Staff Layoff Watch: Paul Hastings Re-Centers 25 Staffers
In this economy, firms are looking for efficiency wherever they can find it. Above the Law has been able to confirm that 25 staffers will be let go at the end of July as Paul Hastings moves its document production services to its Los Angeles office. The goal, as we understand it, is to centralize the firm’s document production services and make them more efficient.
The move will result in 25 terminated positions in New York and other Paul Hastings offices around the the country. But the firm is also creating new positions for staffers in L.A.
The affected personnel have been informed of the cuts. But Paul Hastings’s spokespeople report that those staffers have been encouraged to apply for the new L.A. document work. Successful applicants will have their relocation expenses paid by the firm.
And the weather is nicer in L.A.
Staffers who are unable to secure a position in L.A. — or who simply don’t want to go — will receive a severance package.
As Maria von Trapp might say: Whenever God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window. Of course, Maria von Trapp married a super wealthy guy but still ended up living in Vermont, so maybe she doesn’t have the most applicable advice.
Perhaps Micheal Ray Richardson has some advice that is more relevant to the current situation?
Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of staff layoffs
(81) 
Comments
Comments hidden for your protection. Show them anyway!
Bring out the coat hangers!
hmmm...
What a load of steaming turd nuggets.
Doe, a deer, a female deer --
And the blood bath continues. I'm starting to think things will never get better. Literally, biglaw will continue to decline for another 15 years.
WTF am I supposed to do now that I have $200K in debt during BIGLAW's decline???
Ray, a drop of Golden Sun
Do I care enough about this
to drag out the whetstone
and polish the blade?
Ooooh this Latham layoff makes me want to kill self...in front of the Latham summers...wearing a sign saying "Laid-Off Latham 1st Year, Had Good Reviews."
The Dow was down 187 points today. What did you expect, good news from Paul Hastings?
Why does this Paul Hastings partner keep following me around with a coat hanger?
Panic tactics from a firm that prides itself on panicing. If I am a client in New York I am furious because my edits will now be done by associates for $300/hr. This is just cost shifting at a huge premium to clients. How can you do a real estate or m&a deal with any regard to cost?
Idiotic.
"Of course, Maria von Trapp married a super wealthy guy but still ended up living in Vermont, so maybe she doesn't have the most applicable advice."
Will someone explain this sentence to me? Elie, you're an idiot.
Me, a name I call my self.
What about PH's useless Bdev group??!!!
11 -
Are you pregnant? Perhaps to cut down on healthcare costs is my guess.
12 -- no the edits will be done by word processing operators in LA.
Paul Hastings, the Masters of Panic?
Fuck you Uncle Paul!
When will ATL do a story about all the de-equitized partners at PH???
Los Angeles?
Isn't that where all the "rate-insensitive" clients are, also?
What a joke this place is turning out to be.
Maybe these cuts are needed to pay for the leaders' bonuses.
LA/CA is bankrupt..We don't need anymore people moving here..close the borders!
Why don't they fire that fucking bully Office Administrator, uh, excuse me, Director of Office Administration in NY. She is a horrible cunt.
PH = home of the inflated billable hour.
PH clients = victims of the inflated billable hour.
Fa, a long long way to run.
Just so y'all know, my Paul Hastings screenplay/expose is now complete and in the marketing stage. And I'm kind of guessing Paul Hastings New York City knows EXACTLY who I am. Fuck with me then. I dare ya.
26 -- "screenplay/expose"?
15 - PH's bdev group are relocating to Guam, all expenses paid!
27 - Yes, my post from back in March tells the whole story. Check it out.
We told Adam Norris that our partners would never go for this. He told us to take a flying fuck.
The ship be sinking.
Paul Hastings sure is the bottom of the barrel in economic downturns. The firings commence at the first sign of trouble and continue well into the recovery...
Outsourcing records will be next. Nice move Adam!
32: But don't tell the doomed SAs! Never the taint of bad publicity for Uncle Paul!
Comment removed by moderator.
Wow!
Given that I have $250,000 in debt and no job, I would much rather kill myself with a crysknife taken from a pissed off Fremen and feed the tribe's water rather than read a screen play based on someone's putative experiences in PH NY.
PH will need to contract at least 25% more to be economically viable.
35:
UNCLE! UNCLE!
Uncle Paul
35 -- jeez.
So, a needle pulling thread
Re 35. Just what do they do to the associates there?
This would never happen at Thompson Hine.
This would never happen at Latham!
Milbank is the only firm worse than PH.
