Nationwide Layoff Watch: DLA Piper Cuts 120 121
Earlier today, we told you that some DLA Piper incoming first years were worried about their standing with the firm. We’re now going to clear some runway space for that worry to take off into a full panic.
Sources report that DLA Piper has laid off 120 people today. DLA would not confirm our reports, but we have multiple independent sources telling us that 20 lawyers and 100 staffers are being let go today.
Update (1:11 PM): The firm is now confirming that DLA laid off 121 people: 21 lawyers and 100 staff. Read the full statement after the jump.
No word on severance, but we also understand that New York and Chicago will be the offices that are hardest hit by today’s news.
Some instant DLA history, and an update from the firm, after the jump.
This brings the total DLA Piper carnage to 440 U.S. or U.K. attorneys and staff let go this year.
And remember that DLA has already tried to cut costs by cutting associate salaries. In May, the firm attempted to institute a 20% salary cut on associates, based on their hours. But the firm soon reversed course and went with a 10%, across the board salary cut regardless of hours.
Are today’s actions a direct result of deciding against a larger salary cut a couple of months ago?
We understand that incoming first years are still on track to start in either January 2010 or January 2011.
On Monday, Law Shucks reported that the march towards layoffs had slowed down over the past couple of months. But clearly layoffs are not over yet. Good luck, (former) DLA Piper employees.
Read the full statement from DLA Piper below.
DLA PIPER — STATEMENT — LAYOFFS
During the last year, we have experienced the worst economic period in generations. We have carefully gauged its impact on our business and responded by closely scrutinizing and reducing all of our material expenses across the board. We also reduced our workforce in February, attempting to preserve as many jobs as possible while avoiding any further reductions later in the year. Unfortunately economic weakness has continued, demand across the legal sector remains soft, and it is increasingly clear that major improvements in the US and global economy will not occur before 2010. We have therefore regretfully concluded that we must reduce our ranks now by 21 associates and 100 staff. While the firm’s financial position remains strong, a tightly-managed cost structure is essential to compete effectively during these uncertain times. We value all of our people and are very grateful for their contributions to the firm, and we have worked hard to consider and employ every reasonable measure to avoid lawyer and staff reductions.
Our practice group leaders, office managing partners and senior administrative staff are meeting today with those directly affected to discuss the details of this decision. The firm will provide severance benefits, outplacement counseling and other resources to support their transition. This reduction is based on the economic climate and does not reflect on the performance of those affected.
We will be holding town hall meetings in some of our offices on Thursday to provide you with an opportunity to hear directly about these developments, and you will receive notification of time and place shortly. Your understanding, support and consideration for your colleagues as we move through this will be vital. Please take the time to attend a town hall meeting. Thank you.
Earlier: Mixed Messages From DLA Piper to its Incoming 1st Years?
Nationwide Layoff Watch: DLA Piper Lays Off 180
International Layoff Watch: DLA Piper Cuts 140 U.K. Employees
This Week in Layoffs: Mid-Year Layoff Review
DLA Piper Salary Cut Follow Up
DLA Piper Gives Back 10% of the Salary Cut
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Comments
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This would never happen in Texas!
first
The ship be sinking...
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would never happen at a peer firm. good luck to those who have been let go.
Every laid off person brings a smile to my face. :)
I best there is a room full of summers shaking in their boots right now. :)
I bet there is a room full of summers shaking in their boots right now. :)
The next Heller...
9 - you're an idiot.
All DLA is lacking is Celine Dion leaning over the bow of the ship screeching.
The fleet be sinking...
Says who 4?!
Why hasn't the bleeding stopped yet?
Umm, annoying deferred first years. . . take the fucking money!
The layoff of staff should be made distinct from the layoff of attorneys. Saying DLA laid off 120 people with only 20 of those people being attorneys is quite different than DLA laying off 120 attorneys. Attorneys are fee earners; staff assist attorneys but in general do not contribute directly to firm profits..
Still no post on the Cooley trio of partners leaving for Dewey? Unreal.
Come on ATL. Do you guys have to be such fear mongers?!
Come on ATL. Do you guys have to be such fear mongers?!
Thanks Obama, for this change we can't believe in.
TTTime to pay the piper!
Please remove #18...that is simply ridiculous!
