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Bloody Thurs part 2

TTT. Who cares.

OMG! The layoffs are coming, the layoffs are coming!

Yeah, I heard "structued finance" is a really tough field right now.

Yeah, I heard "structued finance" is a really tough field right now.

Yeah, I heard "structued finance" is a really tough field right now.

Invulnerable.

Kneel before Zod.

Wait until tomorrow when other firms piggy back on Latham.

D&L management is so pumped to have performance reviews. They couldn't wait to start the carnage.

Director of Attorney Development wrote: "Due to the the timely responses of all involved with the process, we will be able to start the performance review discussions earlier than anticipated. [YAY!]"

I think you're right, 10. I'm getting a very bad vibe about tomorrow.

D&L management is so pumped to have performance reviews. They couldn't wait to start the carnage.

Director of Attorney Development wrote: "Due to the the timely responses of all involved with the process, we will be able to start the performance review discussions earlier than anticipated. [YAY!]"

So, how does one get an LLM?

RateaPartner.com is up and running, yay!

I heard there were giving something like 30 the ax.

10, so true. Tomorrow might be worse than the Valentine's Massacre. Hide under your desks, kids.

Severance?

16, what else have you heard? Practice groups? 1st years? Severance?

15: why must you toy with me this way?

There's a man with ax outside my office door. I'm scared.

Yep, tomorrow will be another very bad day for BigLaw.

Why tomorrow? Last day working day of February, or is the end of February when more financials come out?

Focus. This post is about Dewey. News about DL please.

Tomorrow will be a black friday indeed, but can we at least predict that we're starting to see the END of this? No one lays people off in March, right? Right?!?

Sadly, 25, I fear this will continue all year and into the next.

How is that name pronounced anyway? Does it sound like "LaBuff"?

26, La Buff. Do We La Buff?

Ditto, 26. The carnage has only just begun. Wait until the summer associate offers plummet and first-year offers get rescinded. The wailing and gnashing of teeth will be great indeed.

My girlfriend works at Dewey and knows a number of the people who were laid off. She says, unequivocally, that the layoffs were not performance related. Partners have told those laid off and her just that, and she's worked with a number of them and has no doubt that their newfound position has absolutely nothing to do with their abilities, nor for that matter, their work product. That Dewey isn't owning up to this and telling the truth, is downright shameful.

Thank Paul Hastings for making these types of stealth layoffs permissible practice. Here sign our separation agreement and we will silence you forever.

Remember when Dewey was a legit firm?

Oh Mort what have you done?

I am ordering del frisco's on the clients tab to my office tonight to reflect on what just happened.

The Dewey I knew would keep people around for years for no reason at all. It was totally awesome.

Thank Paul Hastings for making these types of stealth layoffs permissible practice. Here sign our separation agreement and we will silence you forever.

Remember when Dewey was a legit firm?

Oh Mort what have you done?

I am ordering del frisco's on the clients tab to my office tonight to reflect on what just happened.

The Dewey I knew would keep people around for years for no reason at all. It was totally awesome.

What practice groups?

29, more, commas, please

Stealth "performance" layoffs are SO 2008. Firms need to get with the times and stop hiding behind their associates' theoretical poor performance and acknowledge that it's the partners and the economy with the performance problems.

Every day I thank the good lord for working in Texas, where people treat each other with class and respect. Nothing is ever "stealth".

Dewey likes TTThursdays. Creative. If you work ttthere you're safe any other day of ttthe week.

The D&L cuts have been in a variety of practice groups: litigation, corporate, private equity, tax, IP, real estate...

Some partners only know how to perform when asked to exaggerate 'bad' reviews.

Some partners only know how to perform when asked to exaggerate 'bad' reviews.

Sure the performance reviews are tougher due to the economy, but they're not making the choices at random. The people who are cut are cut for a reason--performance, perceived drive or talent, department politics, and so on.

37, pretty diverse. Interesting.

