First to say "who cares?"

First??

I'm not scared. Skadden 2L SA.

fuck

fuck

2- many people. You know, like people in litigation at Skadden, or law students considering a job there, or people who might be interested in joining a new firm.

fuck

you're going to see this a lot more, i'm doing the same thing with some senior associates at my firm. If you've got business, just get out from under the bloated overhead of your current giant law firm. Firms today spend more on rent than they do on associate salaries!

Good article elie. succinct, to the point, and with some impressive sources.

Any quick review of Skadden.com "news" will show that Skadden has picked up numerous partners over the past few months, and this churn is nothing to worry about. Great to have former Skadden partners, in good standing, at small litigation shops. When this 36 man operation bites off more than they can chew, you know business will be referred to Skadden.

So Skadden associates shouldn't read to much into this or the sidebar program, but other V5 should shudder because of shortened summer programs and deferred start dates. Hmmm...

SkaddenDC - Cracks are starting to appear in the dam. The prophesy was true, the end is nigh.

Skadden still has a DC office?

11 -- keep telling yourself that. By your logic, skadden should jettison all of its top rainmakers and just get referrals.

Yes, skadden has gained a few partners. but all partners are not created equal. when s&c loses rodge cohen, i bet youll say, "that's OK -- they gained a 34 y/o lateral partner from mayer brown last month, so it's a wash."

I find it ironic that the issues re constitutionality of the House bill passed to tax AIG bonuses was posted and being discussed by Dealbreakers. ATL has changed from "legal tabloid" to "legal firing postings."

The DC office is the second largest in the firm, moron.

9 is correct. You will see a lot more of this. I bailed from biglaw last year, predicting that this meltdown was going to happen. My advice to those of you who don't get it yet is to get outside your comfort zone and make something happen. The rewards of building a practice will re-energize your passion for the practice of law in ways you cannot believe.

test

16- exactly, but this has always been about this. There are other sites that address the real issues (WSJ, TaxProf, Blackbook Legal Blog, Dealbreakers, etc.)

Smaller firms like this BuckleySander are making gobs of money right now because they have the ability to navigate in this economy. These guys leaving Skadden obviously understand this. And that extra money is not just going to the partners. There are smaller shops all over the country that matched BigLaw associate salaries that haven't had to layoff anyone.

9 is correct. biglaw will always remain but the growth and security is in midlaw. within the past 3 months, our firm has grown by about 20 lawyers (big growth for us) and we are now in the process of interviewing two more partners looking to leave their firms and make more money.

btw, if you ever get banned from a site such as this, just use Hide My IP. Its great software that fakes your IP address.

22, why were you banned?

yeah, when were "tabloids" ever addressing real substance? i've been to the checkout line at the grocery store.

Adam Sandler is leaving Skadden?

A little less conversation, a little more action...

Skaddenfreude!

This has happened-- to Skadden and to other firms-- in the past, and it's not the end of the world. Life goes on, and 11 is right: if the departing partners are in good standing, there will probably be a fair amount of work flowing (both ways) between BuckleySandler and Skadden.

Skadden's a sinking ship. They were lucky to get out.

The writing of SkaddenDC's demise has been on the wall for some time. This should come as no surprise to regular ATL readers.

CHOMPERS for CHANGE

29--

If Skadden is a sinking ship, I doubt there are very many firms that could be viewed as safe harbors.

--Not at Skadden

23- i dont know. i didnt use rude words any more than anyone else on this board and didnt insult elie (and in fact, gave him props every now and then). it really does not matter. my ip address changes every hour, so good luck banning me. right now, i think my computer is out of the UK, but next hour, it will be out of...who knows where.

SKATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEN

This guy Sandler is a monster rainmaker, not some generic litigation partner.

I have to be honest...I LOVE this!!! That litigation group is finally getting what's coming to them. As some of the older guard has stepped back, the newer leadership, which probably doesn't bring in half the money of Sandler, has made that group unbearable to work with. They're are associates that work exclusively with those two and I am sure they are freaked out since their work will disappear. I am elated to know that sometimes assholes get what they deserve!

20, are you the http://www.blackbooklegal.com guy?

Klubes should definitely be part of the firm name. Fun to say and rhymes with ...

