holy cat cow.

ps: last

No morning docket?

I just came all over my keyboard.

Litigation associates aren't worth spit anyway, so what's the problem?

He ran the US Lit group for 5 years and he only gets 2 sentences in the middle of an email?

Something's going on here.

the first paragraph of the medwick e-mail makes no sense ... what were they focusing on before, marital disputes and domestic abuse??? the practice areas he names are what almost every biglaw firm focuses on...and by the way, how are they focusing on arbitration when the entire reinsurance arbitration and international arbitration groups within the litigation group left a few weeks ago???

His name is Robert Paulson.
His name is Robert Paulson.

Guys at my high school left law firms and caused associate to get the axe all the time. It was no big deal.

must be great news for the summers they have starting, or have started - honestly, the english couldn't organize a f!@# in a whorehouse, let along run a firm in the US.

hope all the lit associates that will be let go through land on their feet, but with the thousands of others already flooding the market, i don't want to think what their fate is going to be...

That's nothing. In 2009 Latham laid off 130 people in the New York office alone. I'd kill to be at a firm that was only doing Clifford-esque layoffs.

That said, Clifford Chance is apparently much better managed that Latham, so why is Latham ranked higher? Oh, that's right, Latham made Vault surveys due the day before the mass layoffs.

What about tax in Clifford and Chance? Associates there impacted by layoffs? I am applying for a job there so want to know.

It is difficult to sum up what makes Latham so unique in writing, but hopefully as you navigate through our web site and read about our participatory management style that associates and partners enjoy, our diverse, collegial and supportive work environment, and the programs and governing structure that have been in place from the firm's inception, it will become clear to you that Latham & Watkins stands apart from other large law firms. You may also find that we differentiate ourselves from the competition in ways that are most important to you as a prospective candidate.

We look forward to hearing from you.

PS. We threw more than half our first years under the bus based on irrational personal preferences (there was no work and little chance for evaluation) and wouldn't think twice about doing the same to you.

Dennis D. Lamont

Did Clifford Chance NY layoff every first year and second year who had ever failed the bar, except for a major partner's son, like Latham NY?

10

The fate of the laid-off associates in today's market?

Crushing debt, depression, poverty, unemployment, and, eventually, redemption as a fry cook in Mickey D's.

#11 -- No one cares about Latham. It has become an irrelevant firm.

Ass to Ass
Dust to Dust.

15

Latham & Watkins has taught us that the key to success is being related to a successful person. Next time, choose your daddy better.

Given that I have $250,000 in debt and no job, I would rather perform in an arena on Giedi Prime in a fixed match with Feyd Rautha Harkonnen than be a son of a Latham partner.

He's stepping down b/c Matt Wieters is coming....

18 what are you talking about? If you were the son of a Latham partner you'd have a job no matter how incompetent you are.

Note that it's ten o'clock. First, no morning docket, wtf? Second, no post by Elie since five o'clock last night. What do we pay you for? [Well, maybe not pay, but watch that annoying dealbreaker ad over and over again, generating your revenue].

18, if you were a Latham partner's son, you could even fail an exam that 90% of your peers manage to pass on the first try and still have a job. Life would sure be nice.

Latham is a joke. Anyone who chose to work there deserves everything they get. Now go get your shine box, Spider!

SkaddenDC

23 yes, in retrospect Latham is a sick joke. But as an ignorant law student I didn't know that.

And a lot of Lathamites and ex-Lathamites are regretting their decision to turn down Skadden for Latham. Skadden had the good sense to offer people a year off instead of going right to layoffs. Latham doesn't give a shit about its associates, despite what Latham's recruiting chair would have you believe.

When it is my turn to be laid off, I’ll become a criminal court judge and keep a secret dossier of all the scum bags in my court that got off on a technicality. Then I’ll team up with a racecar-driving ex-con and hunt them down and bust them for the crimes they are now committing, just like judge “hard case” Hardcastle from Hardcastle and McCormick.

25

The pedo judge? Good role model, that.

Latham laid off 45% of its associates in the NY office. I can't even think of a single firm, including all of NY's TTTs, that have laid off anywhere near that many associates.

Lesson: Latham will fuck you over and not think twice.

