Intellectual Property, Layoffs

Nationwide Layoff Watch: Fish & Richardson Throws Associates/Staff Back

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Fish & Richardson conducted attorney and staff layoffs at the end of January. But it looks like it is already time for round two.
The internal announcement just went out, Fish is laying off 120 people:

The global recession has profoundly impacted many businesses. Continuing to face unprecedented levels of economic uncertainty in the marketplace, the firm has decided to make workforce adjustments that will ensure our continued strength during these turbulent times. Specifically, we have reduced our legal staff by 35 and our support staff by 85 across our U.S. offices.

Fish & Richardson spokespeople did not respond to our requests for comment. But it appears that cuts are happening across all of Fish’s offices.
This round of layoffs is being cast differently than last time. Details after the jump.


Last time the firm laid people off, Fish & Richardson used performance-based-lite rhetoric to explain the cuts. In January, the firm said:

Many of these departures occurred as the result of year-end performance evaluations, but others were based on purely economic decisions.

This time, the announcement was decidedly different:

This decision is due solely to economics and is not based on the performance of these employees, all of whom have been valuable contributors to the firm’s success. We regret their departure, and will assist all of them through this difficult time in their lives with severance programs. Our people are our greatest asset, and so we have taken this step only after much consideration. Fish & Richardson remains financially strong, and we are fortunate to have the practices, talent, and client relationships to weather these economic times. Our enduring commitment to our clients remains paramount, in good economic times and bad.

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Good luck to our Fish friends. IP lawyers tend to get their land legs back quickly.
Earlier: Nationwide Layoff Watch: Fish & Richardson Officially Announces Cuts

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