This is terrible. Best of luck to all those affected.

I had White Castle for lunch.

craptasmic

It's a wholelawcost.

Labor Grim Reaper here again. Associate blood is sweet and the more I take in, the less empty I feel. Perhaps partner blood will satiate my thirst. Partners in biglaw are like serpents on the medusa. Cut one off, two grow in its place. Time to slay the medusa completely.

first years?

BAM!

Armageddon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus, 200 lawyers? What % of their associates is that?

Wow.

Thus far today:

K&L Gates: 36 associates/79 staff
Morgan Lewis: 55 associates/161 staff
White & Case: 200 associates/200 staff

Total: 291 associates/440 staff

731 Total Layoffs

And it's just after 1pm.

This sucks, but it's also important--the dam is breaking with respect to partners. They aren't safe anymore, nor should they be.

damn.

For the love of God, MAKE IT STOP
AHHHHHHHHH

10: Just under 10%, I think

Do I smell the next Thatcher?

Is Monday the new TTThursday?

Do I smell the next Thatcher?

They just laid off Jesus, too.

Those prime west coast parking spots are now open.

milbank news to follow.....

whiTTTe & case

9-

Wrong bitch. DEEP IMPACT

So, for those of us who are single, unemployed, possibly living with parents - Should people who have been laid off and had to move back into their parents' basements totally give up on dating? Are prospects hopeless? And is there a gender difference there? (Are men more willing to overlook the unemployment thing than women?) Discuss.

#1-correction, the ship has officially sunk!!

I'm hearing some buzz that howrey layoffs are being announced this week also. At least 75 associates.

Which offices? Which practice groups?

When will the bleeding stop? We are living in some pretty awful times. What a terrible time to be a lawyer.

Per NALP as of 2008, 200 associates is about 45% of all associates in the New York office.

I realize it's a big firm and has several offices, but 200 lawyers is a HUGE percentage of associates.

24:

The answer to all three questions is "yes".

The god damn plane has crashed into the mountain!

OMG- the world is going to HELL!!! I am going back to school become something OTHER than a lawyer!!!

Hey guys I haven't heard much about Charlotte firms laying off these past few weeks. Does this mean I still have a good chance at OCI this summer?

Charlotte Law 1L

Hey guys I haven't heard much about Charlotte firms laying off these past few weeks. Does this mean I still have a good chance at OCI this summer?

Charlotte Law 1L

nervous T-10 1L here again, still can't remember my password.

i feel bad for all those laid off. i don't plan on bidding on any of these firms and neither should other soon-to-be 2L's. i think it would be much better to have no 2L job at all then to work at a firm that very well might dissolve before you even get there or worse...after you accept a full time offer with them.

*nervously adds another firm to my 'no bid list,' cries as i flip the page on my legal pad to page two*

-nervous T-10 1L
soon to be nervous 1L sa

Can anyone substantiate the statement that 200 associates were already laid off? My reading of the memo just says that are going to lay off 200 associates. Have all been notified?

3500 sq ft and a wife, bitches!

and a Lexis in Texas.

Question: where will Latham and White/Case fall in the Vault rankings this year?

Nom Nom Nom

More GRAPES!!!

Damn - this thing is getting worn out today. We're going to have to bring in a new blade for the partners' severance. Perhaps we'll make it a gold plated one in honor of the occasion.

Any W&C associates hear of actual announcements yet? I don't think anyone has formally been laid off.

Should have worked at Dewey. They've only laid off 12 in structured finance.

24 - I echo your sentiment. Although, my parents do have a sick DVD player.

41: I just heard you got the axe; sorry brosef.

wat ab. Art. 2?

http://www.blackbooklegal.com

Locke Lord owns all you sucka bitches.

Do laid-off attorneys from W&C get priority for jobs at the other W&C (the one that isn't laying off)?

Thank god I accepted at Skadden. You are all idiots.

UVA3L

"White & Case brings us to 731 associates and staff laid off today. What a bloody, black, March Monday."

As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, thank you Mr. Mystal.

I shall compose a poem laced with typographical errata when time permits in order to show my gratitude.

30 - So do women have a chance in the dating market even if they are unemployed basement dwellers? Are men harder hit in this regard?

Thanks Obama!

Good luck to all those affected. Another rough day.

I find the 60% deferral of the summer class interesting. W&C had a HUGELY overbooked summer class this past year. I'm curious if this year's class will start in 2010 with the deferred people, or in 2011 (essentially splitting up the giant 2008 class into 2009 first years and 2010 first years).

This sounds like something Latham would do.

48 - being fired is great! I get to sit around all day drinking beer and watching tv with no pants on. I can't wait until you join me UVA tool

51 = racist

"They still call it the White House, but that is a temporary situation."

wondering if it was across the board layoffs, or mostly in corporate. What about discovery attorneys? did W&C lay-off any of them?

wondering if it was across the board layoffs, or mostly in corporate. What about discovery attorneys? did W&C lay-off any of them?

54 = racist homer simpson

Note To Self:

Do not increase hiring by 300% when entering the worse recession in a generation.

- White & Case Hiring Committee

51 - you're an effing moron.

HEY ELIE, can you please put percentages on these layoff posts? how hard is that?!

37- Your mispelling of 'Lexus' illustrates why I don't want to work in a state full of Kenny Powers-esque idiots.

The affected associates are meeting up at Fudruckers tonight at 8 to drown our sorrows. Shrimp poppers will be served.

Were first years affected?

yeah 51 is pretty dumb. hope and change will get us through this!!!!

-not 51

Just heard that Paul Hastings has a round coming this week.