LAYOFFS?!?! Don't talk about -- LAYOFFS!?!? You kiddin me?????????? LAYOFFS??

The only thing that would make these layoff posts less depressing was a LolCat. I want to drive into oncoming traffic.

-- Shia LeBouf

Yeah, they're pretty much firing everyone. First years, a TON of second years, and others scattered throughout.

Assholes.

Does anyone else seriously question the competence of these frims that piss on their associates on the way out the door, instead of honestly laying them off, when their rationale for doing so is maintaining their reputation for recruiting?

I hope you change your mind about semi-annual reviews.
-BHO

Way to treat the young. Jerks. Hope they're paying decent severance.

I'm so fortunate to be an early casualty of this mess.

Dewey sealed its fate over sixty years ago when it passed over Skadden, Arps and Slate for partnership. They left, started their own firm, and the rest is history.

49: Is that really what happened? That's f-ing hilarious. Hindsight is a bitch ...

45, I think everyone questions the competence of these frims [sic]. Look at the mammoth size of incoming summer classes. These firms were totally blindsided by the economic downturn, and now they have to scramble to stay competitive (read: maintain PPP). At this point, it doesn't matter who they step on to do it. What's worse, the more big firms that run people out the door, the more firms will be able to do it because everyone will be equally tarnished. Thus, no loss of "prestige."

The ships are sinking.

The process at Dewey is the worst. They're in the process of conducting year-end reviews now, to be concluded by the end of March and they will start the mid year process by May. Morale at Dewey is pretty bad. That's how TTTs behave though. You can't expect much better.

And, seriously, way to piss on their associates in this economy.

Karma's a bitch.

anyone know if there were layoffs in the tax department? legacy Dewey had a great one, but it sounds like its been going downhill ever since.

A merger with Cheetham & Howe may be the only thing to save this firm.

50 - And the first associate they hired was Joe Flom.

Where's LeBoeuf?

56 - It's just outside of Trenton, New Jersey

Slightly off topic, but that Dealbreaker ad = EPIC FAIL.

Over a dozen stealth layoffs at Kirkland NY office, and over 20 non-shares in Kirkland Chicago office. Somehow they're flying under the radar.No doubt "Kirkland Girl" -- the partner that Kirkland has trolling blogs to quickly deny any layoffs- will try to deny this as well. Be on the lookout for her.

Be of good cheer.

The Market will provide.

Yes, they are even laying off first years. How can they justify hiring a dozen more people this fall when they cannot even hold onto the ones from last?

Dealbreaker is dead Bess Levin killed it. Who would have thought putting an ungrad student in charge of a financial blog would have adverse consequences?

Don't mention anything about the fact that she graduated in 2007 or she will ban you.

57 - Actually it is a township in northwestern Pennsylvania, only a few hours' drive from UPenn's University Park campus.

Dealbreaker is dead Bess Levin killed it. Who would have thought putting an ungrad student in charge of a financial blog would have adverse consequences?

Don't mention anything about the fact that she graduated in 2007 or she will ban you.

DEWEY IS FIRING FIRST YEAR'S?

DEWEY IS FIRING FIRST YEARS?

62: What the hell is wrong with you? Levin has an avid following (you forget that without Levin the blog would lose much of its snarky, tabloid feel, which is what helps give it its character). And EP does a great job with the posts relevant to deeper market understanding.

Why are you so angry that would would lash out anonymously on a blog? Also, the readers of both all know that Dealbreaker has much more intelligent comments.

Levin come to defend yourself!!!

65&66: Yes.

"Why are you so angry that would would lash out anonymously on a blog?"

Why would would do that? Perhaps would would make the comments on this blog less intelligent? Would would you care to comment further?

This same crap has happened at Schulte Roth & Zabel.

Sgt. O'Neill: Bob, I got a bad feeling on this one, all right? I mean I got a bad feeling! I don't think I'm gonna make it outta here! D'ya understand what I'm sayin' to you?
Sgt. Barnes: Everybody gotta die some time, Red.