18 has just described most attorneys' fantasies....
Can we delete 17? Irrelevant and disgusting.
The email memo just went out confirming everything. I am sure ATL will get a copy soon.
Read the morning docket, 17.
Comment removed by moderator.
Anybody notice the deletion by ATL of all 44 postings on the July 6, 2009:
ATL Party Pics: Market Volatility & Your Finances?
I only have one question for the recently departed 120 DLA personnel: If you could go back in time, think November 4, 2008, would you vote for "the One" again? Good luck putting food on the table and paying your bills on hope and change.
Comment removed by moderator.
You're right 20. Bush had NOTHING to do with this mess.
16 is right - this is less newsworthy than previously indicated
THE SINK BE SHIPPING!
How do ATL editors/moderators decide whether they will simply make a post vanish, ala the morbid fantasy that was previously post #18 in this thread, or leave remnants of the post with the message that it had been removed by the moderator (ex - post 27)?
Paul Hastings is prepping for another round of layoffs!
this is a classic case of a law firm getting too big too fast. Why does any law firm need close to 4000 attorneys in a presence in every nook on the planet. Just doesnt make sense. Best of luck fallen DLA brethren
The numbers posted above do not reflect stealth layoffs. There were cuts starting as early as June 2008. September 2008 was the start of systematic rounds of layoffs - small groups from various departments, in different cities, so they weren't too obvious. Mostly staffers at that point with a few associates here and there. In 2009, bigger groups were let go, but again, there were many alternating weeks where about ten or so were let go at one time.
lenny dystra just filed for bankruptcy. Owes 1.5M to K&L Gates
Comment removed by moderator.
Partner Emeritus, your decent into the pit of political advocacy disappoints me. Your comment constitutes a departure from your typically restrained commentary, which usually consists of amusing and incendiary statements on professional concerns, such as tactics in associate exploitation, firm politics, firm quality, and the history of legal services. I will overlook it this time, but expect and hope that this post is not representative of your planned future conduct.
Can anyone tell me the salary progression at Holland and Hart? Does it seriously only increase 1K per year until partner?
DLgAy
40
No, PE has made several (correct) comments about those who decided to vote for Obama. Pay attention.
39, you're off topic.
recommend deletion.
Comment removed by moderator.
Why isn't this over yet? WHY? Please make it stop!
The act of performing anal cunnilingus while reaching up above the testicles to manually administer quick up and down motions to the penile shaft; resulting in a violent yet pleasant explosion. It is then customary for the female to then give a quick blow into the anus for good luck, the lips blowing into the anus sounds very similar to a trombones sweet melody. This was introduced to the Americas in the late 50's.
Van Winkle ain't laying off shit, bitches!
46 -- expect the layoffs to continue well into 2012. The economy is just not improving. This is not a normal recession. Most biglaw firms will need to trim down by as much as 50% before this is over.
This is the cold truth.
I wonder how this town hall meeting will differ from the town hall meeting they had after the February layoffs? Oh, right. Tthere are less people to attend and sit silently in awe of their brilliant leaders.
Any questions?
Can we raise our billing rates again? It's worked miracles so far.
At least they didn't Latham their first years.
Comment moderated by moderator seeking moderation.
Comment removed by moderator.
Comment eviscerated by moderator's bunghole.
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#45 - That is offensive. Please moderate.
Looks like I will have to postpone my vacation on Martha's Vineyard. Damn you, DLA Piper!
This is Latham's fault
49 - Are you writing from your Y2K bunker?
This firm sucks. The memo says that: "While the firm's financial position remains strong. . . ." Really? Hate to say it, but DLA's financial position is obviusly not "strong." Strong firms do not conduct massive lay-offs. Strong firms do not institute pay freezes and then up the ante and make everyone take pay cuts. Strong firms do not tell non-equity partners that all of a sudden they can all magically become full equity partners by just by giveing the firm a bunch of cash. (Wonder how many of those ppl are now seriously regretting the decision to give $150,000 of their hard earned dollars to this sinking firm.) Fact of the matter is -- DLA merged with every small firm in every small town in the country and the world. They wanted to be "global." They thought clients would all of a sudden pay the over-inflated rates of the hack attorneys (attorneys that obviously couldn't charge the over-inflated rates before they had the mighty DLA logo on their business cards). NO QUALITY CONTROL AT ALL. It was a stupid idea in a good market. Self-destructive idea once the economy faultered. Clients aren't dumb -- they realized there are better places, with lower rates, or much better places with the same rates. Now the firm is stuck with a huge overhead and no (smart) clients to pay the bills. Any partner with a book of business (including the firm's former number 1 rainmaker (Amy Schulman) is already gone or will probably be out the door soon, to a repectable firm that can support his or her business. Any decent associate with any options is out the door as well. And any client with any other contacts or options is giving their work to another firm. What's left? A sinking ship. Good-bye DLA.