Not only am I not laid off, I am pounding my secretary in her ass as I write about not being laid off.

Suck it, whiners.

PS: YOU ARE ALL IDIOTS

Squisha squisha!

Like many other top firms, Latham did what they had to do to SURVIVE. I don't see how anyone can complain about that.

26:

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP

You don't even know. . .

As a lit associate at CC, i feel totally betrayed by: (1) David Childs, Stuart Popham and all the London management at CC who obviously have had an axe to grind about the US offices for some time ... London are absolute dicks when it comes to management; and (2) Mark Kirsch - more of a two-face, slimy individual you are never likely to meet - he has lied to the faces of associates about how well the firm is doin on multiple occasions

Honestly,

When I interviewed at Latham it seemed like all the kids who weren't cool tried to be cool now and were in this "cool frat" firm where everyone is cool.

I have friends. I dont want to work with them. I dont care how prestigious they were. i would never have worked there. Just got the vibe of fake and bad. I'm floored at how many people were shocked I turned them down for a much lower ranked firm.

HAHAHAHA. Best decision I ever made.

PS. the recruiting lady there was absolutely the worst ever. Obviously was the fat kid in highschool trying to compensate as being someone now. Lady you were such a flippin bitch to me.

30, how come Latham had to layoff the majority of its first years in NY to survive when just about no other firm has done this? Latham had options, and it could have chosen to offer people a year off, like Skadden and Simpson. Or it could have chosen to cut just the underperforming first years (which would have been a few people at the most) and kept the rest. Latham didn't have to do any of this. And yes, laying off first years is particularly dirty. You don't have the experience to compete with the other laid off people. That's why firms generally protect first years. If you look at Latham NY's laid off first years now, most haven't found jobs. The few that have actually landed on their feet did so through connections.

Plus, because of the work hoarding that was going on at Latham NY, first years had very little work, and thus Latham had little to base its decision on. Except for a few people who sucked, it was largely a popularity contest and a function of who had a chance to impress the important people.

And Latham NY was hiring like mad well into 2007, much moreso than other NY firms. Latham created this mess by growing recklessly and making ridiculous economic predictions.

So no, Latham didn't need to destroy the careers of 33 first years in the NY office. It could have either managed itself better before the bust, or it could had offered people a year off, but Latham just didn't care. Also, Latham NY laid off every first and second year who had ever failed the bar except for a partner's son. That is complete bullshit, and they certainly didn't have to do that to survive.

Sounds like CC is basically losing its NY litigation group. Anyone know how this is going to affect the firm as a whole?

34, I agree Latham sucks. but to pick who you lay off by who failed the bar exam one time is actually pretty fair. If you have nothing else to base layoffs on, then obviously those kids were not as smart./dedicated to studying as the other first years.

of course the partners son who failed wont be laid off.

Thats the worst of your arguments. I suggest you drop it in your Latham sucks trolling. it really hurts your whole "layoffs were arbitrary for first years/popularity contest" arguement. Maybe your analysis skills are why you failed the bar?

All of the CC NY litigation partners are leaving. Unless the firm hires partners there will not be a litigation department in NY soon.

The firm formerly known as Clifford Chance.

36, yes, it is fair to layoff the bar failers when you don't really have a track record to look at. but if you're going to do that, then you don't spare someone just because he's a partner's son. someone who actually passed could have taken his spot.

and i didn't fail the bar.

So basically, this memo spells out that the motherfucker who screwed you associates is Mark Kirsch. Yall should go find that motherfucker....

Mark is going to Goodwin Procter.

suck me, beautiful, suck me.

Cliffy

i agree with 40.

34, the entire field of law is a popularity contest. If you failed the contest, you're not a very good lawyer and you will never be one. In fact, life is a popularity contest. You failed at life. That is all.

34:

Dave Gordon is that you?

44 = Dave Gordon

To succeed at LW, be a good looking woman or a well connected man.

34

Fat and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

Whining just accentuates what a loser you are.

Move on.

being a good looking woman is NOT enough to survive at latham. you also have to graciously endure the flirtations of the hideous old partners.

