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Partner De-Equitization At Paul Hastings

Paul Hastings logo.JPGEarlier this week, we reported on staff layoffs at Paul Hastings. Since Lehman collapsed, Paul Hastings has been through few rounds of attorney layoffs as well.

But Paul Hastings partners haven’t exactly been sitting back and counting cash. Especially younger partners. Above the Law has been able to confirm that a number of partners have been de-equitized since the beginning of the global financial crisis.

Our sources didn’t have overall numbers. But, one tipster put it like this:

You should cover what is going on at Paul Hastings … don’t forget that things are sh**** for jr. partners too.

No doubt.

But according to Paul Hastings spokespeople, the only thing happening at Paul Hastings is “business as usual.”

More details after the jump.

Above the Law talked with a spokesperson for Paul Hastings. The firm acknowledged that some partners have been de-equitized, but emphasized that the situation was “nothing new.”

This process has occurred before, over the past several years. We are constantly aligning [partner] expectations with the performance of the practice groups. We constantly evaluate.

The spokesperson wouldn’t say how many partners had been evaluated down to non-equity status. But the firm would not say that these evaluations were being brought on by the current economic crisis:

Of course, we are probably looking a little bit more closely right now, but this is really business as usual.

The next time you are sitting there terrified that performance reviews might lead to you getting laid off, just remember that some of the partners have similar worries on their plate.

Earlier: Staff Layoff Watch: Paul Hastings Re-Centers 25 Staffers
Nationwide Layoff Watch: Paul Hastings Lays Off 131 in Round 3

Comments

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1 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:33 PM

KARMA BITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!

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2 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:34 PM

first to say first?

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3 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:34 PM

Second!

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4 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:35 PM

Bad move leaving Milbank, Luc....

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5 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:35 PM

That was my first, first. But damn, that felt good. -Karma.

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6 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:37 PM

Why does the story make an explicit connection to Lehman's collapse? Was Lehman a big client of Paul Hastings?

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7 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:37 PM

De-equitizing partners is "business as usual" and "nothing new"? What a shithole.

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8 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:45 PM

On a prestige scale of ambulance chaser to Wachtell, PH is about a Latham.

Oh yeah, and Latham = ambulance chaser.

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9 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:52 PM

What's partner de-equitization?

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10 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:00 PM

names? C'mon, they're big boys & girls.

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11 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:00 PM

For the record, I just de-equitized in my pants.

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12 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:02 PM

I'm just spitballing here, but I think, if I remember correctly from contracts, that they might have some kind of claim here. I may be way off base, but someone should definitely look in the restatement--maybe section 90?

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:03 PM

De-Equitization = coat hanger utilization

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14 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:06 PM

PAUL HASTINGS NEEDS MOAR BAREBACK

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15 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:06 PM

Elie -- This is happening at several firms. Look at the DC offices of Akin and MWE.

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16 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:09 PM

They can have my coat hanger when they pry it from my cold de-equitized hands!

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17 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:12 PM

Paul HasTTTings

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18 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:13 PM

I weep for the de-equitized partner who goes from being absurdly well paid to merely very well paid.

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19 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:15 PM

Why is an older equity partner following me around with a coat hanger?

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20 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:17 PM

Salary cuts are on the way at PH. You heard it here first....

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21 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:18 PM

Sorry Bob. I had to go behind your back to vote to take away your equity. Paying you what you are worth isn't enough. We really had to send you a signal. Sorry buddy. These last 20 years have been great. But still, you had a bad year, and this is what happens. Well, at least you don't regret working 80 hours a week for the last twenty years. You might lose your second wife, but hey, your gardners are running a train on her weekly anyway.

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22 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:21 PM

4:

I'm sure he's weeping over the $5M plus a year he's making. You're right- terrible move on his part.

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23 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:22 PM

Does this make junior partners more or less helpful to associates? I could see either way. They could be more likely to commisserate with the associates and help them weather the economy. Or they could be more likely to throw the associates under the bus by hording work, reviewing negatively, and assigning work very discriminately to be sure that there are enough resources to pay their still hefty compensation.