Thank you sweet Jesus for this box of documents I am about to review. What's that you say Jesus? They just laid YOU off??!?
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I don't believe 35 is really Nervous T-10 1L. His or her (who are we kidding? His) whole life is monitoring and making pathetic comments to this blog. How could he forget his password? Hints: try "VaultT5", "WachtellRules" or "NoOffer"

They should have started with partner reductions. Cutting a non-equity partner or counsel who just serves an equity partner's clients is where the real money savings are. I'm so tired of hearing about associate layoffs. The bottomline savings are impacted only when dozens of associates are let go. 4 or 5 partner reductions, on the other hand, can result in serious savings.

OCEANS RISE

EMPIRES FALL

QUINN REMAINS

It's about time some partners start walking Spanish.

62 - You spelled Lexus wrong.

Longhorn Slim

Please refrain from calling the firm W&C. That could be confused with Williams & Connolly. And the two firms are polar opposites.

37- really!?! a Lexis!!?! moron. You should be laid off

"Thank god I accepted at Skadden. You are all idiots."

This made my day.

W&C had about 2000 associates before layoffs so that would be about 13.5%.

51-You Rush Limbaugh wanna be! Tell all of your fellow conservatives to stop spreading all the Anti-Obama propaganda. You all are ridiculous. Bush screwed us. You right-wingers need to accept it, shut-up, and take your left-wing beatings like men (or whatever you are)

IMPOSTORS RISE

EXPECTATIONS FALL

QUINN REMAINS REMAINS

62: You must have WesTTTlaw.

50:

Yes; they likely have better dating prospects if they are readily willing to provide appropriate relief and comfort to a gainfully employed man.

30

Now begins the Rule of Pain.

I wonder if the deferred 3Ls will be receiving the latham 75K package.

To 26, have you heard anything more about a possible Howrey layoff?

Considering Howrey does not have any corporate or finance sections, this could be bad. At least a lot of these other firms have such practices dragging them down, and hence an excuse.

49, are you sure you meant "shall" and "errata" in your post mocking someone else's grammar?

77 stfu u ttt

3500 sq ft and a wife and a Lexis
___________________________

You are an embarrassment to the great State of Texis.

we're all Loyola 2Ls now

69 -- It's not often the case that firing non-equity partners and counsel results in more cost-savings. The partners and counsel are more efficient, resulting in fewer write-offs than associates and no need for supervision, and they bill out at a higher rate, resulting in more fees generated to cover their higher cost to the firm and more revenue for equity partners. That's why these folks are usually kept longer than many associates when the work starts to slow.

You know, "[a]nti-Obama propaganda" has a name - it's called first amendment. And, if not for the MSM's
pro-Obama propaganda, Obama wouldn't have been where he is now. So take that responsibility like a man.

You guys want change, now you got it. Too bad, "Hope" decides not to join the ride.

I think its pretty safe to say that White & Case is officially on Heller/Thacher death watch.

really sux.

incoming associate class-

By "2010 start date" we meant never.

Gibson Dunn also remains

LAYOFFS RISE

FORDHAM FALLS

KELLEY DRYE REMAINS

Remember when White & Case was prestigious?

Me neither.

I just bought my wife Toyota Land Crewser.

3 car garage and a wife in Fort Worth

Career Advice to Young Lawyers/Law Students:

1) 1-4Y Associates: Move to Mexico or the Carribean. Live a relaxed life for a few years until the economy improves. Adopt a new identity (try something more original than Jose Cuervo) and then come back as an illegal alien. Get a new social security and start a new life. Good luck to Sallie Mae in finding you in your new identity.

2) 3L: Life is beautiful. Do not contemplate suicide. Since you made a risky decision to become a lawyer in the face of an impending economic recession, you are no stranger to risk. Since you are used to taking risks, become a trapeeze artist or clean windows for high rises. I hear those jobs pay over $15 an hour. Just make sure the harnesses are sturdy.

3) 2L: Get a real job now and get on the PT law track. If your school has no PT program, get an MBA or MPA and stretch out your education by at least three to four years. By the time you graduate, you will be overqualified to do menial work for above minimum wage.

4) 1L: Don't think you will ride out the recession boys and girls. A job at biglaw will not be waiting for you when you graduate and the economy won't be hunky dory in 2011. Best advice I can give you is drop out of law school now since you only leveraged out one year of student loans. You can repay back $50K in your lifetime. $150K or $200K with no $160K job on the horizon? Not likely.

And that my friends is sage advice that your career services advisor or legal headhunter won't offer you.

YAY FOR OBAMANOMICS! Every time he opens his mouth, the Dow plunges and attorneys get fired. Looking forward to 1/20/2013!

89- We get it: you think Obama sucks. That's fine. Now can we all get back to running around like chickens with our heads cut off? Thanks.

83--despite not having transactional practices, Howrey is still suffering. Many clients have put the brakes on new matters, and the partners are all expecting another banner year. Some offices and practices have been slow for a year or more at this point.

59 - do you really not know the difference between "worse" and "worst," or are you just that careless?

The problem with Obama, 89, 98, and 99, is that a good grade in rhetoric/oration does not equal a good grade in leadership. There is no leadership, and that is why things are in a free-fall now. People are scared, companies are failing. Does Obama care? No. He just wants to ensure that a restaurant is open for Date Night, that Stevie Wonder is available to give private performances, and the Wizards have a game to be played at that arena in DC. Oh, and redistributing every rich person's wealth (except his own).

79 - You're an idiot.

102- What part of getting back to running around like chickens with our heads cut off did you NOT understand?

-99

I just received a letter from my firm stating that my start date has been pushed back to 2020 and that my position will be taken at that time by my daughter.

No one should consider joining that firm...

Formerly soon to be first year associate at Lickum Scrotom.

88--go read today's entry on Adam Smith, esquire.

Elie - can you find out what offer the deferred 3L's got?

102 = Ignorant and proud.