48th donut for MysTTTal today

47,

there is nothing good to move on to. no one good is hiring laid off first years. laid off first years don't have the experience to compete. plus sought after employers fill entry level spots through their summer program.

and if you take a job that's worse than the offers you turned down for latham, you're not really going to feel like moving on.

so no.

More of the Hardcastle & McCormick guy and an absolute prohibition of the whiny ex-Latham turd, please. Thanks.

41

Mark Holland is going to Goodwin Procter. Is Kirsch also going there?

47 - the word needs ditch diggers too, you know. Might do you some good to work up a callous (other than spanking, I mean).

47 - the word needs ditch diggers too, you know. Might do you some good to work up a callous (other than spanking, I mean).

"and if you take a job that's worse than the offers you turned down for latham, you're not really going to feel like moving on."

Yes you totally deserve to be paid at least $160k for the rest of your life. Only losers settle for less. It's better to be paid $0 plus unemployment to do nothing, than to be paid $30-40k as a lawyer learning legal skills.

50,

"and if you take a job that's worse than the offers you turned down for latham, you're not really going to feel like moving on."

That is by far the most immature thing I've ever read in my life. No one should hire you if that's how you think. Grow up, life is unfair, move on. Those who succeed in life are the ones who overcome hurdles. Not those that give up and play the world's smallest violin for themselves. I bet you have few friends.

55, did you read the part where i said if you take a worse job you're not really going to move on from hating Latham?

i never said anything about not taking a job unless it's biglaw. my point was that if you're not made whole then you're going to be resentful for a good long while. the way latham handled things there are plenty of reasons to keep hating them.

Long live Rogers & Wells!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA

56, who said I gave up? why do you infer that from me venting over latham's shitty treatment of its first year associates?

you're the one who needs to grow up. stop judging people you know nothing about.

57 = sign that Latham dipped too low into the class at Loyola.

The "move on" was about you stopping your whining, not about changing how you feel about Latham. Do you think we seriously believe that if someone hired you tomorrow at 160k+, you'll stop hating Latham?

59,

This entire site knows there is one dude who is pshycho pissed at latham. The type of psycho pissed that scares readers like me your gonna lose it and Columbine the place one day. Hell, i wouldnt even want to work with a single laid of Latham first year for fear it would be your psycho ass. Maybe you're just making it worse for everyone? Ever thought of that genius?

Latham sucks. we get it.

61, i am not the only one posting about latham on here, so it's not just one person. and if a laid off first year were to columbine latham NY's management, i wouldn't shed any tears. that's the risk you assume when you fuck over a large number of people. that said, i wouldn't do that, and don't encourage anyone to.

60, if i were made whole, i'd forget that rancid TTT Latham entirely. but i can't forget them because every day i have to live with the consequences of their dirtbaggery.

9, get it right: there's a comma before "it was no big deal" to make it a single run-on sentence. Lame impostor.

47

I stand corrected. I was wrong.

It is possible to be fat and stupid and succeed in life.

Just look at Rush Limbaugh.

And you.

62 - did you really just say you wouldn't shed any tears?! time to seek some help, buddy.

I've said this several times before - all the anti-Latham comments are from the same guy. He's trying to make it look like there is some kind of anti-Latham consensus building, but really no one cares.

Any law student is just going to assume that Latham is safer than average since they already cut so many associates, and even if they were unsure, the money is enough to make anyone put such uncertainties aside.

I suggest you do something more constructive with your time.

LaTTTham is proof that karma exists. S&C ($500 bonus for slave labor) is appropriate payback for gunnners; LaTTTham (mass murduring junior associates) is appropriate payback for frat douches.

67, Latham NY is not safe. it isn't diversified so every time you have a recession there are going to be large cuts. Places like Debevoise, Skadden, Paul Weiss, Gibson, Davis Polk all have thriving non-corp practice groups. you can't say that for Latham and that's why it was Latham NY that cut so many associates.

and yah, people will still take latham, but never again will anyone turn down places like Skadden, Paul Weiss, Davis Polk for Latham, which used to happen.

52 - Who is Mark Holland? Is he another CC partner?

$2 Trillion in debt issued by the U.S. this year, and guess who is buying it. The federal reserve, with money that it is printing...It will cost $500 to buy a loaf of bread in a few years. YES WE CAN. CHANGE. HOPE. SOCIALISM YOU CAN BELIEVE IN.

