Nationwide Layoff Watch: Clifford Chance’s New York Litigation Team Leaves the Circle
We reported last month that the head of U.S. litigation for Clifford Chance, Mark Kirsch, was leaving the firm’s New York office — and that layoffs in the litigation practice group were imminent. We didn’t know at the time where Kirsch was heading or how many of the 29 litigation associates in the Magic Circle firm’s New York office would be let go. Now we have more information.
Clifford Chance litigation partners Mark Kirsch and Mark Joel Cohen, and senior counsel Christopher Joralemon, have wound up at Gibson Dunn (which seems to be weathering the downturn better than many firms). Clifford Chance tells us the trio will be taking 7 of the firm’s 29 NY litigation associates with them. Kirsch is joining GDC as co-chair of litigation, as noted in Gibson’s press release.
Of the remaining 22 litigation associates, no more than 10 will be laid off this week, leaving a small litigation team in Clifford Chance’s New York office. As we mentioned before, the firm’s U.S. litigation will now be headed by Juan Morillo, who is in the D.C. office. In the words of one tipster:
It’s tragic what the Brits have done to Rogers & Wells.
So what’s the future for litigators in Clifford Chance’s New York office? A tipster weighs in, after the jump.
Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that revenue at Clifford Chance is down by five percent, due mainly to its UK bank clients being hurt by the downturn:
Clifford Chance LLP may lose its spot as the world’s largest law firm by revenue to U.S. competitors because of the effect of the global financial crisis on the firm’s clients.
Given the economic climate, five percent seems like a rather modest decrease. Other firms are surely suffering more.
But it doesn’t look like Clifford Chance will be making any revenue gains in New York litigation. This is what one tipster had to say about the remnants of the New York litigation team:
These guys [Kirsch, Cohen, and Joralemon] WERE the practice (or, rather, what was left of it following the departure of John Carroll’s team last December).
To make matters worse, CC now has asked two non-equity partners to stay on in NY after firing them as part of the restructuring just two months ago! So, in New York now, they have a total of three non-equity partners with absolutely no business, including two that the firm did not consider to be good enough mere weeks ago.
Clifford Chance declined to comment about the nature of the equity status of the partners now leading the litigation team in New York.
The up to 10 associates let go are the third round of U.S. layoffs for Clifford Chance that we’ve reported in the last year. At least the numbers are relatively small, with 20 litigators laid off in October and 24 New York associates let go in March.
Gibson Dunn Welcomes Clifford Chance Litigation Trio To Its New York Office [Gibson Dunn Press Release]
Clifford Chance May Lose Spot as Top Global Law Firm [Bloomberg]
Earlier: Nationwide Layoff Watch: Clifford Chance’s New York Office Braces Itself
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Comments
I like the zoo.
At least someone is hiring.
For the record, CC has let WAY more than 44 associates go. They have been quietly asking people to leave since the Fall on top of the rounds of layoffs.
www.getyourbasketballon.com
Their offices are nicer than Schulte's NYC offices.
Juan Morillo es mas macho!
--SotoMAYor
Hey, at least they're very PRESTIGIOUS according to an anonymous survey of mostly lower-level NY associates.
V22 ftw.
-- Vault Stud
test
8
I've read stupid posts on ATL before, but yours just simply takes the cake.
Their NYC office is very nice.
"20 litigators" were laid off? Huh? There's not 20 litigators in that whole department. These were document review monkeys- you can call them lawyers or associates if you want, but don't call them litigators, because it means something to be a litigator. These lawyers probably never saw the inside of a courtroom except during a clerkship, and probably never will again.
The firm has now laid off over half its first year associate class; 80% of its second year class is gone. The office has 40 first year transactional associates starting in 2010, up from 25 the year prior.
June 2009: lays off 10 litigation associates
May 2009: loses 3 litigation partners. Firm announces U.S. litigation "adjustment"
April 2009: loses 2 corporate finance partners
April 2009: loses five partner litigation team which forms own boutique shop
April 2009: loses 10 partners in firmwide reshaping."
March 2009: lays off 24 transactional associates, half of which were first years
February 2009: loses its only US IP partner to Baker Hostetler
September 2008-January 2009: 25-30 transactional and litigation associates stealth laid off
November 2008: 3 DC litigation partners leave for bingham
October 2008: 3 NY litigation partners (rainmakers) and 8 associates leave for skadden
October 2008: 20 litigation associates laid off
The ship be sinking...
Seems like Gibson's NY litigation was already healthy, will now get a boost.
Will the last person out at CC please turn off the lights?
9 - Where did that cake get taken? And why a cake instead of a pie, or a pan of brownies, or some cookies? What the fuck makes the cake worth taking all the time?
15
The firm already set it up so that the lights go off by themselves every night at 1:00 a.m.
It's about time. This firm let go all of the talented, dedicated, and hard working associates and was basically left with all the useless @ss kissers. Too bad some of those hacks were able to leave with the partners that just left, especially one who is rumored to have survived only because the firm was worried about a sexual harassment suit.
Heard there was a female associate at CC known for biting dudes while making out with them at firm events. Is she still employed by the firm?