Me - accepted at Skadden
You - barrel full-o-idiots

3L here. I don't know what to do with myself. I am a fucking disaster. Do I even deserve to live?

how quickly do law firms take down the profiles of laid off attorneys? I want to check up on law school classmates/acquaintances without a d-bag 'do you still have a job?' email.

102 = ignorant, stupid, evil and proud.

Not sure what part of the disastrous last 8 Bush years he/she slumbered through in a drunken stupor. Seems like it was all of it.

Jacoby & Meyers just laid me off and I don't even work there.

GULC3L

85 is in denial. Republican policies for the last eight years have brought this $%^&%$ to your door step- now stuff your mouth with it. Rush and Hannity will continue to preach thier gospel and you will bend over for them. Coulture will bring the hot towel.

110, see 97(2).

I can't believe that people have the audacity blame this meltdown on Obama as people Bush sits pretty on the waelth he gained on the backs of the American people. Conservatives are so scared b/c they for once feel there mortality. Well stay afraid b/c I can't wait unil 1/20/2013 either, when Obama gets elected AGAIN, and hopefully, someone else will give the oath and not let the Bush appointee screw it up.

I'm one of White & Case's summers from last year, and I have yet to hear ANYTHING from them. Fannnnntastic.

I can't believe that people have the audacity blame this meltdown on Obama as people Bush sits pretty on the waelth he gained on the backs of the American people. Conservatives are so scared b/c they for once feel there mortality. Well stay afraid b/c I can't wait unil 1/20/2013 either, when Obama gets elected AGAIN, and hopefully, someone else will give the oath and not let the Bush appointee screw it up.

110: Get together with 103. He's just a real bitter dude. You could play S&M together.

I can't believe that people have the audacity blame this meltdown on Obama as people Bush sits pretty on the waelth he gained on the backs of the American people. Conservatives are so scared b/c they for once feel there mortality. Well stay afraid b/c I can't wait unil 1/20/2013 either, when Obama gets elected AGAIN, and hopefully, someone else will give the oath and not let the Bush appointee screw it up.

Is anyone handing out towels for this bloodbath?

110: Get together with 103. He's just a real bitter dude. You could play S&M together.

Is anyone handing out towels for this bloodbath?

Politics and commenting on the internet do not mix.

DAAAAAAVE GORDOOOON!!!!!

DAAAAAAVE GORDOOOON!!!!!

Prestige whores out there - Rush and Hannity aren't even college grads. Spouting off like they understand the economy when they couldn't even finish school.

Why would any firm *not* push 3L start dates back? Are they just too stubborn/loyal/stupid?

116/118/120

I can't believe there are people stupid enough to hit "Post Comment" three times. Further proves that Obama supporters are morons.

Milwaukee to 190!!!

116, since when does an incumbent have to re-take an oath upon re-election?

Prestige whores out there - Rush and Hannity aren't even college grads. Spouting off like they understand the economy when they couldn't even finish school.

The legal market may suck, but there are plenty of jobs that will make use of your big firm experience. For example:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/lab/1057448024.html

109 --- Skadden sucks -- big time

Jacoby & Meyers lays off GULC grads.

120 et al,

I am not a rabid republican, my Obama has not handled the present crisis well. He continues to engage in finger pointing and class warfare which has done nothing but spook investors and employers. He is employing a psychology of fear to pass his liberal agenda which will bankrupt our children. I love change!

120 et al,

I am not a rabid republican, my Obama has not handled the present crisis well. He continues to engage in finger pointing and class warfare which has done nothing but spook investors and employers. He is employing a psychology of fear to pass his liberal agenda which will bankrupt our children. I love change!

66 - Re: Paul Hastings
There is a firm wide meeting Wednesday at 11:00. It is widely believed that layoffs will be announced then. Expect a solid 10% of the associates. Mostly in corporate and real estate, but some low performers in Tax, Litigation and Employment.

131 - Go read the 20th Amendment, Section 1.

"We didn't get our forty acres and a mule, but we did get you CC."

You can judge the intelligence of Obama apologists by their ability to follow simple English instructions, such as "Please only submit your comment once."

Of course, some ghetto resident will come up with the bright idea of copying my post and posting it multiple times, to pretend that I can't follow the same instructions. Sorry, we already know that trick.

Paul Hastings in an effort to cut costs, is now requiring female associates to throw themselves down several flights of stairs instead of the firm doing it.

So should the White & Case 2009 summer associate class expect a) offers deferred to 2011 like MLB; b) no offers; c) no offers deferred to 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUtwzuQm7HI&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUtwzuQm7HI&feature=channel_page

Yeah, 129, that's a REALLY smart argument. Maybe YOU should run for President. After all, Bush did. Maybe you need to read my post 3 times to get it thru your thick head--YOUR BIPARTISAN, SELF-SERVING, SABOTAGING TACTICS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK!

Charlotte Law 1L-

Layoffs have not been particularly harsh around Charlotte, particularly if you do something besides real estate and bank work (which plenty of folks in this town do.) However, if you are at Charlotte Law you have NO CHANCE of getting a job at pretty much any firm in this town. Look around you. UNC, Duke, Wake, even Campbell, NC Central, Elon are all ahead of you for the few jobs available in NC. Charlotte Law is a complete joke and is totally unnecessary. Your best bet is going to be as an assistant Clerk of Court in a rural county (maybe) or a one man shop doing traffic tickets. Don't pay that much for a $30k a year job. They are lying to you if they are telling you anything different.

Yeah, 129, that's a REALLY smart argument. Maybe YOU should run for President. After all, Bush did. Maybe you need to read my post 3 times to get it thru your thick head--YOUR BIPARTISAN, SELF-SERVING, SABOTAGING TACTICS ARE NOT GOING TO WORK! I can sense how scared you all are. You and all those like you are pathetic.

What is a one man shop?