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24 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:23 PM

23,

Partners will do rogs and review documents. Throw assocaites under the bus.

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25 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:37 PM

What kind of partnership agreement allows for a partner to be expelled like this absence misconduct??

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26 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:39 PM

25 -- most partnerships. partners can be voted out for business purposes (e.g. not having any).

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27 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:39 PM

This is the beginning of the end for biglaw. Only the strong will survive, and that aint PH.

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28 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:41 PM

25 -- every partnership agreement. you never need misconduct, merely a stated percentage of the partners to agree, typically two-thirds..

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29 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:41 PM

4: Luc got a two year guaranteed 5 million a year deal. He's one cause of the excessive layoffs.

6: PH did lots of Lehman work, it was a top 10 client in 2006 and 2007 (as was Bear Sterns).

Yeah, you've got to report more on the stealth layoffs at this firm that have seen the headcount drop to almost half of what it was a year ago. Seriously, the firm used to boast "more than 1300 attorneys," it's now at 800 max and still dropping fast.

-PH 1st year laid off this month

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30 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 7:41 PM

I just left some equity in my secretary's ass.

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31 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:01 PM

I'm waiting for Micheal Ray Richardson to weigh in on this.

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32 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:01 PM

I'm waiting for Micheal Ray Richardson to weigh in on this.

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33 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:04 PM

Paul Hastings is "business as usual" = mpre layoffs to come..

So is PH still on track to being in the top 15 in 2010 aka 15-10? NOT!!!

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34 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:14 PM

"Aligning expectations with performance"? Jesus, lawyers are the worst.

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35 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:39 PM

Is 'Hastings' in italics because you are supposed to emphasize it? Like: paul HASTINGS!!!!!! I don't get it. Pls explain, tks.

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36 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:41 PM

31 / 32,

I ain't no Michael Ray, but I know that this ship be sunk!

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37 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:42 PM

30 - Was it sweat equity?

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38 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:44 PM

moar a$$10bster pls

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39 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:49 PM

McDermoTTT will & emery .... that's another has-been firm.

- ridding all the offices of non-essential staff,
- decreasing summer associate salary on day one,
- kicking newly-minted attorneys to the curb,
- laying off junior and senior associates left and right,
- stealthy saying "adios" to income partners,
- not providing capital partners timely contributions.

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40 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:56 PM

39: This is a post on PH: a top-rate law firm. Why are you writing about staff layoffs at one of Chicago's crappy sweatshops?

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41 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 8:57 PM

where is coverage on whiz kid Kiwi getting his ass handed to him a trial?

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42 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:13 PM

what is PH? pantyhose?

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43 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:16 PM

Actually 29, he got $5 million plus for 3 years.....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123552392772565341.html

....and I highly doubt he's the reason the firm is doing poorly- not with the amount of rain he is making.

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44 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:17 PM

Actually 29, he got $5 million plus for 3 years.....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123552392772565341.html

....and I highly doubt he's the reason the firm is doing poorly- not with the amount of rain he is making.

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45 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:30 PM

43 -- he has literally brought NO business to the firm.

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46 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:32 PM

#45 - Literally.

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47 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:42 PM

K&L Gates partners: this is your future, but rest assured, the firm has no debt and Pete will open additional offices until you saturate a market like a McDonald's of legal services. Congrats!

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48 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:47 PM

I have never heard of K&L Gates. I think you are lying.

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49 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:50 PM

45 & 46: Not sure what group you are in- you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

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50 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:51 PM

What were Barry's grades at Occidental College?

[Snicker.]

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51 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:53 PM

Literally

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52 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:53 PM

35 - That's right. It's Paul *muthafukkin* HASTINGS BITCH!!