DAAAAAAAVE GOOOOORDDOONNNN!!!
"Unfortunately economic weakness has continued, demand across the legal sector remains soft, and it is increasingly clear that major improvements in the US and global economy will not occur before 2010."
Finally a firm admits to the truth.
I have heard rumors of further EAPD layoffs and salary cuts. Can anyone confirm?
American law firms make more cuts. The government issues more work visas. Is there a need for more lawyers or not?
63: great.teacher.onizuka@gmail.com
16 You're an idiot! All paralegals are fee earners (and some secretaries) and in most cases bring in more money than associates! Dumb ass!
16 You're an idiot! All paralegals are fee earners (and some secretaries) and in most cases bring in more money than associates! Dumb ass!
What does Tom Glasscock have to say??
Thoughts and prayers go out to the 121 attorneys and staff who lost their jobs.
47
Ballard next (again)?
I'm curious as to what recruiting will look like this fall.
Any firm that hires graduates of Yaroslav the Wise National Law Academy deserves to fail.
Moderator moved by comment.
Town Hall meetings? WTF???
It all started with a simple children's toy. Couldn't be more innocent than that, right? That was the thought process of the gentlemen of Delta Tau Delta when we decided to have a “Slip 'n Slide Night” for our recruitment week. Something fun, care-free, and (since it was 90 degrees outside) ultimately just something to cool us down. Who would have thought that it would have fired so many other people up? But I am getting ahead of myself. I am a long-standing member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and also have the unofficial title of “recruitment guru”. From the time I was a pledge I helped execute the best recruitment program at the University of Northern Colorado. We took recruitment week from simple house tours and BBQ's to full out Carnival Days and Casino Nights (complete with Craps tables, and Roulette wheels). Unfortunately not every event can be a sure-fire winner, and we have had less than ideal events, as well including Oil Wrestling with the UNC Dance Team. Oil. It was from oil that a new rule for fraternity recruitment was born. “Women are not to be used in a sexually explicit manner.” We, of course, had no problem with this because we had only that one event that involved women at all, and normally kept our recruitment events to higher standard. Now, this new rule was meant to only punish my fraternity but it seemed that other houses were also involved in slightly inappropriate events as well and had to abide by their own new rule. Between the new “chastity” rule and hitting the highest recruitment numbers at UNC for 4 years in a row, you could say that we were not the most popular on campus with the other fraternity houses. How does this all effect me? It all started with oil.
The newest recruitment chairman, who just happened to be my assistant the year prior, was hungry for another year on top of the recruitment ladder. We had won awards for the last 4 years, and he didn't want to be the one to stop that. Together we created a flawless execution of flyers, recruitment shirts, and events that would entice the whole campus community, not just those interested in Greek life. We had over 200 people at our first event which involved dunk tanks, pie eating, free food, and the Ultimate Slip 'n Slide. Made from 50 feet of rubberized tarp with a garden hose running the water we had created the biggest Slip 'n Slide I had ever seen. Then it happened; someone decided to be a genius and pour bottles of baby oil on the slide in order to make people “slide better”. It, almost ironically, was a slippery slope from there and we soon had 50 girls in their bathing suits slipping and sliding up and down the lawn outside the DTD house. We made it through the night, and everything seemed to be going swimmingly. We had not been lectured by the Greek Advisor, nor had anyone shut us down. We had 50 names of future members to continue recruiting and it seemed as though we had dodged a bullet.