"I am not a rabid republican, my Obama has not handled the present crisis well. He continues to engage in finger pointing and class warfare which has done nothing but spook investors and employers. He is employing a psychology of fear to pass his liberal agenda which will bankrupt our children. I love change!"

Good thing I'm not having children. Here's to your children being bankrupted.

141 - That is a blatant lie and unfair statement about Paul Hastings. It's only pregnant and formerly pregnant female associates that are being asked to throw themselves down stairs.

Has White & Case cut back their summer program? Any limits on the number of weeks for summers this year?

151: They cut it by about half. I've heard that they have about 50 summers coming in this year, which is probably good news.

151: They cut it by about half. I've heard that they have about 50 summers coming in this year, which is probably good news.

114: It wasn't just the Republican policies. It was also the Democratic policies. No one party created this mess. We all did. Republican, Democrat, Amercians. We all did this.

And no self respecting Republican believes Rush and Hannity are nothing but bomb throwers.

The media attention this received was nothing but a biased Media fuled by a partisian white house to paint every Republican as one of these fools. (Pretty good politics actually).

Grow Up. We all as a nation Democrat and Republican alike must work together to navigate this economy.

Interesting how the Republicans would be convinced that one man could ruin the economics of this country and the world in less that 100 days. But refuse to believe that their puppet of a leader had nothing to do with the current economic downturn. Bush did this to us. Not Obama! I'd have the Kool-Aid analyzed if I were you.

What many have failed to appreciate during this spike in firings is that the covenants in many law firm credit agreements contain attorney productivity requirements. So, if the average number of billable hours per attorney falls below a certain level, it causes a covenant default which must be cured in order to avoid the loan being called. Clearly the firms cannot increase productivity, so the only way to cure the default is to reduce the number of attorneys.

While I have done "dates" in parents' basements, the unemployed thing is a prob for me hon...
...better dig in to that severance...

100 - which offices and practices? any idea about incoming first years?

151: I think there are about 60 summers in New York. Program was rolled back from 12 weeks to 10.

Anyone know any details regarding the severance? 3 months? 6 months? No months?

#6 --- In true ATL fashion let me correct you: It's heads on the Hydra, not serpents on Medusa. Get your mythology right before using it.

What Paul Hastings offices?

Oh, wow. I didn't know that Rush and Hannity were college dropouts. Michael Moore is a college dropout and he's smarter than the two of them put together.

Has anyone at White and Case heard they were fired yet today?

Well, we're all screwed. All I want now is for Obama to increase/extend unemployment.

Paul/Perot in '13!

Not in DC. HR is just walking around smiling.

What happened to the conjoined twins commenter from last week? Can we get more of that?? Best new thing on ATL since Frat Stud came on the scene.

Does ANYONE know if the associates were actually notified yet?

And, no, I don't work there.

Not hearing anything makes us too nervous to be productive!

My friend is a 3L, just read 60% of her class is deferred, and has yet to hear ANYTHING from W&C directly. Classy.

Not hearing anything makes us too nervous to be productive!

What many have failed to appreciate during this spike in firings is that the covenants in many law firm credit agreements contain attorney productivity requirements. So, if the average number of billable hours per attorney falls below a certain level, it causes a covenant default which must be cured in order to avoid the loan being called. Clearly the firms cannot increase productivity, so the only way to cure the default is to reduce the number of attorneys.

What many have failed to appreciate during this spike in firings is that the covenants in many law firm credit agreements contain attorney productivity requirements. So, if the average number of billable hours per attorney falls below a certain level, it causes a covenant default which must be cured in order to avoid the loan being called. Clearly the firms cannot increase productivity, so the only way to cure the default is to reduce the number of attorneys.

Those who blame Bush for everything need their heads examined, Obama included. You have a pimple on your face? Blame Bush. Your car doesn't start? Blame Bush. You chose to go $150k in debt and now can't get a job? Blame Bush.

The bottom line is that we are experiencing the tail end of the raminifications of CLINTON's administration and have yet to fully realize the effects of Bush's administration. We will not feel the impact of Obama's administration (one term, I might add) until the next presidency in 2013 or even later. Nothing happens overnight, people. So grow up. Bush isn't to blame for your woes. Bush may deserve criticism, and rightly so, as no president is perfect. But Obama is no savior. And you all are just myopic and blind to think otherwise. The DOW didn't collapse under Bush. It might have plunged, but it waited to collapse until after your Promised One flubbed his oath.

If you want to debate politics, can you please go to CNN, Politico, the Caucus, or any other appropriate venue?

Thank you, 176. I could be losing my job tomorrow and we have people on here griping about Bush and Obama and even Clinton. Good grief.

I’m an incoming W&C associate (well I hope I still am) and they still haven’t told us anything. Not even an email saying they’ll let us know at a later time.

178 - if you haven't heard, hopefully you are in the 40% who are not being deferrred. I would hope they would not publish this information without having notified those people. I don't think they would affirmately post a specific percentage if they hadn't already worked out how to get to that percentage.

have any incoming 3Ls emailed or called HR?

have any incoming 3Ls emailed or called HR?

179--thanks for the encouraging comment, but I don't think they've notified any of the incoming associates. So mean.

178, 179-- W&C 3L here. I have talked to 7 of my peers and no one has heard anything from the firm. That is a large enough group to assure that they haven't informed anyone yet.

178 - sorry to hear that. My friend is an incoming and heard the news on ATL.

182, 183 - good luck. I would call HR and get the suspense over with...

OBAMA "is employing a psychology of fear". Are you freaking kidding me. That's how Republicans love to go about getting elected. That's how Bush was able to get us into this unwarranted Iraqi war, which has been responsible for much of our debt (but no one likes to talk about that). And McCain and Palin tried to use it on the campaign trail. Guess you guys are pretty pissed it didn't work this time around, huh? (haha)

Do you really think we should call HR tonight? I figured they would just tell us that we would hear later and that they didn't have any more information at this point.

