Nationwide Layoff Watch: Pircher Nichols and the Rule of Eight

Now that Citigroup decided that the recession was over, hopefully this layoff news will start to dissipate. But we wanted to catch up on some layoff news that happened yesterday that we weren’t able to get to. Pircher Nichols & Meeks had its second round of layoffs, and the numbers were surprisingly similar to the first round of cuts.

Leo Pircher explained the news to Above the Law:

The Firm laid off eight attorneys, five in Los Angeles and three in Chicago. Two of the attorneys were first years.

In early December, Pircher Nichols also laid off attorneys, eight attorneys to be exact. Those cuts included one first year.

First years aren’t safe at large law firms, and they’ll find no quarter at mid-sized law firms either.

Read the full statement after the jump.


PIRCHER NICHOLS & MEEKS — STATEMENT — LAYOFFS

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The Firm laid off eight attorneys, five in Los Angeles and three in Chicago. Two of the attorneys were first years. The commercial real estate market, which is the area in which the Firm’s practice is concentrated, has not recovered. As a result, the work of the Firm has significantly slowed. Our clients tell us that they do not anticipate much of a recovery before 2010. In order to maintain the viability of the Firm, and thus preserve as many jobs as possible, it is necessary that we bring our costs in line with our revenue. Therefore, we have, very reluctantly, taken this action. Nevertheless, we remain optimistic that the commercial real estate market will recover strongly in the foreseeable future, and that we will resume the growth that we experienced in the last several years. We hold the attorneys that were laid off in the highest regard, both personally and professionally. We will do whatever we can to help them find new positions.

Leo Pircher

Earlier: Nationwide Layoff Watch: In Case You Were Wondering, The Economy Is Hurting Mid-Sized Firms Too

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