“We would like Delta Tau Delta to be suspended from recruitment activities for the following 2 semesters, including being unable to initiate any members this semester.” That was the statement given by a member of another prominent fraternity on campus. The house shall remain nameless to protect the guilty. Our rival house asking that we be taken out of the recruitment equation would mean significant increases in future members for them, and almost certain death (of the house) for us. Apparently there was a member of this house that had driven by the DTD house in order to see how many people we had “stolen” from their numbers. They saw beautiful girls sliding down our lawn in bikini's and decided to take a report straight to the Inter-fraternity Council; the governing body of fraternity life. Our President asked for a weeks time in which to prepare an answer for their grievance and we had one week in which to save our recruitment, and thus save DTD.
This is where I come in. Our President came to me and asked that I defend our position that we broke no rules during our recruitment event, and I gladly obliged. You may be asking yourself, “Why would he ask you to defend the fraternity? Couldn't he easily do the job himself?”. As I mentioned earlier I was known in the fraternity as the “recruitment guru”, but I also had another unofficial “title” that I am almost significantly more proud of. I can get out of anything. I have always been a highly vocal person within my fraternity and allowed myself to be the punching bag for many of the other members ill-suited vendettas and petty misunderstandings. I allowed this because I currently hold the record for most disciplinary write-ups within my fraternity, and the least amount of punishment given. I research for hours in old fraternity by-laws, and read 100's of pages of fraternity Constitution that most of the members did not even know existed. I call in witnesses, and collect written testimony relieving me of any wrong-doing. I found the “loop-hole” within our by-laws that allowed for a member that is currently not enrolled in the University to remain active in the chapter, (I became quite ill and was forced to withdraw from all classes, but thats another story) and most of the current rules and regulations were co-authored by me so that others would be unable to get away with the drastic misrepresentations of what was actually written versus what was obviously meant to be written. I was the guy that could figure out how to get us out of the problem we were facing. I was appointed “Legal Counsel for the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity”.
Do you know the legal definition of “sexually explicit”? I do, and so do all of the members of the Inter-Fraternity Council. It involves words and phrases I think best left out of an essay I am hoping will kick-start my law school application, but I will say that if you ever need to see a 21 year old football player blush, try it. After reading the definition there was absolute silence. These were the members of the fraternity community that had significant “moral” (though, obviously other reasons were in play) problems with the “elicit” acts performed on the lawns on the Delta Tau Delta house and they were silent. Eventually there were arguments against the legal definition which were immediately disregarded as they had no relevance. I spoke again on the nature of our events being purely child-like, and that they oil was simply a conductor to increase speed and had no bearing on a sexual nature of the event. I spoke, and spoke. I answered question after question with ease, because I had prepared myself for each and every discerning opinion. In the end we were given the opportunity to re-write the current
by-law for the following semesters, and no punishment was given. We had done nothing wrong, and we knew that from the beginning. Delta Tau Delta would live on.
After speaking with many people about my law school application most felt that I should try to shy away from my fraternity life, and focus on something else good, or honorable that I had done in my life that had brought me to my love of the law. I told them that the fraternity was one of the biggest influences in my life, and it taught me things that no simple club or other organization could teach me. Politics, and rules live within us everyday and define the things that we do. Either you play by someone else's definition of the rules, or you better understand them to live your life the way you should. I have always been one to better understand the rules around me, and believe that I was made to argue for myself and others for a better life. I was born to be an attorney, and I hope that with your help and your University that I will become the best one that I can be.
There are issues that I need addressed as well, but didn't want to destroy my story with information that wasn't relevant. I wanted to address my missed year of school, and subsequent drop in GPA. I have a heart condition that was discovered early in my junior year, and effected me throughout the year. I have a hole in my heart that effects many other things in my body, including my respiration, energy levels, and physical well-being. I was forced to withdraw from my classes for one semester, and while I tried to continue the semester following it didn't work out. I took very few credits, and was still unable to make it to class often enough to perform the caliber of work that my professors were used to. I am an A and B student, and the grades reflected have stemmed from this physical condition as well as a severe depression that seems to have exposed itself due to this heart problem. I no longer have any symptoms from the heart condition and intend to follow up with doctors as I continue my career in law school, and I have been seeing a Psychiatrist regularly to help with my depression. I feel that I will be able to give my complete and total commitment to the study of the law, and I hope you can look past the poor marks that are surely not a complete representation of who I really am. I also would like to make it known that California is my home, and I wish very much to return to it. I was raised here, and I intend to spend the span of my life contributing to the professional and social worlds of California that are unmatched by any other state.