Wow...incoming associates are hearing about this from ATL rather than the firm? That's spectacularly bad on W&C's part. Hang in there, folks - I hope you get some resolution there soon. My husband and I are both in biglaw. His firm did layoffs recently, he was cut, and though that really sucked (and still does), the waiting was so, so much worse. I really feel for you guys.

The memo is pretty clear that the hammer has not fallen

"A reduction in our workforce of *about* 200 associates and 200 administrative and business support staff. These reductions *will* vary by region and practice, based on the needs of our business."

189 - I thought the memo was clear too, but that didn't stop ATL from writing that W&C "had" "laid off" 400 people "today". That also seems clear. Unfortunately, just not accurate.

Have any W&C associates heard *anything* yet? As of mid-afternoon, it sounds like they were getting their news through rumors, ATL and that memo, without any direct news of who's in and who's out.

An Ex-W&C'er

Maybe in the next round of firings they’ll just post all our names to ATL and tell us to check here instead of bothering to tell anyone individually.

Maybe we should all move to Mobassa?

191 - no. Pretty lame to send that memo ahead of time. What's the point? Screw it. I'm leaving early.

Maybe we should all move to Mobassa?

no one was laid off today! ATL can't read. The memo doesn't say the layoffs were going to be today.

Somewhere in Chicago a liberal mob group has lost its idiot.

We are going down captain.

And yet Quinn remains!

Also, some people have posted that Limbaugh didn't graduate college. Last time I checked, Limbaugh was flying around in his 45 million dollar Gulf Stream. He must be a little smarter/better than 99% of the posters here.

197 - Grisham has an awesome character based on YOU.

any law firm not admitting it is being hurt by this economy is run by a bunch of douchebags

Son is a W&C first year and has been told that Associates to know by Wednesday.

Do you think we incoming first years should call HR tomorrow if we still haven't heard anything? This is getting a little absurd.

All I hear are about associates and partners, don't you ppl care about the administrative staff?

It is inexcusable to send out this memo and then wait to give people the information about whether they are laid off or not. Inexcusable.

202 - Of course they don't. They're lawyers.

W&C folks will know by Tues PM / Wed. AM

White & Case needs to get its act together. One of my friends is an incoming summer and hasn't heard a thing from the firm about the layoffs (the first round or this round). If you're gonna make an announcement, be prepared to announce to all concerned people immediately. O'Melveny made a huge effort with that, and incoming summers have appreciated it. How hard is it to send an email and/or make a phone call? Morale is going to be bad enough as it is. Lack of transparency will just keep summers in fear. Good management.

I'm waiting to see some of these firms go completely out of business.

Do you really think that the W&C, or any of the firms conducting mass layoffs now, really cares about the summers or incoming 1st years? Do you not see what's happening? Associates and in some cases partners who have been working for these firms, some for years, are being let go in droves. Thousands of highly qualified lawyers are being laid off due to this ecomony. Do you REALLY think that at this rate you're going to even have a job at that firm if this keeps up? Seriously. You are not immune. If they are not, you certainly are not -- you're worthless to them with no experience. Clean up that resume.

206, you are so naive. Don't say that O&M made a huge effort. Are you a Mormon from Utah or something? Your post made me laugh. All of these firms could give a rat's ass about you or anyone else. They're all snakes.

I agree with 208 and 209. The firms do not care about the summers and incoming 1st years - nor should they. All you law students, you are worthless to the firm. You may have a nice resume but no experience. The firm is already full of people with great resumes and experience - if those people are being let go, what makes you think you have the right to have a job this summer or in the fall?

I am a retired partner who still gets a dividend check from the Firm. To all these sniveling and undeserving brats that had the privilege of working at my Firm during your limited tenure, be very grateful for the experience and opportunity to work at a fine environment. We trained you at our expense to become fine lawyers. We groomed you during the early years when you were considered a liability. The economy has hit the skids. It is either the partner or you. Who do you think is going to come out on top? It's a dog eat dog world. Take your severance and walk away quietly before we bill you for the coffee, personal calls and personal car rides. I am disgusted at these posts from undeserving third year law students who think they are entitled to draw a salary at my Firm. You have a degree, if you are so smart, hang a shingle or make money on your own steam. I have to go to bed now as tee off time is at 7AM tomorrow.

210 -
It seems that most people (2Ls and 3Ls) are complaining about the process, not the result. It's the way this was handled that is the problem - the unnecessary waiting and uncertainty.

Oh the poor anxious summer associates, lining up to gorge themselves on the firm that is laying off actual workers.

hello 76-

5000 employees worldwide with about 1500 of them being associates.

1st years need to eat it.....they haven't contributed ANYTHING to the firm so current associates shouldn't have to lose their job to make room for the kiddies.

It's about time partners got the boot.....if they aren't actually doing their job and bringing in the business then they shouldn't be able to fire associates for not having their required hours.....

Partners doing their job ='s associates doing their jobs and getting their hours

Partners NOT doing their job ='s associates unable to do theirs and make their hours.

Nip it at the bud and by bud I mean partners!

I like all the douchebag hypocrites complaining about 3L's and first years, because clearly they were seasoned & experienced attorneys straight out of law school and never took advantage of the benefits their firms gave them when they were starting out. Don't hate the players, hate the game. Now stfu and go bill .5 hours for "organizing client files," cause we know you got no work to do and you're probably the next one getting the axe.

I can't wait to see what the lunch policy will be this summer!

A.I.D.A.

'nuf said.