I used to love the children's book Clifford's Chance to Break Back into Biglaw with the big red dog.
17 - I thought they go out at midnight. Besides, that's just in the halls, and not in individual offices, only some of which have motion-sensors.
19
Yes.
I agree with 18. The firm has gotten rid of the people who were somewhat normal and had lives outside of work.
9 - Where did that cake get taken? And why a cake instead of a pie, or a pan of brownies, or some cookies? What the fuck makes the cake worth taking all the time?
Transactional = tax, IP, and other things?
Transactional means they worked on a variety of actions, that is until all the litigation partners left.
9,
Better to take the cake than leave it out in the rain.
19 You have her name??
6 He STILL IS!!!
6 He STILL IS!!!
6 He STILL IS!!!
How come we aren't hearing more about this story from Yahoo Buzz -- what is this, the wsj law blog?
"This isn't the first time that rambunctious (dare we say "fun"?) behavior affected a graduation ceremony at Bonny Eagle. "Four years ago we had some issues with silly string and beach balls," said Lukas."
Yahoo Buzz
27
I've read stupid posts on ATL before, but yours just simply takes the prize.
CC has struggled in NYC ever since the Rogers & Wells acquisition -- cultures clashed, and it has been a revolving door ever since...
87 percent of the partners voted to expel 15 percent of the partners. One wonders if the percentages are by equity percent share or headcount.
I am offended by post 33.
Please leave it in the rain.
27
No more prana-bindu for the young Bene Gesserit amongst the CC Litigation group (mini-group) now....
1 nailed it.
Like zoos, Above the Law commentary is filled with members of an endangered species, perhaps soon to be extinct, now often bred in captivity -- angry, disgruntled and willing to lash out at the nearest passer by for a tennis shoe.
Thats why I love Above the Law.
Binky the Polar Bear
The one partner that was asked to come back is a well-known moron with no book of business but who got his job back because he services the corporate partners by doing discreet projects that come along during a corporate deal. The word on the street is that this idiot and the cronies he managed to keep are going to be there just to service the corporate groups.
It is widely known that Kwisatz Haderach is in one of the corporate departments at CC NY.
What do you expect from CC? They built a 600-seat center in Delhi, India supposedly for "office support" purposes. Yah, sure, they need 600 office support people. Their outsourcing company, Integreon, also has plenty of Indian attorneys available to do your jobs and more banging down their doors. If you geniuses don't do something about this you all will be extinct. Integreon is supposedly an American company, but will do anything to send jobs to India, where the labor is extremely cheap compared to here and there are no annoying laws protecting employees. In the race to the bottom for cheap laobr, Integreon is also building centers in the Phillippines where labor is even cheaper and more desperate than in India. Nothing is sacred. Go to their website and take a look at the "Press Releases" and "In the News" section and see who else they are aiming for -- you in the "top tier," geniuses! Read The Next Shoe to Drop – An opinion piece by Integreon’s Chris Niccolls that explains why “one outdated investment banking stalwart has the proverbial bull’s-eye on its back: the investment banking analyst program.” Also check out the story they linked to entitled, "Outsourcing the Law to India." THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE PLANNED FOR THE LIKES OF YOU. None of you big shot attorneys, nor the investment bankers, cared when support positions were being outsourced. More money for you ... you thought. Well, no, it's going to be NO money for you and more for those at the top. Now you are in the crosshairs too. Good luck with that. You better do something and get on the bandwagon or we will be scrapping against each other for jobs at fast food joints. Yes, the uber rich, who are the only people who really benefit from outsourcing, don't give a damn about anything but having more money than they can spend in several lifetimes. Help save the real America!
41 - WTF? Ummm...only CC London and the Asian offices really use the support center in India. You have no idea what you are talking about.
42 -- They built 600 seats in Delhi, India and you think none of those are to be filled by "attorneys?" No, you have no idea what you are talking about nor what is planned for the attorney class at CC and in general. Wake up and realize the emperor has no clothes before it is too late.
Dear 41/43: You are obviously not a lawyer, and certainly not one at CCNY. The Indian office is part of a strategy to establish a foothold in the largest untapped legal market in the world. CC London has certainly outsourced many things to India, and some of the NY office's support services are done there (like reimbursements, time entry, and after hours computer support), but why don't you go to DPU and ask them how much they send to India during any given week.
41/43: Uh, Lou, aren't you supposed to be on the teevee right now?
44: They are untapped for a reason, primarily that India does not allow foreign firms to practice law there and this may not change for years, if it ever does change! Law firms are going there for CHEAP LABOR like other industries. Perhaps YOU are not as well-informed as you think you are. Just a thought.
45: Shucks, you outed me!
CC has struggled in NYC ever since they started sucking, which is always.
At least their incoming class has a lot of hot girls.
48
Um.....a couple, not a lot, definitely some decent legs in the group. and they are not starting any time soon, if ever. what about the 7 or 8 summers from last year that were "selected" to go to litigation - what are they going to do now that there is no real litigation presence, and especially since most of that select few were wanting to wrk in international arbitration, but now the entire international arbitration group has also left - that small number is going to have to be cut further. basically, just as London wants, that number of people going to CC in the future will be ridiculously diminished. London does not want a much of a US presence any more - they have decided to cut their losses and keep a shopfront at most...
love you all!
