Layoffs

Nationwide Layoff Watch: Pillsbury's Voluntary Departure Numbers

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As we told you yesterday, Pillsbury management had booked a few conference rooms today to let people know the state of the firm’s layoff plans. The firm promised to release the numbers of associates who took the voluntary departure program.

It doesn’t look like the firm has released the splits (between voluntary and involuntary) but we do know the overall number of people Pillsbury is looking to lay off:

55 associates, 10 paralegals, 90 staffers.

Once again, it looks like all of the partners, even the loud ones, have been spared.

We understand that 55 associates represent about 14% of Pillsbury’s total associate complement.

Again, the firm has not yet released the breakdown between associates that will be laid off involuntarily, versus the associates that accepted the voluntary departure offer. Of course, a tipster tells us:

I don’t know of any attorneys that took it.

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Neither do we.

Update (12:17): After the jump, we have the full text of Pillsbury’s layoff memo.

Earlier: Pillsbury: Attorneys Brace For ‘Involuntary’ Departure Program

Pillsbury’s ‘Voluntary Departure’ Plan

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to New York (Or: Pillsbury associates, brace yourselves.)

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PILLSBURY — MEMO — LAYOFFS

To: All Partners, Counsel, Associates and Staff

The Firm today is implementing a workforce reduction in order to bring our lawyers and staff resources more in line with the current and expected needs of our clients. The depth of the current economic downturn, and the corresponding reduction in demand for legal services, regretfully has led us to this difficult decision. Overall, approximately 55 lawyers, 10 paraprofessionals and 90 staff will be affected by this workforce reduction, which includes those who are participating in the Firm’s voluntary departure programs announced last week. These reductions are not performance based and affect personnel throughout our offices, departments and sections.

We will provide all affected employees with severance pay, health benefits and

career transition services.

We have identified a number of non-profit legal services organizations that are willing to enter into an arrangement whereby Pillsbury will fund the salary and benefits of a lawyer affected by the workforce reduction for a one-year legal position. Lawyers who are interested in this option may interview with the service organizations, and if selected by them would forgo their severance pay as part of the arrangement. We believe that many lawyers, particularly junior associates, could benefit from this opportunity to assist their communities and at the same time enhance their legal skills and obtain additional professional experience.

Today’s actions are all the more difficult because we know first hand the many contributions that our lawyers, paraprofessionals and staff have made to Pillsbury in the time they have been with us, and because we know them to be talented and diligent professionals. We would ask that everyone respect their privacy and provide them with the consideration that they deserve.

Rick Donaldson

Chief Operating Officer

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

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