. sssshhhhhh………

]]> By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444685 guest Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:55:26 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444685 can we hear more about stealth layoffs at goodwin proctor? can we hear more about stealth layoffs at goodwin proctor?

]]> By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444682 guest Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:29:50 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444682 Ellie did you know that Ropes takes like 40 HARVARD kids every year? Work that angle Ellie did you know that Ropes takes like 40 HARVARD kids every year?

Work that angle

]]> By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444678 guest Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:16:44 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444678 Goodwin's overexpansion with **5** new offices in California (including 2 in LA--now that's efficient!), together with their huge debt in moving to brand-new offices in NY, does not bode well. And they started their "stealth" layoffs well before November. Watch their associate count continue to drop over the next couple of months, and ask yourself if these disappearing people are really pursuing better lateral opportunities in this economy. Finally, being a member of their bloated 100-large SA class of 2008 is a lottery game that I would NOT want to be playing. Goodwin’s overexpansion with **5** new offices in California (including 2 in LA–now that’s efficient!), together with their huge debt in moving to brand-new offices in NY, does not bode well. And they started their “stealth” layoffs well before November. Watch their associate count continue to drop over the next couple of months, and ask yourself if these disappearing people are really pursuing better lateral opportunities in this economy.

Finally, being a member of their bloated 100-large SA class of 2008 is a lottery game that I would NOT want to be playing.

]]> By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444675 guest Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:14:52 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444675 93 - I am staff at Ropes and they froze salaries. 93 – I am staff at Ropes and they froze salaries.

]]> By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444672 guest Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:13:38 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444672 In my 3 years of law school there I came to learn that NYC is nothing more than a miserable tourist and rat invested hell hole. 8 million douchebags. Not worth the 2 degree bump over boston. I chose Ropes over cravath 2 years ago and couldnt be happier. In my 3 years of law school there I came to learn that NYC is nothing more than a miserable tourist and rat invested hell hole. 8 million douchebags. Not worth the 2 degree bump over boston. I chose Ropes over cravath 2 years ago and couldnt be happier.

]]> By: guest http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/comment-page-3/#comment-444670 guest Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:03:29 +0000 http://abovethelaw.com/2009/01/ropes-on-the-rise-ropes-gray-wants-to-take-a-big-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/#comment-444670 How do we know that Ropes froze staff salaries? The only place I've seen it is in the comments on this article. Was there a memo or something? How do we know that Ropes froze staff salaries? The only place I’ve seen it is in the comments on this article. Was there a memo or something?

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