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53 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:09 PM

Rumor has it that here in New York a number of now MIA partners, some who came to PH in the Battle Fowler merger, were de-eqqed and so they jumped ship. But to some extent this really is business as usual for PH. Seth and Greg want only high margin work, so even in good times profitable partners at the lower end of the margin scale are at risk of getting cut. And those low margin partners are much more vulnerable when low margin becomes no margin as it has in this economy. That's where it's not really business as usual.

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54 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:12 PM

15-10, aka Top 15 firm in 2010? Are they still pushing that?????????

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55 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:12 PM

Wow, The Bar Bri post proves most readers of this site are law students and undergrad refugees from AutoAdmit. Ouch.

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56 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:20 PM

wahts up with that ex-PH guy and his screenplay expose or whatever/ is that for real?

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57 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:22 PM

if you have business, and can pay your way, you are a partner--i.e., owner of a small business housed in a law firm. If you do not have business, you are something else, no matter what they call you.

"Partner" is just a bullshit title. What you want to be is a lawyer with a book of business that you can walk out the door with. Until you have that, you are not sh-t to a firm except an employee, no matter what they call you, or how nicely they talk to you.

Don't expect anyone to sit you down and explain this very, very obvious fact of life to you at any point during your 35 year stay in the field. And don't expect anyone to ever acknowledge that this is true.

But it is the central fact of law firm life. Everything operates off that foundational fact. Welcome to law.

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58 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:30 PM

I am not shampoo.

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59 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:36 PM

Former PH-er here. You know, it is odd. It is very hard to make partner at PH, especially up from ranks and heavens forbid you are a women with children you might want to see. But, oddly enough, once you are a P, much more protected than ever before. I saw so many dead weight partners- some with incredibly slow - read 700 hours in the hole - years, some totally service nerdos no business of their own - but they would be the first one to can non-partners lawyers and be ready to cast aside if group not busy. Somehow they held onto their jobs for years. I never fully understood this. If it is these people, I say it is time. What goes around, comes around as they say.

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60 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:39 PM

I need to get rid of these warts.

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61 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:53 PM

59: it seems you are barely literate. i hope you don't reflect the quality of other PH lawyers

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62 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:59 PM

I think we will see at lot more partner de-equitization at other firms in the fall. Business is really slow at big law. There are tumbleweeds blowing through the corporate department at the NY V25 firm that I work at.

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63 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:02 PM

62 -- milbank?

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64 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:03 PM

62 -- milbank?

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65 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:16 PM

I really enjoy the peppy grooves of the late 90's band, Chumbawumba.

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66 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:42 PM

Shut it 61. These are comments to a website and not a brief to the Supreme Court. 59's comments are spot on. The only thing that is surprising is that PH is admitting that they have de-equitized in the past. They never would have admitted that before despite the fact that it has been going on for years.

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67 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:44 PM

All the elite Harvard grads at
CravaTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTh
couldn't keep the ship from sinking

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68 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:44 PM

30- I don't think she can really make it pay if you left it "there." Accordingly, I don't think the term "equity" is appropriate.

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69 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:44 PM

I was a Senior Associate at Winston & Strong, Chicago HQ. Despite having no public layoffs, the Firm continues to stealth its Associates. I was 1 or 2 years removed from becoming elevated to Partner, and now I must figure out how to reinvent myself.

--Unemployed from CHI-TOWN
Home of 2016 OLYMPICS.

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70 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:47 PM

Chicago Illinois Sucks.

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71 Posted by kiwicamaraisbaaack | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:47 PM

Kiwi Camara got his ASS KICKED. No other way to look at it. What was different this time? Same lady, same judge (actually more sympathetic), same evidence, same RIAA. Just different lawyers.

Camara should be ashamed of himself. If you graduate Harvard as a teenager, you have nothing in common with normal people or jurors. The jury hated this guy. From what I read, he was arrogant, talked down to the jurors, interrupted the lawyers and witnesses, and pissed off the judge.

You think he likes all this media now? He better like pro bono work because no one will ever pay this guy to represent them. Way to go, Doogie. 24 songs for $2 million. Your parents must be so proud.

