sad to be first

First to say that nobody cares about firm formal snooze parties except for old retired partners with nothing better to do.

Well I've RSVP-ed. Have you?

Well I've RSVP-ed. Have you?

I have to admit, I would rather attend a short cocktail party than a long drawn-out snoozefest of a dinner.

As a person who drinks and doesn't eat, all I can say is...

THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS FOR JOHN MCCAIN!

I'm Ron Burgendy, You stay classy Debevoise.....

Well hooray. How much wiser to scale back costs now (particularly on things that many people hate like long boring dinners) than to end up having to cut staff or associates later. Good for them. And the food always sucks at those things anyway.

As a person who drinks and doesn't eat, all I can say is...

THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS FOR JOHN MCCAIN!

Damnit, 8, you beat me to it!

All this doom and gloom I have literally stopped watching the news (its all about layoffs), I have stopped reading the paper (its the same except I have to read) and I havent taken a shower in 3 weeks......When Will This End? Please advise.

It could be worse, 12. You could be the parents of some crazy woman, living under your roof with 14 kids under the age of 8.

This is very unprestigious of Deh-beh-vwah.

Debevoise should just go the classy and cost effective route by using Redass Lobster for their catering needs.

Shooter McGavin

I'm a Big Law associate and holy shit, who knew that Big Lawfirms were subject to the same economic pressures as every other company on the planet? When I signed up to make $160,000 a year to start I was told that the gravy train would never end. What's going on here? Every time I read about law firms having to deal with, ugh, budgets and fixed costs and declining revenues I want to sue the people who told me this could never happen in Big Law! What next, lawyers also have to pay taxes?

DRINK UP! Our country will soon collapse under the weight of socialism. Thanks, Obama!

I wonder how much $$ they spent on the marketing firm that designed the invitation. Stupid.

I responded to this invitation and indicated that my dietary restrictions are NO PORK.

NO PORK, CHUCK SCHUMER, NO PORK.

Is this really what this website has become?

What's next? Warm Natty Light kegs in the copy room?

Top tier law firm my ass.

Last year weren't summers (for the upcoming summer) invited to this? With the firm paying for hotel and travel?

The ship be sinking...

Vince here for the Slapchop. You take your cat food, add some pickle, add some carrot and you have appetizers for the entire cocktail reception! Your life is going to be exciting.

17 - sad, but true.

16 - We have to pay taxes? Hmmm... thats probably because you are an inept UPenn state grad who doesn't understand the intricacies of off shore tax shelters.

Here is the thing, yes law firms have to deal with this as other businesses but its the WAY in which they chose to deal with it that is unfortunate. I really hope you are no where near becoming partner at whatever mid-tier shit house you practice in because its people like you who will continue to not change the structure of Big Law and simply hide behind your "as long as it's not me, I don't care" attitude.

Well you know what - you can have your long hours and big salary and self-centered existence. But please remember this, the day you wake up and you are alone and your own children won't return your phone calls because you have been an absentee parent for the greater part of their lives you will understand. THINGS NEED TO CHANGE.

You are the reason people hate attorneys.

--Seacrest out.

Cocktail reception = serving up small platters of Edna CrabApple.

hey, i've got a tip for you, DPW's PPP is down 17%. write the fucking article already.

classy.

17 - sad, but true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG6ureeTw2E&feature=related

Check yourself fools:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTm5rp8r6fE&feature=related

Hey, it's better than firing someone. That dinner probably cost a salary or two.

Don't worry guys, firms will have a lot more money for associate salaries and these other expenditures when Barack Obama raises taxes on law firm partners and other business owners.

Yes We Can!

"The future, always so clear to me, had become like a black highway at night. We were in uncharted territory now, making up history as we went along."

-- Sarah Connor

Why isn't the DPW story posted? This was the biggest news of the day...

26, learn to read tone. You should be fired immediately.

Yeah, I really don't care about Debevoise's cocktail reception. I want to talk about PPL/PPP numbers coming out from S&C, DPW, Weil, Cleary, etc.

Oh well. At least Judge Halverson is still fat.

Ha ha!!1!

Why do they ask for dietary restrictions for drinks? "I'm allergic to alcohol--please provide non-alcoholic booze. thx."

36 - Your tone suggests that you are a self-involved, pencil dick F-cake who enjoys railing people who work hard because whoever your father is got you to where you are today.

And stop calling my cell phone. I am not interested in renegotiating my firm's westlaw subscription contract.

As a D&P senior associate, I am perfectly happy with this event. No need for a lavish party when law-firms all around the place are firing associates, it's just a reasonable and perfectly understandable move. And face it, most of the attendees go to that kind of event for the booze only. D&P just proves again that it's a great place to work at. I'm just grateful that I'm working here.

26, I'm sorry that you have been offended by my post. Perhaps if I put it this way, you'll see my point...What I meant to say was I don't understand why we associates at Big Law have to worry about layoffs and pay freezes. I can see how someone who makes $8 an hour can be laid off, but how can someone who is billed out at $400+ an hour be laid off? Isn't there a neverending line of clients who want to pay a big firm $400 an hour so an associate can sit in on a conference call and scribble a few notes?

42 - It is I who am sorry to you sir. I simply directed my current state of frusteration towards you. You are not a pencil dick and I retract this statement.

I think I have a solution to all of our problems:

I think law schools should cut duration to 2 years, have 1 year solely clinc based in the area of law you want to practice (much like a doctors residency). I think they should also drop tuition accordingly. Then I think top law firms should pay associates 110k to start scaled for market. Bonuses should be merit based not lock step. Finally, firms should do away with billable hours and move to a project based fee.

Boom. Problems solved. Who should I bill this time to?

-- Haywood Jablome

Seems pretty self-evident that:
1. Cocktail party a lot more fun than long dinner.
2. Cutting long dinners a lot better than freezing salaries or laying people off.

Agree with the posters who want the scoop on Quinn's $65 million dollar "typo." (Still can't get over that one!)

Channeling Seth Myers: "Really?!!?"

Vince Offer = best poster evar. it doesn't hurt that Vince Offer is actually a comedic genius. The first time i saw the Slap Chop commercial and heard him say "you'll love my nuts" i almost had a heart attack. hilarious. He's affirming that those product hawkers are entirely self-aware of their ridiculousness and it's all an act. his act is far better than billy mays who just screams at you.

Another key that has been missed is that instead of having a "firm" dinner, it's going to be a "New York lawyers" reception. Which means they will not be flying up the DC attorneys or flying over the London attorneys and putting them up for the night as they typically have done.

- Former D&P'er