Anyone who thinks this isn't bad news for Skadden DC is kidding themselves. That office had pretty much turned into dogshit over the past three years anyway, this only increases the decline. Burn baby burn!

These two partners are huge rain makers-this is not insignificant.

huge!

Associates will be hurt by this trend, especially at firms like DL where even non-deadbeat partners aren't getting paid full comp. They will bolt and leave behind associates who will have no work (good for associates at new firm though bc they get work).

Uh, not freak out? Why not? These two were THE rainmakers for Skadden's DC litigation department.

You were either working with Ben and Andy, or you were doing work imported from other offices.

Partners who bolt often take the good associates with them.

This reflects a larger trend of lateral partner movement, but I would not expect to see a ton of rainmakers moving to smaller firms. The partners most likely to leave for the smaller firms right now are the ones with more modest books who are less involved in the power structure of their firms.

If this were any other firm, ATL would give this move the credit that it deserves and not down play it. ATL has failed to cover the layoffs, no bonuses and salary freezes of DC staff attorney, the layoffs of DC staff, and the covert layoffs of DC associates.

Yeah, I know a few associates who will almost certainly be bolting with them.

Wait, I thought it was SkaddenLA that was a sinking ship. WTF is going on here?

the ship b sinkin'

35, agreed! "The new guard" has made SkaddenDC a NIGHTMARE!

43-those days are over. Biglaws will take lateral partners who can prove their books AND will give billables to the associates at new biglaw who weren't laid off but have low or no billables.

Accord 47. For some reason ATL is treating Skadden like it is somehow untouchable. Sure, it's a large, strong and profitable firm. So are many other big shops who take a lot more flak for "stealth" and "no real news, but we heard about a conference room booking." Replace "Skadden" with "Kirkland" or "DPW," and this post would read a lot differently.

Someone will point out that it would read differently because Skadden is far better positioned, managed, and talented than these other firms. I don't buy it. Either Skadden and similarly situated firms are all bulletproof, or rainmaking litigation partners leaving a corporate-heavy firm is, in fact, something to read into. Especially because your firm "insiders" think it is.

"modest book" is a laughable description if directed to Andy. There is nothing modest about him.

The only first name with more baggage than Mitch is Sheldon

How is it that people are concerned about these sorts of developments? People have been leaving Skadden and other firms to take interesting and often very lucrative positions in areas that are going to garner more business. That is called good business and doesn't imply Skadden is hurting in any way (or will be hurt).

SkaddenDC litigation partner Mitch Cumstein will pick up the rainmaking slack.

57 = win

56: You're right. Skadden is not hurting in any way. Things are just wonderful. Skadden is miraculously immune to the current economic crisis, and the loss of two huge rainmakers will have no impact whatsoever.

Care for some more kool-aid?

Good thread. Lots of juicy inside info. I was inspired by 18's comments, and generally felt good when I saw that lawyers sometimes have the guts to do something the slightest bit innovative and risky.

Speaking of IP hiding, I hope 45 used something to hide his/her IP. hardhitting accusations.

56 has never heard of Andy before half an hour ago.

Skadden associates in a non-DC office contemplate the partners' departures:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkbdP7sq0w8

Favorite typical Mitch moment:

"Yes, we know you guys (associates & staff attorneys in the meeting) spend your time on Above the Law."

Uh, ya think? Try getting us some work, jackass....

I used to work at Buckley Kolar. They have a very focused practice (banking and financial services) and more than half of their 2 or 3 dozen attorneys are contract attorneys. Most of the partners there are old GoodwinProctor partners from the DC office who jumped ship years ago becasue Goodwin gave up on their practice area.

They bring in summers and laterals but have almost no training program. If a young attorney ever wishes to do more than flounder and, at best, learn nothing but financial regulatory law from young attorneys who've trained themselves...this is the firm for you. I can't see how this new firm would ever be able to support any sizable transaction brought in by these 2 partners. It seems like Sandler would spend significant time on their consulting business...they've been trying to get that off the ground for years.

I recall working on a multi-state regulatory issue at the firm with 3 other young attorneys and we were LITERALLY teaching ourselves how to do the transaction -- with no help available from anyone more than a 3rd year. I kept thinking...wow...what a horribly messed up way to practice law. God help them if the documents from that transaction ever get litigated.

this really did not warrant an entry.