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72 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:54 PM

57 has it exactly right.

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73 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:23 AM

IVY LEAGUE BABY-- SHIT HAS HIT THE FAN !

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74 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:33 AM

71 - Do you think it is because his name is obnoxious? Maybe the jury didn't appreciate Kiwi's scare tactics, such as "this is going to happen to you next."

Finally, his strategy of saying that the music people couldn't prove who used her computer to put the songs on the file sharing website was just not believable. It was her computer and her screen name - who else would it be?

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75 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:52 AM

Paul Hastings = EPIC FAIL

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76 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 1:01 AM

57: you are right on. In law firms (as in life),there are 2 groups: those who are working for others, and those who have others working for them. The clients are the difference. The status overlay (partners, income partners, counsel, associates, etc.) has nothing to do with this reality. It has always been this way, but the institutions have just worked harder in the last 30 years to hide this reality. The great thing about down markets is that they strip away these veneers.

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77 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 1:02 AM

57: you are right on. In law firms (as in life),there are 2 groups: those who are working for others, and those who have others working for them. The clients are the difference. The status overlay (partners, income partners, counsel, associates, etc.) has nothing to do with this reality. It has always been this way, but the institutions have just worked harder in the last 30 years to hide this reality. The great thing about down markets is that they strip away these veneers.

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78 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 1:38 AM

Hey partners, welcome to the suck.

-Associate

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79 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 1:45 AM

Crap firm. What more needs to be said? I mean, really? At this point, it's just piling on.

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80 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 3:39 AM

50% = the target number of offers to their summer class this year.


I think that should be said.

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81 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 7:35 AM

I am a former PH'r. I saw this happen to a number of partners. You are basically given a period of time to build your business back up, and if you do not, you are shown the door. Also, the stealth layoffs began in January of 2008, especially in the NY RE department. Lehman was a big client and so was UBS/Dillon Reed. This work is completely gone. Before I left, the partners were holding onto every bit of work for themselves. The call this "trimming the fat".

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82 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 7:38 AM

69 - if you're going to pretend to be a former sr. associate ... at least spell the GD name right, ya know, for authenticity sake. Come over here so I can slap you around a bit and introduce you to Zed.

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83 Posted by kiwicamaraisbaaack | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 7:40 AM

74--
Kiwi Camara is arrogant. Always has been. He probably thought he could peddle his fiction to jurors he thought were not very smart.

That's what happens when kids dress up like lawyers.

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84 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 8:11 AM

74 - you are obviously an ass monkey AOL retard. Most people use the internet without a "screen name" -- that concept died when access transitioned to broadband.

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85 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 8:46 AM

69 - what group at Winston?

The stealth layoffs to which you refer are nothing more than what has been done at all leading mega firms for years - when it is not an across the board lay off and it involves a small group of folks firm wide not likely to progress to partner it is not announced - and has not ever been announced at places like Winston, Sidley, Mayer, Jenner, Kirkland, etc. Had you been assured that you would be promoted two years hence?

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86 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 9:06 AM

Guys who earn 500K to a million don't get that money for nothing? They have to produce or they stop getting the money? Golly...this sounds like capitalism or something like that. IS THIS NOT A PROFESSION?

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87 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 9:29 AM

I am glad to hear they are doing this. Only firms that cut the partner ranks will survive this disaster of an economy we inherited from 'ol Bushy. Good to see that PH is doing this.

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88 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 10:06 AM

24: Damn right! That happened to me at my firm.

89 Posted by Michael Ray Richardson | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 10:23 AM

The ship be sinking...

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90 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 10:56 AM

The hypocrisy on this site is astounding. You are outraged when associates are laid off, but practically pi$$ your pants in glee when a partner loses his job. Imagine yourself 25 -30 years in the future--having sacrificed your youth, your family and probably your health--with a huge mortgage, a couple of kids and your profitable years waning as retirement looms in the not too distant future--only to find yourself $hitcanned.......Geez, no wonder lawyers have such a bad name. You have no soul.