I agree that Bess Levin is terrible. But Dealbreaker is pretty irrelevant these days anyway.

67 - "snarky"? get aidsraped.

69: Really? OH MY GOD I MADE A TYPO ON A BLOG, SHOOT ME NOW. Jesus Christ, you're probably a miserable person.

For those other than 69, my apologies for the typo. My deepest condolences to all who were forced to read such an obviously flawed sentence.

Wow, readers of this site are some pretty miserable f*cks.

Puhleasee, folks. Pay no heed to Kirkland rumors (I'm talking to you, 59!)

What is a median GULC student to do?

Only Dewey remains.
Elie ate LeBoeuf.

76 -- See what I said? Whenever anyone mentions Kirkland layoffs, Kirkland girl pops up to discount them. Kirkland pays someone good money to study these blogs everyday to try to keep its miserable rep intact. Why can't they be decent about their layoffs and stop ruining the reps of the lawyers they let go by claiming the are let go because of performance rather than the economy?

67 - f*ck off. dbreaker fucking sucks and most of the posters seem to be the typical high school grad "ima traduh" types (thank the LORD those f*cks are going to be gone forever)

And I'm talking to you, 76 -- This is exactly what I'm talking about! Mention Kirkland layoffs and Kirkland Girl -- the partner they pay to patrol the blogosphere to keep their miserable reputation intact -- pops up! Those very layoffs have been reported on ATL, sister. How can you look at yourself in the mirror?

Why all the hate against Dealfaker all of the sudden?

CommenTTTs.

I dunno, cause some douchebag was talking smack about Bess Levin. But seriously folks, when's the last time this site published something substantive, with real analysis, that related to current legal events, other than layoffs, etc.?

Elie AlsTTTon and Bird is conducting stealth layoffs. Many groups affected including IP.

Ima tradduh from the Island of Strong
my mom is a buttaface but you would still datehuh....

I still like to laugh at the fact that the comments on this site got so retarded that ATL had to hide them. I thought lawyers were supposed to be the most intelligent of individuals? Evidently, I was wrong.

GULC magna cum laudes are crying now...

Who is Bess Levin? Why is her(?) name Bess? Did the mother hate her child? Can you milk her at will?

UVA2L

DEALBREAKAH!!!!

Man, I'm glad I already got laid off.

This firm has really gone downhill in the past ten years or so. Definition of sinking ship.

Michael Ray- Where you is?

Gee, should I be worried? I don't think so. I'm on the International Human Rights Global Warming Law Journal.

- Below-Median GULC 3L with D&L offer

94-game over

Will my palms grow hair if I habitually revoke my offer?

I am worried about the morale at Cravath.

70 - please elaborate

Are first years up on the Dewey website?

I want to know if a buddy of mine is still there. He isn't on the site, but I haven't seen an 08 that is ...

They've been shedding people alright. 140 last year, a 150 this year.

D&L to 1,000!

1,000 attorneys that is. From their website's 1400.

They have until the end of May to find new jobs, so their profiles will be up for awhile.

How the hell can they say these are performance related when they are canning 1st years?

I am not the only one with the opinion that this is 100% Spike Lee's fault.

Alabaster Smooth

dude, there are some shiTTTy first years in any class. and it is obvious who they are now.

101 - are there any first years up at all?

Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!

- Louis Tully

104: Actually, that's true. I've had a bunch of first years work under me since they've started and I can unequivocally say that I would fire the hell out of some of them if I had the power.

Alas, I do not have said power because I too am a lowly associate.

Not to interrupt the idiocy, but when did Kirkland ever have a reputation of being anything other than a shark tank where senior associates are called partners?

Dealbreaker has more insightful writing and commentary than ATL. And there was room in the budget to get Bess a spellchecker.

99 -- first years in NY are not on the website because they haven't been officially admitted to the bar yet

What makes a shitty first year?