Law students take notes - you guys are fucking useless. I repeat, YOU ARE FUCKING USELESS TO OUR FIRMS. We don't care if you live or die, so don't come barking about how we screwed up the transparency of the process and shit like that. If it were legal, we would kill you all and feed you to the sharks. But since it isn't, the best we can do is to fuck up your start date and compensation. And hey, we might even fire your ass after a few months of employment quietly. What the fuck you can do about all of this, students? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

(Signed - Managing Partners of BIGLAWS)

214 How are partners supposed to bring in the work when the economy is in the toilet? We are in the midst of a world-wide economic crisis. It isn't just Big Law that is taking a hit. I understand your frustration, but everyone needs to take a dose of reality.

What's worse - announcing layoffs on an Acela or deferring 3Ls on Above the Law before notifying them personally?

There's nothing like a horrible economy and over-leveraged law firms to bring out the jackass in people.

While there are individual exceptions and varying degrees, everyone's getting screwed here. I'm not entirely clear on why partners/associates are ranting about how horrible and useless law students are (each and every one of them used to be one), nor is it clear to me why law students/associates are getting pissed off at firms for behaving in an economically rational manner.

As a 3L at a top ten school with currently less than delightful employment prospects, I will say that - apart from instances of possibly failing to exhibit a decent level of respect and consideration for their attorneys - BigLaw hasn't done anything wrong. Law students ARE valuable to law firms (at the very least, a steady supply is necessary to give retired partners those fun checks), but in the end the interests of individuals who have spent a good chunk of their lives building a career at a firm in which they hold equity positions properly come before the interests of newcomers (both current and incoming associates).

Law firms should go to all reasonable lengths to treat their current and incoming associates with respect, and to give them the largest severance package that is economically practical. Firms that don't are clearly sending a message about their internal cultures. However, decent behavior or not, you can't fault the firms for being rational economic actors in responding to this situation.

Don't forget that the admins should also get the largest severage package as well !!!!!!

I sympathize more for the admins that I do the partners and associates.

Without trivializing the plight of laid off admins, it is my understanding that their situation, while unquestionably crappy, is less dire than that of the laid-off 3L/junior associate.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but their skills are readily transferable to different industries and, while they earn less than associates do, they also generally are not encumbered by significant debt from education loans. Based on my general understanding of the situation, it seems that they are actually in a better position than new associates who have not yet made significant progress paying off their loans and have also not yet acquired the real substantive experience that would allow them to compete with more senior associates for the few jobs out there.

I beg to differ. I believe an attorney will find a job much faster than an admin will. Attorney's are more in demand, we are not.

Case in point, I've been laid off from W&C since November, i'm admin, and I can't find a job !

all you law students need to get a grip...i remember when i was supposed to be a summer at altheimer gray a long time ago. they told me not to show up and gave me a 20k check to take the edge off (firm imploded a few months later). best summer of my life...went to ibiza, fucked a few euro sluts and tripped balls for a month. things turned out just fine in the end.

all the laid off lawyers should form an alliance like on vh1's i love money....

The memo came out too early. Lists of the associates to be fired aren't even available yet. Partners--at least the ones I know--haven't been told how many people they need to cut. This is ridiculous. You could cut the tension in the office with a knife this afternoon. No one got any work done for hours.

Good news is, I heard a rumour some of the partners already got the news they're being axed...at least W&C is trying to be legit. Sucks that they told everyone five months ago that there weren't any more layoffs coming--way to plan ahead, management.

it's not like they are losing money. Have a bad year and pass on the pain to all instead of canning 400 people in this market. It is really too bad. Best of luck.

I'm sick of the layoff watch. It's time for IMPLOSION WATCH. HEWM, Dreier, TPW... who's NEXT?

~There Will Be Blood

Stay classy, White & Case.

Vicious place to work is vicious place when laying people off and when complaining about it. Ballin.

Remember the following and repeat it often to whomever blames the layoffs on associate salaries (which barely beat inflation) or "performance" issues or any other red herring:

The main reason big firms are having financial problems now is because their business models assume extraordinary associate attrition (40% leave within 3 years in normal times--unprecedented in other industries). The reason for such high attrition is well known: law firms are bad places to work in terms of stress and work-life balance. Instead of correcting the underlying retention problem, law firm partners found that they could simply increase associate leverage--the base of the firm "pyramid"--and could maintain adequate staffing and ensure high profits despite the continuous churning of the associate ranks.

Unfortunately, in this economy associates can't find alternate employment and that means the associate classes are becoming too big for the model. Layoffs are "forced" upon the firm because firms fear their partners will abandon them for more money elsewhere. While the partners can blame the credit crunch they never saw coming, they were playing with operating leverage the same way their clients were playing with financial leverage--and each got burned by the volatility .

Thus, at the root of the biglaw crisis we find law firm partners' short-sighted decision to address retention through leverage. Maybe on the next upturn some firms will realize you don't need classes of 120 first years if you can retain more than a handful of them.

i could burn the building down...

-milton

So, I see that W&C is going to start cut the partners next. Good move. But, what is going to happen is that Hugh Verrier is going to keep his cronies and ass-kissers around (who have no viable business model) and let go the rainmakers. So, the firm is going to sink even faster. Hugh, stop the misery! Dissolve W&C now and put it out of its suffering!

The number of layoffs at W&C have been MUCH higher than the 360 layoffs globally (First Round - 70 NYC; 90 London and Second Round - 200). There have been stealth layoffs across the W&C network for the last few months as well. W&C is a VERY mismanaged firm. Let's look at the Asian operations in particular. When McKinsey came out with their report - they recommended that W&C restructure along practice area lines. They did that across the entire network except Asia. Asia became the private fiefdom of Barrye Wall - the head of the Hong Kong office. The W&C Asian operations are the joke of the legal community in Asia. Everyone (including W&C clients) question what has happened to the W&C franchise in Asia in the past year. They lost all of their best people. They lost all of their rainmakers (who took their largest W&C clients with them) and have been left with high cost / high benefits partners with no real revenue generating capability. The Hong Kong and Singapore offices in particular are extremely mismanaged. The partners who remain hate each other and the managing partners of those offices only got into their positions by kissing Hugh Verrier's a**. What a joke! When W&C collapses (which hopefully will be soon), I hope the partners of that firm will get what they deserve - scrounging for meals at soup kitchens and clothes at the Salvation Army!