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91 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:01 AM

24 and 88 Hell yes, they are going to do that. What are they supposed to do sacrifice their livelihood for some snot-nosed little brat who hadn't yet sacrificed thier life to the law? Get real.

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92 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:03 AM

87--sure....Bush is solely responsible for the global economic meltdown......

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93 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:07 AM

86--Guys who earn 190K don't get that for nothing? They have to produce or they stop getting the money? Golly...this sounds like capitalism or something like that. IS THIS NOT A PROFESSION?

How different it all sounds when the other shoe drops.

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94 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:19 AM

When the economy was in a full-blown recession in June 2001, I'm sure guys like 87 were blaming Clinton for causing the economic disaster that Bush inherited.
Liberals are very consistent in their positions, you see.

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95 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:29 AM

Hey 90: the biggest asshats I have ever worked for were junior partners and senior associates on the cusp of partnership. Having seen the "prize," these pricks would furiously throw everyone under the bus for their mismanagement and displayed no leadership skills. Their behavior didn't get better but we associates didn't have to deal with them as much. The upshot is that they deserve what's coming to them.

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96 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:32 AM

94: This is nothnig like 2001. Recessions happen. This is a meltdown.

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97 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:38 AM

90,

25 years from now, I won't have a mortgage.

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98 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:43 AM

96, but you have always and consistently blamed the 2001 "recession" (or whatever you label it) on Clinton, right?
And that recession ended in November 2001 so you obviously always gave Bush the credit for ending it, just like you will credit Obama if he ends this meltdown?
Liberals are so consistent.

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99 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:48 AM

86,

Reduction in pay vs. getting fired

This is a simple concept you can't grasp.

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100 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:10 PM

97--That is what everyone says. The more you make. The more you spend.

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101 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:15 PM

97 Assuming (big assumption) that you make partner, you will trade that associates mortgage for a partner's mortgage. If you are just starting out, even with a 15 year mtg, you will most likely still be paying it off--not to mention the couple hundred thou you will have to pony up for partnership, private school for the kiddos, child support when the marriage goes sour because you aren't ever home, and the list goes on and on........

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102 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:18 PM

96--this is a global meltdown....you can't realistically blame Bush for that.

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103 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:37 PM

People who think in sound bites are entertaining.

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104 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:42 PM

I don't know about the other offices, but PH Atlanta has had more than a few de-equitizations over the past couple of years. And the senior associates have been completely wiped out (there are NONE left). Mid-levels have mostly been cut as well. Head count went from 110 a year ago to 70 now. Sound like business is thriving?

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105 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:45 PM

I don't know about the other offices, but PH Atlanta has had more than a few de-equitizations over the past couple of years. And the senior associates have been completely wiped out (there are NONE left). Mid-levels have mostly been cut as well. Head count went from 110 a year ago to 70 now. Sound like business is thriving?

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106 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:48 PM

"You know, Burke, I don't know which species is worse. You don't see them fucking each other over for a goddamn percentage."

-Ellen Ripley

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107 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 12:48 PM

103 Better to think in soundbites, than not to think at all.

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108 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 2:45 PM

Top banking partner John Douglas has moved to Davis Polk. Douglas had a nice book of biz

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109 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 2:46 PM

Top banking partner John Douglas has moved to Davis Polk. Douglas had a nice book of biz

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110 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 3:20 PM

109: Was John Douglas in the PH Atlanta office?

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111 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 3:37 PM

As others have noted, 57 is absolutely correct. A portable book of business is the only real job security. The stark truth that doesn't come up on ATL much is the very long odds of making equity partner in Biglaw. Look at the numbers; even under normal conditions conditions, the vast majority of the people in any associate class will be gone long before they're eligible for partnership, and many of those who are theoretically eligible won't make it. And only a limited number who miss partnership will be kept on as counsel. Unless you can build a book, make full partner, and keep that book going, you're just passing through.

