Nationwide Layoff Watch: Wildman Harrold Makes More Cuts
While the cutting edge firms have moved onto cutting salaries, there are still firms that are getting through their layoffs.
Yesterday, Above the Law learned that Wildman Harrold decided to go through another round of cuts. Here is the firm statement:
We have reduced our associate ranks by 10 and our secretarial staff by 7. The individuals affected by these reductions are all high quality employees and professionals, who have made valuable contributions to our firm. Our diverse profile as a firm remains unchanged by these departures.
Back in January, Wildman laid off approximately ten attorneys.
Layoffs have definitely slowed down this month, but they haven’t stopped. But with summer associates on the way, hopefully forced attrition is almost at an end.
Earlier: Nationwide Layoff Watch: Wildman Harrold Makes Deep Cuts




Comments
Comments hidden for your protection. Show them anyway!
I'm not a baby, I am a man. I am a WILDMAN.
This would never happen at WILDMAN HARROLD.
What is a Wildman Harrold? Is that the right-wing of AIPAC or something?
layoffs aren't news. hirings are news. even a lateral is news. please start covering any and all hirings no matter how small in number.
How does this affect associates at FISH & RICHARDSON?
Law firms don't need to fire associates anymore. Pretty soon, the swine flu will eliminate the surplus associates. This is a boon to the firms, who won't have to take the hit to reputation that firing associates causes.
Never even heard of this place. The last few days have been slow as hell. Maybe ATL might need to branch out into real legal news.
This is probably the last week that I will be needed. Firms will not be calling upon me once the summer associates arrive. You will be able to find me on Martha's Vineyard, where I will be spending the summer. See you again in September.
I agree with 4. If there is any positive news out there, in terms of hirings, it should be covered. Times are bad, but this ATL is enhancing the panic in many associate circles by constantly and only reporting drastic negative actions being taken by big firms.
Elie, do we really need to glorify the firms making salary reductions as "cutting edge"? It's one thing to report bad news; it's another to actively encourage it.
Did they lay off the "attorneys" or the "counselors"?
Elie, figure it out.
cue the "atl terrk err jrrrrrrrrbs" posters
Another prudent firm not fooled by the bear market rally. The economy remains weak and the demand for legal services will not recover until the second quarter of 2010.
OMG this recession has reached Wildman Harrold
interesting post, but please advise whether a 2L in the top 16.4% of his class at a T41 institution with janitorial experience has a chance of obtaining a summer associate position in WILDMAN HARROLD's porcelain law practice group? would it help if i tried to get my convincing (but still rough) note on the practical differences between excretion retention on nova scotian and northern canadian porcelain?
15: it depends if you are interested in bet-the-company litigation or sophisticated international transactions.
This would never happen to a Texas firm.
LockeLord 4 Life
The ship be sinking...
Go after some GOOD news (if there is any), but in any event, refrain from reporting on these worthless firms that noone has ever hear of.
V20 says no offers to any 2L's this year!!!
http://www.xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=986765&mc=27&forum_id=2
Associates used to be so in demand
That hiring and retention went hand-in -hand.
But the recesion's been felt,
So partners tightened their belts
And started laying them off like a Wildman.
--Above the Limerick
Am I prestigious enough for BakerBotts Houston if I am top 15% at SMU?
I'm not normally one to whine about this, but are there no deals to talk about, competitions in specific practice areas to discuss....is there really no legal news outside of a no name firm letting some folks go, which at this point is nothing more than a blip on the radar?
Does anyone think the laid of WH associates might be able to sue the firm under a theory of reliance -- ie promissory estoppel? I haven't read Restatement 90 in a while but doesn't that cover this exact situation?
A prerequisite to employment as a paralegal at Wildman Harrold is the ability to be pounded in the ass by a partner at a moments notice. This firm is truly ahead of their time.
24: I think you're right. I'm about to take a K's final and I plan and having ยง90 answer all the issues!
There has to be SOME good news out there to report, but if there is not, there has to be a more professional and relevant way to inform the legal community of jobs lost.
Also, I really can't understand how so many fellow attorneys seem to take joy in the fact that layoffs have been bountifull at big firms as well as salary cuts. Is this jealousy, hatered, or just a plain ignorance that these layoffs and salary cuts affect all of us (more supply less demand).
GOODNEWS! EEOC IS HIRING:
http://www.eeoc.gov/soars/index.html
I am about to give my secretary some good news, in her ass.
QUINN REMAINS in a better position than WILDMAN HARROLD
Layoffs at Wildman Harrold?
That's just wild, man.
What is the difference between a biglaw partner and an earthquake?
We have reduced our associate ranks by 10 and our secretarial staff by 7. The individuals affected by these reductions are all high quality employees and professionals, who have made valuable contributions to our firm. Our diverse profile as a firm remains unchanged by these departures.
or
We fired the least productive 17 people at our firm today, but its not like they were caught stealing someone's pocketbook. And, before anyone asks, we fired white dudes this time.
It probably wouldn't have happened had Harold been less of a Wildman.
What about the layoffs at WILDMAN HARROLD?!
WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD . . . oh man, saying it like that never gets old . . . WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLDWILDMAN HARROLD WILDMAN HARROLD . . .
How is this affecting the submarine law practice at WILDMAN HARROLD? Seriously, I want to know.
This place has been losing people for awhile now. People just seem to have a lot of complaints about the place. They lost their a hunk of their private wealth group a few years ago.
Nice press release...How about, "We fired 17 people today, they were not minorities. We already fired all of those 'people' years ago, now we only fired some of those 'white gentile' people."
those partners are racist.
Wildman is actually a good firm that treats HARD WORKING associates well. It's the lazy ones who feel entitled to big pay while not putting in a lot of hours. Young associates should wise up and work harder. Just because mommy said you were a great lawyer doesn't mean you are, you whiny babies.
They need to get rid of the nordic chick who heads HR - Nielsen wasn't just a group of three brother who sang badly. Bad decisions have been made in all areas...billing, attorneys, staffing, etc.
#42. Right you are. There are at least 2 department heads at this firm who are former secretaries of the Managing Partner. What does this say about qualifications?
#42. Right you are. There are at least 2 department heads at this firm who are former secretaries of the Managing Partner. What does this say about qualifications?