How many utters does Bessy have? Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks 110. Guess I'll have to figure out if he's fired some other way.

someone explain this Kirkland calls senior associates "partners" thing. do these persons have any job security now?

ty

Spike Lee killed LeBouef.

Its A-Rod's fault.

Everyone will be fine during the next boom time. There will be too much work, and experience will matter. Just enjoy your long vacation. Everything will be fine.

117 is delusional.

Elie - please follow up on Kirkland layoffs.

-Concerned SA

What's Dewey going to do when I'm punching his face . . . and elbowing his face . . . and licking the blood off his face while I'm punching him?

What, pray tell, will be the next bubble off of which we can all get rich, 117?

I believe 118 is correct.

I want to execute a well-formed and STINKY PUSSY FART on Dewey's fatcat partners.

D&L started with ~1500 lawyers after the merger. Now they are rushing toward half that. Performance-based layoffs must be the new de-merger!

121: tulips. Or invest in shares of the South Sea Company. I hear it's gonna be a spectacular ride.

ONLY 24 HOURS TILL LATHAM LAYOFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like your style, 124, I like your style. You may be one of the few people here who actually knows what the hell he or she is talking about.

Kirkland just laid off Ken Stttarrr!!!!!!!

LOL@"Dealbreaker has more insightful writing and commentary than ATL."

Dealbreakuh rules--eat that mothafuckuhs! Lawn Guyland fist pump!

I can state unequivocally that Dewey is NOT letting go of 1st years. Anyone who says otherwise is full of shit.

The day Leboeuf attorneys were told of the merger they were told there would be no layoffs because the attorneys would be the combined firms' most valuable asset. Less than four months later the stealth layoffs began. A few here a few there. This is sadly more of the same and the same game Dewey pulled years ago. In the early 1990s they let attorneys go because the firm was slow and said it was due to performance. some lessons are never learned.

I can state unequivocally that Dewey is NOT letting go of 1st years. Anyone who says otherwise is full of shit.

The day Leboeuf attorneys were told of the merger they were told there would be no layoffs because the attorneys would be the combined firms' most valuable asset. Less than four months later the stealth layoffs began. A few here a few there. This is sadly more of the same and the same game Dewey pulled years ago. In the early 1990s they let attorneys go because the firm was slow and said it was due to performance. some lessons are never learned.

Dude, I know 1st years who've gotten laid off. So I can unequivocally say you are wrong.

It's terribly hard to prove a negative ...

117 is Joan King.

Hugs and Kisses, Marianna.

These are the worst ATL comments ever. What, are you people getting tired at the end of the day?

So I filled out my Vault survey today and I gave pretty much every firm a 1. It was fun.

So yeah, dumbass law students, that's how the Vault survey works.

Seriously, stop talking about 1st years and 3Ls...you kids go to bed and let the grown ups talk now.

VaulTTT.

136: I didn't even rate the firms, so I'm even worse. I mean seriously, who the hell has time to go through a list of hundreds? (don't even know how many are on the list) of firms to rate them.

Vault's a joke, Chambers is very highly regarded though and a much better resource.

What's going on at Douchey & LeBag is a joke. Performance-based firings, huh? Congrats, Douchey - you must be the only BigLaw firm in the country without financial problems.

You know what the next big credit woe will be? All of the 3L's defaulting on their student loans because none of them will have jobs.

Student loans are the new tulips. It's gonna be awesome ...

133 is right. D&L is laying off first years.

Biglaw will be 30% smaller at year end. This is a good thing. We hired too much shit from the crap schools of the world. This is simply rightsizing. Those who survive will see the legal world emerge into the bright light of recovery in 8-12 months.

144 is probably right, especially about the latter half--if you stay employed, you'll be money in a year or so. Still not sure about the "good law school" bullshit. A lot of my best co-workers are from non T25 law schools.

@143: Nope. Not happening. Try another baseless rumor.

