Husch Blackwell, Layoffs

Nationwide Layoff Watch: Midwest Firms Have Lawyers, Fire Them Too

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The mid-sized large Midwestern firm of Husch Blackwell laid off a number of attorneys and staff today, proving once again that nobody is safe from the economic downturn. Husch laid off 17 attorneys, including partners, and 45 staff today.

For some strange reason, Husch Blackwell doesn’t want to actually admit that these layoffs were due to the recession. According to the Kansas City Star:

Citing performance reasons, Husch Blackwell Sanders has terminated 17 lawyers and 45 staff members throughout its 13 offices….

[Firm chairman Dave] Fenley declined to use the term “layoffs” in connection with the firm’s actions, saying the term wrongly implied the attorneys were let go because business at the firm had slackened.

He said that Husch Blackwell was “going gangbusters” in certain areas and was meeting its numbers this year, “which is pleasantly surprising.”

Mr. Chairman, on the coasts we’ve explored the studio space with layoffs undertaken despite gang-busting-business. It turns out, people get really annoyed when you say things like that. Most people are able to identify the substance “raining” down on them. HTH.

This isn’t even the first round of layoffs at Husch Blackwell. Back in February, a tipster reported:

Although they weren’t called “layoffs,” Kansas City and St. Louis based Husch Blackwell Sanders has laid off at least 24 lawyers…. When confronted with news by Missouri Lawyers Weekly that at least 24 lawyers had been laid off, co-chairman David Fenley reported in the article that (1) he didn’t know how many were let go; and (2) the lawyers let go were the result of the normal review process.

Aren’t midwesterners supposed to be more “forthright” than “the fat-cats on Wall Street?” I mean, this firm is based in Missouri, home to Harry Buck Stopping Truman himself.

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In any event, good luck to the many associates, partners, and staffers LAID OFF reviewed away from Husch Blackwell.

Husch Blackwell lets go of 17 attorneys, 45 staff [Kansas City Star]

Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of law firm layoffs

Prior ATL coverage of Husch Blackwell

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