This can only result in associates doing their own edits. I would hate to be a client paying an associate's rate for word processing changes.
45
They are both BigLaw shitholes.
46: Since PH's clients are all "rate insensitive" they shouldn't mind.
When does the movie come out?
49-You can download it from your favorite porn site.
How many openings are being created in the LA office?
15 - youre just mad that the hotties in bdev won't give you any - but we all feel that way. When are thoe girls going to start putting out?
52- They need to take lessons from the CWT '05 sluts.
52 - You get them a client, they will put out.
26 - I am looking for a good screenplay to license for an entertainment project. How do I get in contact with you?
LA - a note to follow SO
You see by taking part in the levity on this thread, I show that I'm just like the common folk....
Oh, yeah, by the way, since we took over Congress in 2006 (Remember back when the economy was good?) we've been on a spending spree!
In fact, I just ran up FOUR TIMES the debt than my predecessor in my first 5 MONTHS in office!
Yes we CAN!
God bless Kurt!
26 - it really wouldn't take much to concoct a story exactly like yours about any firm. A simple surf of a firm's website and you can find the names of a few important partners and like a madlib anyone can create a compelling BigLaw story.
I don't believe your madlib.
45 = Luc Despins.
PH has been doing stealth layoffs over the past 3 months. in their sf office alone, 2 first years have been canned.
Maybe they can gut the conflicts department so they can get more work.
Paul Hastings will always be synonymous to that farewell email from Gregory Evans, Jr. in 2004. I just wish I had the balls to have written the same sort of masterpiece to my former asshole firm but all I could think of was "Dear Firm. Fuck You" so in my moment of clarity and better judgment, I decided not to send out an email at all.
And just for shits and giggles, here's the old f-you very much email:
As many of you are aware, today is my last day at the firm. It is time for me to move on and I want you to know that I have accepted a position as “Trophy Husband”. This decision was quite easy and took little consideration. However, I am confident this new role represents a welcome change in my life and a step up from my current situation. While I have a high degree of personal respect for PHJW as a law firm, and I have made wonderful friendships during my time here, I am no longer comfortable working for a group largely populated by gossips, backstabbers and Napoleonic personalities. In fact, I dare say that I would rather be dressed up like a pinata and beaten than remain with this group any longer. I wish you continued success in your goals to turn vibrant, productive, dedicated associates into an aimless, shambling group of dry, lifeless husks.
May the smoke from any bridges I burn today be seen far and wide.
Respectfully submitted,
[SIGNED]
ps. Achilles absent, was Achilles still. (Homer)
And of course, the other goodbye email about scraping of a uterus. (shudder)
www.lawshucks.com/laidoffdiary
Wow. A partner being blown by a subordinate. Happens all the time at Sutherland so PH is in good company.
Partners are constantly receiving favors from subordinates and staff. Its an on-going thing at PH. You are either f**ing to keep your job or being f**ed out of one. The administrator is full of the most BS I have ever had the displeasure of deadling with.
I think that's what is keeping her suits buttoned otherwise she might take someone's eye out with one of her buttons.
The National Document Processing Manager brought in from Williams Lea intended this all the time. PH you will get what you deserve.
60 - elaborate?
60 - elaborate?
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.
#59 - I have a verrrrry good idea of who #26 is and s/he knows that of which s/he speaks. The PHJW management better hope s/he does not find a publisher/agent. The disclosures in the "expose" would be hugely embarrassing to some of the top corporate partners in the NY office...is all I can tell ya.
67 - Milbank is that jackass' old firm.
65 - Correct. MJ is a nefarious cunt. And watch out for those flyings buttons!
55 = Everyone's favorite shitbag bean counter on 14 (NY).
Dear Shitbag Bean Counter on 14: You definitely don't want to license THIS screenplay.
72: Why is that?
73 - Because the little shit was banging her.
74- It doesn't surprise me. That little motherfucker has absolutely no scruples.
75 - I'm confident that he will get what he deserves.
74- She told me he has a tiny little prick.
77
That doesn't surprise me. It's usually the case with Napoleonic types.
65/71: I agree that MJ has created a reign of terror/paranoia in the NY office. However, as phony and evil as she is, she is nothing compared to the pathological bean-counter she reports to. Together, they constitute the NY office axis of evil. May they both rot in hell.
79 - I'm glad SOMEBODY has the guts to speak out. The two of them have ruined the NY office. I curse both of them.
79
That would be too good for the cocksucker bean counter. He is the worst, most heartless bastard there is.