Sounds like you still have a job, 144. You must be a fucking legal genius then.

I got laid off, but it was kind of performance based. I kept slinging feces. I guess I just wanted more client contact. Oh well, sad face. I'm going to miss the cafeteria at Dewey. Great carrots and lettuce.

We should start a "vote for the worst" movement with Vault.

CWT to V1!!!!!!

Vault for the worst!!!

the problem with dealbreaker (which blows big time) is that its posTTTers think that 18 months failing at life at bear or some other shithole moving paper qualifies them to offer insights into every aspect of finance, when most of them haven't a fucking clue. the whole financial collapse thing kinda makes sense after reading some of the posts....

144 - You are a douche. This is not rightsizing it is based on the economy. If you haven't noticed there is a huge economic crisis that parallels the hardest we've ever faced. There is absolutely no way that 8-12 months will be enough time. You're an idiot and an incredibly small and pathetic person. There are a lot of people laid off in this recession that went to my T10 law school. So get a life kid. Grow up and stop making comments about things you don't know anything about. Get back to your billable hours to try and save that job.

151 = laid off TTTuurde much?

The firms grew much faster than the economy, and hired shiTTT. The day of housecleaning is here, and the honest firms will do the right thing.

Do you really think it made sense for 300 lawyer "elite" firms to have 90 person summer classes? Now shut the fuck up when your betters are talking.

Hey 151 - drop out of your T10 law school now why you still have a chance to do something with your life. Don't be an "incredibly small and pathetic person."

Actually, I guess anyone who feels it necessary to point out that they go to a "T10" law school is already an "incredibly small and pathetic person."

151: I'm not trying to argue against you, but what exactly is your point? Do you believe that over 30% will be laid off, do you believe that the recovery will take over 1 year?

Or are you saying simply that 144 is retarded for thinking that it's just the kids from the top law schools who will be saved? If it's the latter point, I totally agree--being a good lawyer has very little (and possibly nothing) to do with where you went to school.

Lay off 151. Not literally, I mean leave him/her alone. Anyone who's saying only shit lawyers are getting canned is absolutely oblivious to what's really going on. And if you're that stupid you should be the next to go.

152: Firms didn't grow faster than the economy, they grew with it. For the past few years, most successful firms were understaffed but growing. Now that the economy has failed, they are overstaffed and have to downsize.

So no, they did not grow faster than the economy, they were just trying to catch up. And now it's time to trim.

Also agree with 155. I've seen a lot of colleagues and friends who are excellent lawyers get laid off.

151 - If there's "absolutely no way" how come most economists are predicting it?
http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/23/news/economy/nabe/index.htm?postversion=2009022300
Now carry on with your b.s. I'm sure you know lots they don't.

This firm can do no right right now. Stay away.

This site is similar to CNBC in some ways. Before the financial crisis I never watched CNBC. Now I find myself watching it all the time. Lately, I have been wondering why. Literally every program on CNBC is undeniably atrocious television. The entire network is a bunch of random people screaming about the dumpster fire that is the US economy. I do not learn anything from CNBC, other than the economy sucks, which I already pretty much knew.

Likewise, I never visited this blog until the financial crisis started causing lawyer layoffs. Now I click on this site once a day to see which firms are laying off lawyers or rescinding 3L offers. Like CNBC, I learn nothing of any value from this site, but it does manage to stir up my paranoia of having my offer rescinded.

Seems that 146 and 131 must work in HR at Dewey. Susan, is that you? They've definitely laid off 1st years. Everyone at the firm knows this and also knows why.

CrediTTT Crunch.

ManchesTTTer UniTTTed.

70, or anyone for that matter,

What is going on at Schulte??

Good night, all. I've had a tiring day at Douchey & LeBag, firing all those people for made-up reasons so I can suck my bosses' asses. They are such masters of illusion, they actually have everyone convinced we're doing "performance reviews" and not layoffs!