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112 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 3:38 PM

Lemonade pie and a brand new car to compensate for the deequitization.

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113 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 3:42 PM

110: Yep. Huge loss for PH, particularly PH Atlanta.

http://www.dpw.com/news/

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114 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 3:52 PM

From what I've heard, Douglas was relatively happy at PH and doing very well, but Davis Polk offered lots of $$. DPW doesn't hire many lateral partners and few partners could or would turn down opportunities at Davis Polk, especially where there is work there already that needs to be serviced. I

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115 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 3:55 PM

113: The end is nearing for PH Atlanta..Karma is a biatch!! The Atlanta office had a bunch of jerks..

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116 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 4:28 PM

Junior Partners are the lucky ones. PH Atlanta laid off all of its senior associates.

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117 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 4:45 PM

I don't know that I'd call the Junior Partners lucky. They get to stick around with the first and second years (that are left) and try to develop a book of business with the highest rates in Atlanta. Good luck with that.

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118 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 5:32 PM

56 - I've read the PH screenplay/expose, so it is real enough. She is a brilliant writer, but maybe needs to tone it down a bit. I did, however, laugh at her account of the "sordid fling" she had with the "Napoleonic bean counter" in the NY office. This guy sounds like a real misanthropic scumbag.

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119 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 5:38 PM

118:

If it's who I think it is, your description is spot on!

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120 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 5:42 PM

There's a rumour in the banking community that PH is having a problem with the partnership's line of credit. Does anyone know anything?

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121 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 5:53 PM

104: The same thing is now happening in NY. Sr associate ranks have been stealthily decimated. And from what I've heard, many former Battle Fowler partners have been de-equitized. While they're at it, they should de-employ that sadistic (and phony) bitch of an office administrator. She creates a hostile work environment for everyone but the partners (whose asses she cannot stop kissing).

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122 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 8:43 PM

118 - I'd love to read the screenplay. I'm guessing that it's not available to random commenters on ATL. How's her search for production going?

I read her comment on the last PH post before it got censored, and it sounds like some pretty sordid stuff.

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123 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 9:30 PM

85 - I did mostly lending, some cap mkts. Like they say, only the STRONG survive, and I guess I didn't cut it.


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124 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:27 PM

122 - I'm helping her with the marketing and there actually is pretty strong interest. Like I mentioned, she needs to tone it down a bit, but the story is fascinating. I think it really captures the essence of the BigLaw experience. Apparently, PH NY is quite a swinging place!

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125 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:31 PM

120: I'm in LA. All we know is that PH is close to a covenant default on their line of credit. The rumour is that the creditor may ask for personal guarantees from the partners.

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126 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:33 PM

118

Are his initials BAB?

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127 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:39 PM

115: NY is not so hot either. Tumbleweeds are flying down the corporate and re halls. And Litigation sucks too. Look for more desperate and sleazy moves by NY admin to dump salaries.

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128 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:39 PM

115: NY is not so hot either. Tumbleweeds are flying down the corporate and re halls. And Litigation sucks too. Look for more desperate and sleazy moves by NY admin to dump salaries.

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129 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 19, 2009 11:42 PM

121: Hostile work environment indeed! It's all my secretary talks about. When will management realize that MJA is an HR disaster in the making?

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130 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, June 20, 2009 12:36 AM

There have been some questionable senior associate departures from Hogan & Hartson DC lately. Stealth layoffs?

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131 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, June 20, 2009 12:55 AM

129- Greg and Seth will realize it when they get slapped with a hostile workplace lawsuit. Mary Jane is truly the office administrator from HELL. What's worse is that she tag-teams with the office chair from hell to abuse the staff and associates. There is a special place in hell reserved for both of them. Godspeed!!!

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132 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:50 AM

131: Word is, she has standing orders to dump salaries at every opportunity. The ship be sinking...