Latham did Hudson plane crash
76 = Roxana
WTF 76?
Could someone please provide a brief and cleansed summary of what the old post 18 was/
Comments 50 and 60 (same person?) nailed it! Thanks for saying it so well!
I used to work in this firm's conflicts department (I'm a lawyer now). It was a cushy, albeit soul-crushing job. During and after the initial mergers, new global offices were being added at an alarming rate. Some were "mergers," some were "strategic alliances." Total mess all around. The lowly non-fee-earning staff always commiserated about how such a business plan was doomed to fail. Too bad the idiots in charge couldn't figure it out, and too bad those are the guys who still have jobs right now.
Let's all meet at Val's Tavern and enjoy a nice beer. Who couldn't use a smile and a few giggles right about now?
I used to work in this firm's conflicts department (I'm a lawyer now). It was a cushy, albeit soul-crushing job. During and after the initial mergers, new global offices were being added at an alarming rate. Some were "mergers," some were "strategic alliances." Total mess all around. The lowly non-fee-earning staff always commiserated about how such a business plan was doomed to fail. Too bad the idiots in charge couldn't figure it out, and too bad those are the guys who still have jobs right now.
I WANT TO SMELL THOSE DLA PIPERS.
I used to work in this firm's conflicts department (I'm a lawyer now). It was a cushy, albeit soul-crushing job. During and after the initial mergers, new global offices were being added at an alarming rate. Some were "mergers," some were "strategic alliances." Total mess all around. The lowly non-fee-earning staff always commiserated about how such a business plan was doomed to fail. Too bad the idiots in charge couldn't figure it out, and too bad those are the guys who still have jobs right now.
What happened to the AUSA who was building his own chess board?
Since we are on the topic of layoffs, I thought I would share an anecdote I heard over lunch. The firm had an informal get together at a fellow partner's home in Long Island this past weekend. During the event, the maid observed a summer associate urinating on the partner's prized garden. Another summer associate was observed groping the partner's beloved pooch. These two unsuspecting dolts will not be receiving offers at the end of our summer program. Lesson to those summer associates who still believe they are in contention for a job offer/deferral, your every moved is being watched and noted. A misplaced hiccup may very well cost you an opportunity of a lifetime. Be guided accordingly.
PE you need a job.
83: NJ? No thanks. Pick a place in the city.
UNGA BUNGA
UNGA BUNGA
Why do firms merge? Because the ceo (or whatever they call it) can demand compensation in keeping with the firm's size.
bigger firm, more moola for the ceo. Works with public companies, works with biglaw.
There you have it.
More great news. Those being laid off should thank the firms for saving their lives. Now they have a chance to become real attorneys, instead of mindless fuckheads in BigLaw.
anyone in Seattle?
66 = secretary
76 - I take it this was not a Hughes Shields year for you guys?
66 reminds me of the librarian at my old firm who would ask me for a billing code when I asked her to please grab a book for me.
65: 175
88 -- how is the new McAngus Third-Pounder?
I need help finding my job. I had it this morning when I came to work, but I don't know what I did with it. It's got to be here somewhere. It couldn't have just disappeared.
Who is this loser who keeps posting "The ship be sinking..."? You are adding nothing to the discussion. Go away.
So many people are making piss-poor jokes about these layoffs in a feeble attempt at humor. Lives will be altered in one of the worst ways imaginable and all they can do is unearth some corny line to seem funny. Way to go, geniuses. My heart goes out to all the people and their families that were afftected by this trumatic event. I truly hope things get better.
the smaller firms are doing good. few lay offs and so far no pay cuts. ok so we didn't get a bonus or raise but so what.
Oh and for all you lawyers out the things are not going to get better until after 2012 or 2013.
Way to many lawyers period. not enough engineers or doctors.
WTF, Obama promised the Stimulating Bill would end all this!
Really #16???
wasn't Orrick also following the DLA model of growth in smaller markets through acquisitions?
50--correction--Jonestown Hall meeting
I just got word that foreign associates will be let go first. It's really too bad because there are several good people around here that fall into that category.
The shit be stinking
DLA Piper hired a lot of toileteers in their Philly office during the massive plus up earlier this decade. Almost all have been axed. Once a toileteer, ALWAYS a toileteer.