228 (or any other W&C associates): I know you're all stressed about your jobs, and I don't mean this to be annoying, but: have you heard anything about the incoming first years?

Will those partners being asked to leave, leave immediately like everybody else, or will they get a 6 month stay (w/ pay) than leave?

236 - what do you wants us to say? We know the same thing that you do -- most of you won't be starting in 2009. And even that seems optimistic to most of us. It sucks, we recognize that, but we are all shitting bricks.

So we just sit and wait...

238 -
Are all offices affected equally?

238 -
What the incomings really want to know is how they are going to give us the start dates. Based on performance? That seems near impossible, since all they have to go on is summer work.

Incoming W&C 3L here who split the summer: I guess I chose the wrong firm. F*ck.

226 - that's the best post I've read on ATL. A-fucking-men.

211 - you're a fraud; W&C does not pay "dividends' to retired partners. Fess up - you're only trying to make the firm look bad, which is not all that difficult to do.

Lunch policies for all firms this summer: $10 daily gift cards to Chipotle. For those of you summering in NY, I hear Friday's in Times Square will be this summer's Jean Georges.

Good catch 244. I bet that's not even his real picture.

Congratulations Hugh!! White & Case now has the dubious honor of being the international law firm with the largest number of layoffs! Way to go, Hugh! You are a fantastic manager! Keep up the good work!

looks like 75K to volunteer/community service and 45K "other?"

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/03/white-case-to-cut-200-lawyers-200-staff.html

Get rid of most of the secretaries.

Get rid of the paralegals.

Get rid of marketing.

Get rid of recruiting coordinators.

Rescind 3L offers.

Get rid of most of the 1st years and 2nd years.

Dear (soon to be former) BigLaw Associates Who Spent Their Time Posting Here Instead of Being an Actual Attorney:
For all your fearmongering this summer, stoking every rumor that summers weren't all getting offers and laughing at us with your smug self-importance. I offer a sympathetic "F#%k You." If I start in November, in 2010, or never at all, it's still worth it just to see you panicking like frightened little girls now. "Oh, I'm experienced, I have value." Pffffft. Ha. You keep telling yourself that. I, on the other hand, am looking forward to having my own office this fall.
P.S. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Suckers.

Very truly yours,

Your Replacement

I'm a paralegal at W&C, and I silently go about my business in the midst of this chaos. You are all whores, and I mock each and every one of you spineless cowards on this site. Be damned.

No. 249 - I agree with most of what you say except:
Get rid of most of the secretaries, and
Get rid of the paralegals.

If you get rid of secretaries and paralegals, who will do the actual work!

A note of sympathy for everyone affected by this would be appreciated! After reading some of these comments, I'm looking at the possibility of W&C rescinding my 3L offer as a blessing in disguise if it means I won't end up so cynical and malicious toward other people in my profession.

Can we get a LOLCat please. "No Simqithy For Kitteh"

could someone direct the idiots here to a graph showing the growth of the amlaw 100 in the past 15 years?

biglaw needs to shrink 30% this year - we are down about 10% so far. sadly, not every graduate of shiTTT school of law is entitled to make 100 times the average salary of a vietnamese seamstress

thanks obama! great idea to raise taxes during a depression you dolt.

256 - may be 20% is the right number if i-bank slashed 30% and the rest of world slashed 10%

any truth to 248's post re: 75k stipend?

We're in the Hudson

258 - I haven't heard anything about that stipend. Could be true?

MARK MY WORDS!

Other firms are going to do the same thing. It's a matter of time.

No one is safe because law firms are not run like successful businesses. They work on inefficiency.

Get a grip everyone and put your nose to the grindstone AND do the WORK!

W&C associates - what's going on at the office today? Any layoffs yet?

It's started already in NY; my sister just got handed the bad news and 45 minutes to pack things up.

What section was she in? An attorney or admin?
What package is W&C giving, do you know?

Does anyone know if associates/attorneys are being notified today? (or if not, any rumors of when)?

Is this safe to comment as a guest?
Would my comment be at all traceable to me? Please let me know - as I can some inside light into the W&C scenario.

it is safe to comment as a guest - can not be traced back to you

If I am a White & Case partner I'd be asking myself when the Executive Committe plans on forming White and Case.

Nothing happened at W&C today - - except for everyone being paranoid, and jumping out of their seat when the phone rang - - It really sucks that the memo was sent out and then NOTHING - absolutely NOTHING to follow up - no meetings with department heads, partners, heads of the offices - just rumors - rumors probably that come right from this blog - first that it would happen tomorrow - then it could be tomorrow, or Thursday, or Friday (pay day). What does that do for moral? How do they think the 1st years feel after only being here such a short period of time - no one is being upfront about it - no one. Not partners, not HR, no one. It sends a message loud and clear - that its all about protecting the equity partners - notice that the memo didn't say that they would be cutting partners immediately - that they are going to handle that differently. They probably just put that in the memo so it would seem like they are actually going to include the partners - which I would wager will never happen - and if it does their departure package will take care of them for years to come - while the people with the lower salaries that they layoff are left with a puny little few months of pay and possibly insurance coverage. And this is a firm that is listed in the top 10 firms on international lists? If they rated firms according to their humaneness and how they treat people who work there - where would they be on the list then? And we all made a choice to enter this profession - willingly, and with great outlooks for our careers. What are the firms that actually have integrity and want the people they hire to contribute and make a difference in the world? Are there any out there?