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133 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, June 20, 2009 12:30 PM

When I got sh!tcanned at PH, Mary Jane said that she was on my side, but until I'm cutting her a paycheck I find that a bit hard to believe.

But that one amusing comment aside, I thought she was as helpful as she could be. I'm not sure what all these horror stories are about.

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134 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, June 20, 2009 12:35 PM

118/124 - It sounds like I left PH at the same time she did, but I had no idea PH was such a swinging place. How did I miss the party?

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135 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, June 20, 2009 1:28 PM

133-

Ex-PH associate here. That was not my experience. MJ is completely phony. She is both Barry's sycophant and executioner. All PH'rs should be on notice: this dominatrix will CUT YOUR ASS under ANY pretext.

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136 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, June 20, 2009 6:28 PM

Ah yes! Another firm that tries to out-Sonnenchein the crappiest firm in all the land: Sonnechein. PHJW, however, is giving the crappiest BigLaw firm in the U.S. a fight for it's money. This one may have to go the judge's scorecards...maybe even a split decision if PHJW gets on its game and starts boasting about its robust practices in the ATL.

Craptacular...all the way around at these firms. Choosing employment between these firms is like being asked if you want to be shot in the chest or in the head. The previous statement is probably not going to be a concern for some time to come, however, at either of these firms (assuming they continue to exist).

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137 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, June 20, 2009 6:48 PM

134

It's only a party for the damn plutocrats that run the place!

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138 Posted by guest | Permalink Sunday, June 21, 2009 12:13 AM

135- what did she do that was so dominatrix like? once the partners decide to fire someone, isn't it just pretty much a matter of running through a to do list? that was my impression of it. mj gets stuck with the crappy job of dealing with fired people, but there's nothing she did in my case that i could really criticize her for. she was helpful in digging up the answers to a bunch of quesitons i had as well.

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139 Posted by guest | Permalink Sunday, June 21, 2009 12:50 PM

Paul HasTTTings NY office sounds like it isn't doing so well. Are there vultures swirling overhead? What about Clifford Chance's litigation group? What the hell happened over there?

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140 Posted by guest | Permalink Sunday, June 21, 2009 10:57 PM

138-As a soon to be ex-DPS person, I can tell you that MJ is a heartless bitch to the non-attys. It's clear to me that she lacks any feeling for those being let go. But then PH is the worst kind of "squeeze the lemon and discard the rind" biglaw shithole.

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141 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 12:08 AM

Paul Hastings is the worst firm ever. Stay clear of the Los Angeles office. The stud there is the worst manager ever. And those in the Los Angeles office knows who the Stud with "the lick her license" is!

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142 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 12:40 AM

141:

LA indeed sucks ass. But NY is pretty close. The partners here are either fucking their subordinates literally or figuratively. And administration is always breathing down your neck. This ship is sinking.

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143 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 12:46 AM

140: Just so you know, MJ is being named in my pending wrongful termination lawsuit. Over and out.

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144 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 8:08 AM

142, you sound like a certain screenplay/expose writer we all know and love!

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145 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 8:54 AM

Expecting the person dealing with firings to have empathetic feelings for each person fired is a bit like expecting an emergency room doctor to have empathetic feelings for each person that dies under their care.

"Just doin' my job, ma'am."

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146 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 8:58 AM

145---

just think for a minute about your comment.

..............................

dick.

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147 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 10:03 AM

145--

146, not only is 145 a dick; but, 145 is also an idiot. The concept of "duty" seems to have escaped 145. 145 should ask himself/herself: To whom does the ER doctor owe a duty of care, confidentiality, etc.? The patient. Now, to whom does the HR person owe a duty of care and loyalty? The terminated associate or the partnership? Operationally, does the fact that the partnership pays her have any role in the analysis of bias or prejudice? Think about it.

Now, let's work on distinguishing the facts. Maybe 145 did this at his/her TTT law school, but let's work through it again. What are the odds that an ER doctor has a previous relationship with a patient? Probably not all that great. HR, however, is supposed to have such relationships with those who work at that firm.