The smart folks ALWAYS leave before the ship sinks.

I hate that ATL is now editing comments. Apparently it wants to sweep under the rug that Skadden has become a cesspool of elitism (as concerns staff attorneys) and sexism since Mitch Ettinger took over the lit department.

Skadden partners leaving?

This is AWESOME!!

I'm amused that the deletion of comments led to this result:

Comment 56: "57 = win"
Comment 57: "56: You're right..."

69 - way to take it to 67 for assuming something that need not necessarily be the case.

67 - still convinced you understand what happened?
68 - thanks!

67 - Assumption is the mother of all F-ups

Maybe 69?

Dang,

I was 70 and not 69, foreshadowing pwned!

The one and only true 69 ... here comes WeAreAllWhores comment to be moderated ...

70/71: lame

and partner AS has been asked to "bill more hours" or leave... as she apparently has no work whatsoever.

MORE ROOM AT THE TOP BABY!!!!!!!

More evidence that few firms are free from deadbeat partner infestations. In Skadden's case, like most, the deadbeat partner infestation is so severe that they'd rather die a slow death by losing rainmakers than take their medicine, endure the cramps, compensate based on economic merit and push out the worms.

After Bennett, Sandler is the biggest rainmaker at Skadden DC. Period. This is a big deal. Skadden's DC litigation practice is in trouble, and the litigation associates in DC are screwed.

Andy is the most prominent fair lending litigator in the city. This is remarkable.

I'm still trying to figure this out. And how this can get me clients...

A) It is true that a comment was deleted. It was about Ettinger. I read it earlier in the day.

B) Sandler is/was the biggest rainmaker in DC Lit. Bigger rainmaker, at least in the last 2-3 years, than Bennett (who wasn't even second, think Mahoney was). People are freaked out cause he brought in HUGE money last year and his practice keeps a lot of people busy (and made 2 guys partner in the last 2 years). No word on who is going with him but just about everybody is willing to listen to his pitch.

The new firm's initials = BS. Perfect.

With white collar from Bob, Carl et. al. and SEC enforcement from Colleen and her crew as well as growing bankruptcy and health care practices, they will be fine.

It's not about being fine. Sure they'll be fine.

It's about the headscratchiness of it.

Andy Sandler left Skadden. For Buckley Kolar?
It's kind of like when the Homecoming Queen dates the goth guy who doesn't ever speak and kills bugs with his lighter. You imagine there must be something that attracted her but you can't for the life of you figure out what that is.

Why?

Isn't it pretty likely that these two guys picked up some big group of matters relating to the current banking debacle - for which they want more credit than Skadden is willing to give - so they left to manage those matters at a small shop? If so, it has nothing to do with any sort of collapse at Skadden, it's just two lions taking the kill to a safe place to eat it. Two partners in a firm of over 1000 shouldn't be the end of the world.

79 - awesome! couldn't agree more.

81 - as 82 suggests, Sandler got sick of bringing in all the money and seeing the most of it go into the pockets of partners who a) can't bring in business and b) aren't even billing as many hours as the staff attorneys.

The Skadden partners often bill more than the associates. They may have faults, but it is not fair to call them not hard working.

why the hell does ATL treat Skadden like it's God or something. It has never been the most profitable firm, nor ever gotten the respect of its "peers." Skadden is a great firm, but ATL treats it like it's perfect. Skadden is NO S&C...Skadden is DEFINITELY NO Cravath.... Wachtell, forget about it.

Will this impact other Skadden offices? Did the departing partners staff cases from just the DC office?

The world did not revolve around Sandler

Skadden recently laid off staff positions, including legal assistants, staff attorneys, and secretaries. The partners voted on bonuses that set the industry high this past December while the economy was in turmoil. Then, less than one month later, the partners voted to reduce the staff positions. Now, I am sleepless and jobless although I have sent out countless resumes, just so the partners and associates can continue to inflate their already inflated bank accounts. This is corporate greed at its best. Another AIG!! Is this what we consider “thinking big”. If so, I guess I need to find another profession Mr. Sheehan and Skadden et al..

37: It's pronounced "kloo-bez," not "kloobz." Alas.

Sandler was just pissed when it became clear they were making Mitch Ettinger head of the group. Sour grapes.