Nothing happened at W&C today - - except for everyone being paranoid, and jumping out of their seat when the phone rang - - It really sucks that the memo was sent out and then NOTHING - absolutely NOTHING to follow up - no meetings with department heads, partners, heads of the offices - just rumors - rumors probably that come right from this blog - first that it would happen tomorrow - then it could be tomorrow, or Thursday, or Friday (pay day). What does that do for moral? How do they think the 1st years feel after only being here such a short period of time - no one is being upfront about it - no one. Not partners, not HR, no one. It sends a message loud and clear - that its all about protecting the equity partners - notice that the memo didn't say that they would be cutting partners immediately - that they are going to handle that differently. They probably just put that in the memo so it would seem like they are actually going to include the partners - which I would wager will never happen - and if it does their departure package will take care of them for years to come - while the people with the lower salaries that they layoff are left with a puny little few months of pay and possibly insurance coverage. And this is a firm that is listed in the top 10 firms on international lists? If they rated firms according to their humaneness and how they treat people who work there - where would they be on the list then? And we all made a choice to enter this profession - willingly, and with great outlooks for our careers. What are the firms that actually have integrity and want the people they hire to contribute and make a difference in the world? Are there any out there?

what was the deferral package offered to incoming first years?

I don't know what deferral package is for incoming 1st years - what is it at other firms? just curious.

273 - I am not surprised. I worked at W&C (or, more appropriately, WC) for many years. That is always how they operated. The partnership is a dog-eat-dog world - an eat-what-you-kill and eat-what-the-associates-and-counsel-kill-but-don't-give-them-any-credit-for-it partnership. Although it may be tough at first, if you do get a pink slip, look at it as a blessing. A chance to get out of a Firm which is grossly mismanaged made of partners who only care about preserving their high flying lifestyles and outrageously large beneftis and don't give a f*ck about their counsels, associates or support staff. Do you really want to be a member of a partnership where the partners are genuinely nasty people and all hate each other?

For the record, layoffs DID occur yesterday. My sister has worked there for almost 6 years and basically her severance was 3months. Good luck to everyone today.

Oh yes..she worked in finance..so she's support.

Any numbers yet for NY?

254: What's your name? I'm sure your classmates would appreciate taking you up on your offer.

4 ppl were laid off yesterday in NY office. I'm hearing today is blood bath for admins.

4 ppl were laid off yesterday in NY office. I'm hearing today is blood bath for admins.

Any word on DC associates?

#280

http://abovethelaw.com/2009/03/white_case_layoff_minor_delay.php#comments

See #134

Any word on Palo Alto associates?

273, sounds like every Biglaw firm I've worked for. They're all mean and nasty.

I just got a call from recruiting and we (incoming 3L associates) are being told to dial-in and we will be having a conference call tomorrow at 12:30.

I scared....

284 - are you a non-deferred NYer?

Were non-deferred NYers notified that they weren't deferred? (Hoping no news is good news.)

I'm pretty sure they notified everyone, deferred or not (you should have gotten an email yesterday)

I'm pretty sure they notified everyone, deferred or not (you should have gotten an email yesterday)

White and Case laid off a lot of first years (and not just in corporate) yesterday. Also other junior associates. I'm surprised that ATL hasn't posted an update.

So? What actually happened?

So, White & Case is going through a partner review process with the goal of reducing the number of partners worldwide. Hmmm. This should be interesting. It is going to put Hugh Verrier in a quandary! Who will he pick to get cut - (1) his cronies (majority) who supported him for chairmanship of the firm last year but are not rainmakers and have no viable business case for being partners or (2) his detractors who opposed him for chairman of the firm but are the real rainmakers and the business force for keeping White & Case afloat right now. It will be interesting to see which partners at White & Case survive the impending carnage and what happens to fabric of the W&C partnership during the process. My guess - the partners will turn on each other even more than in the past - ripping the partnership apart - and the majority of the partners left after the bloodletting will be Verrier's cronies, leading to an even more rapid and definitive demise of the firm.

Those of us who spent time in the Moscow office are not surprised to see a purge of this magnitude. Hugh Verrrier ran W&C Moscow with a tender regard for his favorites, and an iron fist for everyone else. If the comments above are anything to go by, he's continuing the policy in NY. A dictatorial regime can work under some (usually desperate) circumstances, but it's demoralizing on a daily basis. One W&C lawyer told me that every time he had a meeting with Verrier, he came out feeling "anally violated" due to the abuse heaped on him. This lawyer eventually left the firm for a more pleasant environment elsewhere. In the last few years of HV's Moscow tenure, many other lawyers made the same decision. I sympathize with those being laid off - but if it helps them find a better place to work than the petty Stalinist regime that is W&C, then in the long run it's all to the good.

How can we forget Comrade Verrier's reign of terror in Moscow or the Age of Anal Violation as it was known locally?!

We [White & Case] don't stab you in the back like most other law firms. We stab you straight through the chest as you come through the revolving doors!

How can we forget Comrade Verrier's reign of terror in Moscow or the Age of Anal Violation as it was known locally?!

We [White & Case] don't stab you in the back like most other law firms. We stab you straight through the chest as you come through the revolving doors!

Is everyone in London now just trying to save their ass and not get into those to be laid off????? What about the colleagues? Still hope it will pass by and touch someone else? That's where we see true team work and genuine holy corporate spirit! The things that Hugh was supposed to cultivate. Good job as ever!

Everyone's hovering in panic and no one is trying to do anything, completely caught by the fear of losing job or being deequitised. At the same time W&C have constant rush and almost fail to find enough judges and bailiffs for national Jessup rounds! What a mess! Why not use those to become redundant for it? Sponsoring Jessup is probably the most cynical thing now..

Seems that White & Case has made a huge error once again and is in the process of contacting previously laid off employees in order to keep their sinking boat afloat.....