Nationwide Layoff Watch: Collected News about Manatt Phelps
Over the past few months, we’ve received a few tips about layoffs at Manatt. But over the past few days the overall numbers started coming into focus. It turns out that a relatively low number of layoffs have been taking place at Manatt over the past couple of months, and the firm is now ready to confirm the news.
A Manatt spokesperson issued the following statement to Above the Law:
Since October 2008, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP has made a total of 47 lay offs across our offices nationwide, including 12 attorneys, 3 paralegals, and 32 administrative staff.These adjustments to our headcount were made due to the broad economic slowdown and our ongoing initiatives to improve resources utilization and reduce expenses.
We regret the need to take these actions, but recognize that they have become a necessity in this climate.
Our sources indicate that Manatt’s L.A. office has been the hardest hit by these moves.
We hope other firms take note of the way Manatt is handling this situation. Like many firms that have conducted “stealth” layoffs but stayed off of our radar, it appears that Manatt has been laying off a few people in small numbers for months. However, instead of suggesting that the 47 former employees were terrible at their jobs, Manatt is acknowledging that the economy is the real driver behind these cuts.
Good luck to the recently — and not so recently — unemployed.
Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of law firm layoffs
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poopin in a hat
farst?
First?
who is doing stealth layoffs
12 out of how many? What does this firm do?
damn it MysTTTal
First to say, Suck my Lexis!
who cares, i still have a half keg of green beer
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO ASK TO INCLUDE A PERCENTAGE OF LAID OFF ATTORNEYS?!
12 or 190 or 80 means nothing without context.
Don't they know the recession is over? Dow up 151 today.
The Dow's continuation of its meteoric rise with today's announcement that the Fed will buy a trillion dollars of securities proves once again that the recession is over. This was a very shortsighted move by Manatt here.
I think Phelps should apologize for letting down America.
I must protest the recent article about Loyola law school. Please refrain from writing articles about schools outside of the T50. Such material is more appropriate for the free "Trading Post" newsletters next to the gumball machines at the local Piggly Wiggly.
are march madness brackets illegal??? Justice Rehnquist didn't think so.
http://www.blackbooklegal.com/
at least they didn't Latham their 1st years
what was the severence?
You can take my life, but you can never take my 3500 sq ft and a wife!
Long live The Dow is Up Guy!
we are all so fucked. biglaw will never come back, and it will shrink by 60% by next year.
no on campus recruiting in fall 2009
1st year base salaries cut to 145
no word on severance yet...
no hotties there :( next firm.
What is this Lathamed 1st years business?
Did someone say "severance?"
Latham cut more than half of their 1st year associates in NY (33 people). To Latham your first years is to massacre them.
12--agreed. (And I shop "the Pig".)
MANATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
RECESSION IS OVER. OBAMA DONE FIXED IT. STRIPPERS, COKE, AND 27" RIMS FOR ALL!
26 -
Obama refers to his drug of choice as "blow."
26- Obama is going to pay my mortgage, pay for my school, and pay my utilities bill so shut the hell up.
This is why people are glad you have lost your jobs. Now maybe your new leader, Rush Limbaugh, can invite to live in his compound with him and his cat--you bring the Oxy!
I heard that the affected attorneys had a 3-month period in which to continue to report to work, and no additional severance.
I have to give the firm kudos for calling these "layoffs" instead of some euphemism.
What the hell is Manatt?
The firm also cut first year salaries from $160,000 to $144,000 effective April 1 (salaries were already frozen in January). Plus, more layoffs will be happening at the end of the month. Further, summer associate salaries were cut to a $125K scale. And there won't be any on campus fall recruiting this fall.
Manaetta...Menanha...Mana gonna hafta find yourself another job!
Smell the roTTT?
They same sword that Knights you will goodnight you
Believe me, I know
Joaquin P
I just saw a report on CNN about older recently laid-off workers who are resorting to plastic surgery to be able to compete with younger workers for jobs. It seems like most of the employees Manatt has laid off so far (at least in the NY office) have been over age 40, no doubt because their salaries were higher than the younger workers at the firm who've been fortunate enough to keep their jobs. This is a disturbing trend and constitutes age discrimination, which is illegal. Something law firms should know a little something about.
37,
Nice attempt to create a record for your age discrimination suit.