Good night, all. I've had a tiring day at Douchey & LeBag, firing all those people for made-up reasons so I can suck my bosses' asses. They are such masters of illusion, they actually have everyone convinced we're doing "performance reviews" and not layoffs! Shhhh - don't tell anyone!

151, I agree this recession is more like a really bad version of what happened in 1970's when manufacturing was eliminated wholesale. It will take more than a year to end the recession (decrease in the size of the economy) and more years just to have a stagnant economy with growth in some quarters and declines in others. A recovery may begin very slowly in 2012, at which point the economy will be 60-70% of the one in Q4 2007.

160 - I am like you. It's like the horror - you can't look away!

160, 168, CNBC are a bunch of vapid empty-headed frat-boy cheerleaders. They have called bottom on the economy so many times it's not even funny.

169 - sorry, I just meant ATL.

What's wrong with being an ex frat boy?

I think I can do this

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/6-006Spring-2008/CourseHome/index.htm

Do they layoff engineers?

We haven't even heard the number of people canned. Isn't it possible that some of this is performance based? If 150 people were let go, obviously no one will believe that it has to do with performance. If 18 people were let go, well, it wouldn't be a shock that 18 out of 1400 sucked enough to get canned. People act like getting a job as a lawyer is some sort of tenure. Caterpillar is laying off 30,000 people. A law firm lays off 25 and the world is ending. What's the lawyer layoff total in the past 6 months? Less than a thousand? A little perspective, please.

Well that's great, that's just fuckin' great, man. Now what the fuck are we supposed to do? We're in some real pretty shit now man...

@173: Less than a thousand? Guess you're not much of a reader.

When is applied to firms in the late 90s, the story about LeBoeuf was that they claimed never to have laid anyone off, even though everyone knew that was bullshit. I worked for them anyways, and i can tell you that that particular organization's leadership is mind-bogglingly full of shit. Imagine crossing the politburo with the Vatican and having them all use business-speak buzzwords.

Shockingly, the firm sucks ass. BTW, the firm has been hemorraghing money for years. They traded their old economy business model for - um, something else - and went from being notorious tightwads (which would've served them well) to this: they've got incredibly expensive office space, overpaid partners, overpaid associates, billing rates too high for their traditional old economy clients, plus they merged with Dewey which even the pinheads at Orrick knew to leave at the altar.

And let me just ask: how much has D&L paid out to settle malpractice or sexual harassment claims? I think i know the answer: a shitload.

Someone told me that Dewey & LeBoeuf has officially changed its name to Douchey & LeBag. I don't understand why they would make this change, especially since douching is so out of vogue now because it causes vaginal dryness.

it's true. douching does cause vaginal dryness.

It is strange that this thread has morphed into a discussion of Dealbreaker and Bess Levin, but staying on topic was never a hallmark of ATL comment threads.

If you're not familiar with it, DB is ATL's sister site, focused on Wall Street and finance:

http://dealbreaker.com/

35,
Couldn't agree more.

Most layoffs will likely come at the first Thursday of each month after the firm numbers for the prior month are final. Fasten your seatbelts for next week.

Thanks Breaking Media, for 179. Now, Elizabeth Levin, fight against the assclowns talking smack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what does TTT mean??

I love all the comments that this is the worst economy since the Great Depression. Exaggeration has never been in short supply among lawyers. Or among talking heads on television.

184: I bet you are still sitting on those four pre-construction condos you bought in Miami because real estate never goes down, right? You are an idiot.

DL are such cowards that they are denying bonuses to those who earned it (2000hr) because the payday is on March 31st, which is why they were rushing with these layoffs. Such b'shit.

186, what do you expect from a TTT firm? Dewey cannot hang with the big boys, their "peer firms".

Laying off first years? Not paying bonuses earned? Way to stay classy. What a shit firm.

I have it on good authority that the above is the least of the slimey behaviour that Dewey is engaging in.

The ship be sinking. How far can it sink? Sky's the limit.