This is London calling.
I will ask the Managing Partner to update his blog. More to come later -- I'm off to establish our latest office on the far side of the moon. We are restructuring our litigation practice in America to handle space law and interstellar dispute resolution.
David Childs
lets get something straight here. most of those let go in October through the corporate lay-offs this year at CC were actually incompetent at their job - the firm was nice enough to hide your incompetence under the guise of the prevailing economic conditions, victims of circumstance so to speak - and you know who you are ... those of you with a ridiculous sense of entitlement who thought you were above and beyond doing what most junior assosicates do, who in some cases refused to work the hours that others would work, who complained relentlesly about working an hour on the weekend, who didn't have a clue how to write a basic memo ... get over it - you are done, move on.
what about the litigation associate at CC who just married the M&A partner - tell me she is going to be ok????!!!! does she have a job????
Clifford Chance is self confident and fearless. It refuses to bow to commerce, thus generating a constant flow of new ideas whilst drawing in British heritage.
David Childs
Gibson Dunn associates, beware of the Kirsch-minator. He will flash you a smile, declare how much he believes in the firm and its values, tear up, his voice will shake with emotion, and then stab you in the back because all the time while he has been saying this to associates, he has been wanting to jump ship and seeking out opportunities at other firms ... there is a reason he was given an administrative role at your firm, because he ain't got any business to bring your way.
51 - you are full of crap. I can think of ONE associate who fits the description, but the others were good.
51 - that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. First of all, the overwhelming majority of those laid off in October were way to junior to have even begun sucking yet. Second, most of my friends who were part of that group had just received stellar mid-year reviews just 4-5 months earlier. I don't think they suddenly became sub-par associates when the market tanked. At least be honest about what happened. Those were let go didn't have important partners protecting their asses. Most of them kept their noses down and their work WELL. Letting them go was a political decision, and no reflection on the quality of their work at the firm. Period.
so tell me if my understanding is correct - in order to survive at CC litigation, you have to have filed a sexual harassment claim, or married the head of M&A?
The laid off CC associates were not sub-par. London just doesn't see the value of having a NYC litigation department. Current tally after yesterday's extermination: 7 associates remaining.
what is the word on the partnership restructuring and how will it impact the associates in the various corporate groups?
59 -- there will be a lot less associates. Remember, they have 600 seats to fill in Delhi, India and all of those seats are not for admin staff.
This is the most asinine thing to spend your time talking about. If you don't work at the firm, why do you care? Sounds like these are comments from all the bitter people that got fired, get a life.
61 -- people care whether they work at this particular firm or not because it may be the wave of the future and will cause massive unemployment in yet another category of employee -- law firm associate. CC is just an early adapter.
62-- I don't hear all this educated talk that you hear about employment trends, I hear a lot of people tearing down employees that still have their jobs...maybe we have been reading a different page.
57 - yep, the CC litigation assoc who married the M&A partner is perfectly fine. of all the people who actually needed a job, she was not one of them, but she stayed on at the firm. associates with new borns and wives/husbands who were not earning anything much, if anything at all, now don't have a job, but they are paying this fifth or sixth year to sit around. what's more, she is universally regarded as not just a poor associate (though people only mutter that behind closed doors because of who she is sleeping with), but is just a vicious, nasty, backstabbing woman who will stop at nothing to lie and deceive her way to get what she wants, and who went to some shitty no-name law school in new hampshire. great work Clifford Chance!!!
64 - wow, you're not bitter or anything. "associates with new borns and wives/husbands who were not earning anything much"? i guess 160k a year isn't "anything much" to an entitled brat. cry me a river at the injustice. maybe you should take a moment to consider your own "vicious" and "nasty" (not to mention cowardly) tendencies - maligning someone on an anonymous form, meanwhile the worst thing you accuse this associate of is going to a "shitty no-name law school" - a comment that says a lot more about you than it does about her. Grow up. If you're only just realizing that going to a well regarded law school isn't in and of itself evidence of how good an actual lawyer you are, and that you have to WORK at becoming a skilled and effective attorney, you've got a long road ahead.
64 - wow, you're not bitter or anything. "associates with new borns and wives/husbands who were not earning anything much"? i guess 160k a year isn't "anything much" to an entitled brat. cry me a river at the injustice. maybe you should take a moment to consider your own "vicious" and "nasty" (not to mention cowardly) tendencies - maligning someone on an anonymous form, meanwhile the worst thing you accuse this associate of is going to a "shitty no-name law school" - a comment that says a lot more about you than it does about her. Grow up. If you're only just realizing that going to a well regarded law school isn't in and of itself evidence of how good an actual lawyer you are, and that you have to WORK at becoming a skilled and effective attorney, you've got a long road ahead.
Hey 66 - If it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, don't get mad when someone call you a duck.
To the young female associates at Gibson Dunn, be VERY WARY. Please trust me,