I could go on and on, but I hope 145 gets the point: the two situations are not alike at all--at least not when it comes to the most meaningful aspects of the relationship.

HTH

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148 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 1:27 PM

There's nothing sweeter than sitting back in a lawn chair with a huge grin, cracking a couple beers and watching PH slowly burn to the ground as flaming partners plummet to their crimson firework death. Even face down in a gutter isn't low enough for you roaches.

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149 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 1:40 PM

140: As another NY employee, I've also witnessed and experienced MJA's "tender mercies." It is common knowledge in this office that she lacks basic respect for her subordinates and "leads" with a management style that is both autocratic and arbitrary.

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150 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 2:17 PM

143- That's great! Its about time someone stood up to her.

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151 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 6:40 PM

People were sad when Heller and Thelen fell apart.

Nobody will mourn PHJW.

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152 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 22, 2009 7:27 PM

151- True, very true.

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153 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:45 PM

"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."

---PHJW

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154 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:16 AM

153 - But the patient is in intensive care.

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155 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:54 PM

I'm sure the de-equitized partners are happy that Seth and Greg are still flying around first class. Those warm nuts are definitely worth it.

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156 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:55 PM

I'm sure the de-equitized partners are happy that Seth and Greg are still flying around first class. Those warm nuts are definitely worth it.

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157 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, June 24, 2009 4:35 PM

Seth and Greg are like two headless chickens during this economic crisis.

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158 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, June 25, 2009 4:00 PM

How do you de-equitize partners if you have a one tier partnership?

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159 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 26, 2009 11:31 AM

it is only one-tier when you are first elected partner. once you are a partner you can be de-equitized, but it isn't made public.

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160 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, June 26, 2009 6:35 PM

There are about to be a shitload of partner departures at Paul Hastings. You heard it here first.

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161 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, June 29, 2009 5:49 PM

160 - don't know which offices your are talking about, but I just heard about some movement in Tokyo

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162 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:37 AM

161 - I'm talking about the NY office, where it is taking place very quietly. What are you hearing about Tokyo?

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163 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:37 PM

We're seeing some movement in LA as well.

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164 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:55 PM

The ship be sinking...

It's only a matter of time.

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165 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, July 1, 2009 12:39 PM

164: It couldn't happen to nicer partners.

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166 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, July 1, 2009 5:31 PM

In Tokyo there are a few leaving by the end of July. Haven't heard much about CA offices other than LA. There is a lot of dead weight in DC with maybe 4 or 5 partners paying for their salary, so there might be a move there.

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167 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, July 1, 2009 6:03 PM

166: I'm hearing that a "boat load" of NY partners will be gone by the end of July.

I'm also hearing that the chair will soon be replaced. Being that he is a heartless cocksucker, we are more than jubilant.

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168 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, July 1, 2009 11:10 PM

166/167: There are also persistent rumours in the LA office that the firm is having a problem with their credit line.

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169 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, July 2, 2009 4:46 PM

166-168 - there have been rumors for months of major shake-ups in SV. Basically two profitable partners carrying a lot of dead weight (including the seemingly inept corporate group--what is going on down there? oh, right, nothing...), at least one of whom is very unhappy.

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170 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, July 3, 2009 10:05 AM

They will get what they deserve. Sometimes there is justice in THIS lifetime.

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171 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, July 14, 2009 7:24 PM

hey does anyone know if mj is stepping down
once barry goes who will protect her

rumor has it adam norris is not too pleased with mj performace, can this be the sign of a new era, will the real mj please stand up

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172 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, July 17, 2009 1:44 AM

171-

I certainly hope so. In the NY office, we would say good riddance to bad rubbish. This bitch should rot in hell.

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173 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 11:40 PM

For those of you still there. At least 3 more associates laid off in DC in the past few weeks. Given the pattern of previous lay offs, I can only assume there were a few in the other offices as well.

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