It's no wonder that for, seemingly, the first time in Dewey history performance evaluations are being conducted earlier than anticipated. The evaluations cycle is always behind schedule. But, lo and behold, evals are all in ahead of schedule this time this cycle. Just in time to deny bonuses. Schmucks. Their day of reckoning is coming.

These are stealth layoffs, not performance related. I know numerous people who have been laid off from their london office, but given severance packages. These people were asked to sign confidentiality agreements. However, some of the terms included being able to stay on the website, continued use of the office and blackberry, etc. If it was performance related, they would not have given such things.

totally stealth. dewey associates cannot see their evaluations. the partner conducting holds the file close to his/her chest. they can say whatever they want to in those meetings.

176 -- What do you mean that D&L has been paying a shitload in malpractice and sexual harassment lawsuits? There's definitely a shitload of negative things to say about D&L, but this statement doesn't seem right.

176 -- What do you mean that D&L has been paying a shitload in malpractice and sexual harassment lawsuits? There's definitely a shitload of negative things to say about D&L, but this statement doesn't seem right.

176 -- What do you mean that D&L has been paying a shitload in malpractice and sexual harassment lawsuits? There's definitely a shitload of negative things to say about D&L, but this statement doesn't seem right.

Patton Boggs is laying people off and calling it performance based, just like DL.

The bloodletting isn't over and they don't have nearly the number of associates as a place like DL. I guess all of a sudden they decided over the past year that 10% of their associates just weren't up to par (this in addition to cutting the salaries of a ton of associates as well).

160 - this site isn't tha vapid. AcelaBob alone is worth the price of admission.

Manatt Phelps Phillips should be added to the list of firms going stealth. 2 rounds of layoffs since fall already - why aren't they on the list?

I sure every one layed off voted for OBAMA. This will be a good lesson to them that voting for someone who wants to cripple the private sector is not great for you if you work in the private sector. The private sector will likely see no economic growth over the next five years if not longer. If you are a partner at a firm your taxes are going up, your house just got more expensive because your deduction of interest payments just got capped , and ppp are falling. You are screwed. The only way to respond is to get profits back up. If you cannot increase the work you have, then the only other alternative is to try to raise margins by cutting costs. A law firm's number one cost is associate salaries. The lay offs will continue and intensify Thinking "long term about the future for when the ecomomy turns" is to indulge in a fantasy. The future will not look anything like the past.

Latham's layoff announcement just came out.

Bob Dell email confirms Latham layoffs. 190 attorneys, 250 staff. 6 months severance (up to $100,000) for all.

Amen 198, amen.

Dewey, take note of Latham severance. Douche.

198, I wonder if Republican partners are cutting Obama supporters because of difference in political views?

The ship be sinking...

DL - You're a shitty firm with an administration that treats your associates like shit. Associates give up their lives for you [being available 24/7, working their butts off] and then you make up BS reasons to fire them and go so far as to make a public statement that these are performance-based and not layoffs. I was "fired for performance reasons" even though I have never received a bad review and have gotten "outstanding" marks across the board. Dewey should be ashamed. Have some respect for your associates who have worked so hard for you and admit that these are layoffs. G-d forbid you don't look like a financially strong powerhouse, which is all that you care about.

yikes

Did D&L shut down the Hartford office yet? My friend is a recruiter in Hartford who says there are still Hartford phone numbers for some associates, but they are listed as New York, and she cannot get ahold of any of them....

Sorry gang, but Dewey is known to be a shitty firm. Take it easy. Should have seen this coming. The performance related guise is a real dick move, but it's not unlike how TTT firms behave.

D&L - all I can say is: beware the defamation law suit.

D&L - all I can say is: beware the defamation law suit.

Any word on

1) If 1st year associates were laid off?

2) Severance Packages?

3) Impact on incoming associates?

At least one first yr was fired.

Severence = 3 months.