70

Mark Holland and Mark Kirsch are both partners in CC's NY litigation office. Every partner and counsel in the NY litigation department is rumored to be leaving.

Dear Laid Off Latham First-year(s),

You are destroying any kind of empathy people might have for your situation. People in your Latham situation appear extremely bitter and nobody on this site who interviews incoming associates will think that it is a plus to have one of those "bitter laid off Latham first-years." You are ruining your chances of re-entering big law, as well as those of your laid off Latham peers.

Just some advice.

34---For the record, Proskauer did as well, sooner than Latham and with only 2 months severance. Why aren't their laid off first years bitching like the ex Lathamites?

74, everyone already knew that Proskauer was a dick taint firm that fucks associates. For LaTTTham, this was a bit of a surprise. Plus, LaTTTham laid off more first years than Proskauer so it's just more likely that some of them are going to come on here and bitch.

Mark Holland is another CC lit partner. What ATL neglected to report is that the March layoffs consisted of 11 first years and 13 other associates. The 11 first years comprised 40% of the first year class's transactional rotation. Once the first year litigation associates are laid off, CC will have laid off half its first year New York associates. The second year class has already lost 80% of its litigation associates through layoffs and departures. Latham, move over.

Why hit junior associates so hard? CC is already very leanly staffed. Partners share secretaries. Before the "partner reshaping," we had three partners and one counsel per secretary. This is to be contrasted with the situation at skadden, as our blessed friends who lateraled there in October tell us, where many partners have two dedicated personal secretaries.

Associates have never had secretaries. The Brits created "service centers," where two staff sit and play secretary to all associates on that floor while handling other duties for that floor's attorneys. Our service centers sit vacant on every other floor.

The firm is so poorly organized that while John Christian was telling us that litigation's situation was still in flux, Craig Medwick was typing up an e-mail explaining that Kirsch had left.

75, understand your point regarding Proskauer, but does the incessant complaining/criticism about Lathamreally advance their cause? At a certain point, it gets tuned out.

Wow 76, Latham has demonstrated during this recession who its peer firms are. Latham, enjoy rubbing elbows and competing with Cadwalader, Clifford Chance, and Proskauer for work and associates. Your days among the V10 are over.

Comment removed by moderator.

34 - at least consider taking a glimpse in the mirror when apportioning blame.

Comment removed by moderator.

Hey Mark Kirsch,

Does this mean CC will no longer be the No. 1 litigation firm in the world? Are you moving your gigantic book of business elsewhere? Say it ain't so.

50 - you're a self-described victim and a quitter...can't imagine why you're still unemployed.

82

Rumor mill says Kirsch is headed for Gibson Dunn.

Comment removed by moderator.

As a would-be second year who was laid off by CC, I just wanted to point out that this whole bar passing issue never came up in our class. All 2007 graduates hired by CC to start in the NY office passed the first time.

As a would-be second year who was laid off by CC, I just wanted to point out that this whole bar passing issue never came up in our class. All 2007 graduates hired by CC to start in the NY office passed the first time. They laid most of us off anyway.

Have the Clifford Chance Lolita and Vampiress been affected?

-Concerned Skadden partner

Gibson's profits will really be helped by Kirsch's MASSIVE book of business - CC must really be hurting to have lost him and his contribution to the bottom line - *sarcasm*

Latham did the right thing in giving six months of severance pay.

Brace yourself! MMMMHHHH!

so what does this mean for CC summers?

12, CC's US tax practice was impacted by the last round of layoffs and has had stealth layoffs for many months. the group is very small now and still very slow. good luck to you though.

First!

anyone remember when CC NY was Rogers & Wells? Long live Rogers & Wells!

95, I do. R & W was a nice firm. Such a shame it's gone.

Anyone remember the Clifford Chance memo?
http://www.lawcost.com/clifchancememo.htm
LOL!

Rogers & Wells.....Ah, the days of the partners' bathrooms.

The CC Lolita and Vampiress are both still at the firm. Any word on when these layoffs will be (or if they happened on Friday)? The summers are arriving on Monday and the litigation dept is effectively sealed off from the summers.

Is anyone actually left at Clifford?