Don't know what will happen to incoming first yrs...They will probably be fine - Dewey doesn't do anything to make them look bad in the press. First yrs and incoming first yrs are probably safe until they get their first "review".

WHAT Has happened at Dewey? How many were laid off? Was it associates, staff and partners? Inquiring minds wondered if there was any real information.

WHAT Has happened at Dewey? How many were laid off? Was it associates, staff and partners? Inquiring minds wondered if there was any real information.

Its unclear how many associates were laid off. The firm has been cutting people in small waves over the course of the year so that no publication would pick up the story that there was a mass layoff.

Why don't they just get it over with. EVERYONE KNOWS.... The stealth days of laying off are long over. Not knowing is sometimes worse than waiting.

161 can u elaborate

Guys, the party is over. New York is going back to 80k/year.

Stock market gains of the last 12 years are erased.

My advice: learn to swim.

First years are getting laid off.

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First years are getting laid too.

I heard that Dewey has only laid off women. (!!) Does anyone know if any men were laid off???

I can confirm men have in fact been laid off.

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So, what's the damage? How many people did Dewey lay off this time? Were they all associates? What about partners? What about staff?

The numbers are not known, because the firm is calling them "performance based."

I also heard that supposedly there have been only a couple of men laid off compared to women!

I know of 20 laid off Dewey attorneys so far and it is about 50/50 men and women....the carnage is far from done too...

I know of 20 laid off Dewey attorneys so far and it is about 50/50 men and women....the carnage is far from done too...

where were they laid off? The DC office is pretty small so 20 would be a huge percentage...

Funny that Dewey claimed they laid people off in November due to the semi-annual review process [http://abovethelaw.com/2008/11/nationwide_layoff_watch_perfor.php], and now again in February due to the semi-annual review process. Such BS.

Steve DiCarmine - We know you are the one making these cuts based on hours. Give up the charade already. It's pitiful.

From what I've seen, about 85% of the LAYOFFS in the NY office have been women.

Approx how many associates have been terminated for "performance" (aka laid off) in NY? Have they recently laid off in other offices also?

Dewey has been firing disproportionately the minorities - esp women and gays. Their LGBT group in NY shred 50% of its members from a year ago and their most recent layoffs follow suit: women+gays!

DOUCHEY LEBAG!!!

In a lame attempt to avoid the negative publicity from one big mass layoff, Dewey is laying off a few people a day during performance reviews, having the audacity to tell the poor associates that the reason for the layoff is performance-related. We all know that is entirely dishonest. The truth is, Dewey is having serious cash flow issues and they're trying to shed as many people as they can, under the guise of poor performance, just to pay all of its mounting bills. Dewey is in a much bigger state of economic crisis than the firm is letting on.

Does anyone have any more information about the Dewey layoffs (how many people are being laid off, from which departments, how long the process will last, etc...)?

Don't 230 and 232, if both true, imply that DL women and gays have the lowest billable hours? Not that there's anything wrong with that.

As a Dewey associate who knows a lot of the effected attorneys gays and women are NOT being targeted disproportionately. The male/female ratio is pretty much 50/50 from what I can tell....and this is from a pool of at least 30 I know of.

30 - nicely put. the ben bensons training served you well. you are now a jedi.

30 - nicely put. the ben bensons training served you well. you are now a jedi.

176 is on the money. Huge payoff to several female associates bec one DC partner can't keep it in his pants.

DL is starting to reap what it has sowed with its method for cutting the associate ranks. Instead of having the decency to conduct one or two honest layoffs per year for financial reasons, the firm started its series of so-called performance-based (i.e., low billables-based) terminations in summer 2008 and has been cutting more associates in small numbers every couple of months. Morale is now sooooo bad, that some associates whose jobs are safe (i.e., they have lots of work from rainmaking partners) are starting to leave voluntarily. Even some partners are taking their books and going elsewhere.

240- are you talking about SB or about MB (in tax)? I know one woman sued over SB and another woman I was friends w/ left b/c of MB.