105 -- I called this 2.5 years ago I told people that the market would drop down below 7000 and it did. people told me i was crazy. i do not have a college education i am only a tech. But I put my stocks is safe areas.
all you have your eyes open but do not see what is happening.
why do you think the the gov has NOT SAID what the inflation rate is. cause they know the S--t will hit the fan. also wait till the dollar to be de-valued.
Think why dont you all . the gov keeps saying things are getting better, will almost 10% unemployement,
gas is up does that help us and any breaks WE ALL got was killed by the city, state and MTA and everyother F--koff out there.
I am waiting for people to riot which will happen when the As-holes wake up. wont be pretty but will wake up the gov.
I also told people that a nuke war will break out in about 10 years.
But Obama wasn't in office 2.5 years ago, 112--nothing was going wrong before January '09!
113 oh yes it was
76: "Affects" versus "effects." Unnecessary capitalization of "Psychiatrist." Did not target essay to school.
Rejected.
16: How can you say that staff do not directly contribute to firm profits? Obviously, you've never worked for lawyers. Without staff, a large majority of attorneys would be running around trying to figure out how to put more staples in his/her stapler and banging on the copy machine wondering why his/her coffee isn't coming out.
16: How can you say that staff do not directly contribute to firm profits? Obviously, you've never worked for lawyers. Without staff, a large majority of attorneys would be running around trying to figure out how to put more staples in his/her stapler and banging on the copy machine wondering why his/her coffee isn't coming out.
The big ax is falling at Paul Hastings by the end of the month. Multiple sources in LA have confirmed.
Another rumour is that the snake of an office chair in NY is "stepping down." May that stairway lead to the jaws of hell. Fuck you Barry you scumbag.
i am 104,112,and 114 and 116 you are so right. I like it. been with lawyers for about 22 years now.
118 - I heard he was trying to bang the blondie paralegal on his floor. When she spurned his efforts, the little bastard included her in the economic layoffs back in March. Nice.
I called it. DLA is a TTT in decline:
http://abovethelaw.com/2009/07/us_news_to_rank_law_firms_will.php?show=comments#comment-1134896
DLA used to be a bad law firm. Now, it's a terrible one. Can you say, "loser."
118 - I heard the same rumor about PH..The ax will be falling in the next couple of weeks or so..They are hiring more useless PR people to handle the media..
112 - "I also told people that a nuke war will break out in about 10 years."
If thats the case, your stocks won't be too safe, will they? Unless you have a bunker safe from nuclear war , that is......
It isn't fair for firms to be including foreign associates in layoffs. The hiring market is soft as a result of the recession: without work, some foreign associates may be legally obligated to return to their countries, which is disruptive. Many American associates have the fallback of being able to go live with their parents.
I remember when piper was an also ran and veneable was venerable. Now they both suck, DLA worse now, but at least they made some money on the bubble....
"Steiner" Group a useless bunch of attorneys. They are a drain to any firm. I wonder will they will end up next... karma is a bitch.
maybe it is time that the legal world adopt sharia jurisprudence, which is morally right
Sorry to hear this terrible news. I had hoped that this quarter wouldn’t see a biglaw bleed. I’m sure we’ve all noticed that layoffs have generally spiked at the end of quarters. Its July 8 and DLA chose to be the first biglaw to people out on the street. The next few weeks we'll see more of the same. A commenter above said we're not done with layoffs until we've seen 50% go. I pray the comment is incorrect. K&E laid off staffer committed suicide on June 30 when his severance ran out. Praying that the 121 at DLA will find the moral strength to make it through the hard times. I’ve been told that there is life after biglaw!
Its the end of the world as we know it. The ship sank already. We're just shark bait now.
This firm sucks. The memo says that: "While the firm's financial position remains strong. . . ." Really? Hate to say it, but DLA's financial position is obviously not "strong." Strong firms do not conduct massive lay-offs. Strong firms do not institute pay freezes and then up the ante and make everyone take pay cuts. Strong firms do not tell non-equity partners that all of a sudden they can all magically become full equity partners by just handing the firm a bunch of cash. (Wonder how many of those ppl are now seriously regretting the decision to give $150,000 of their hard earned dollars to this sinking firm.) Fact of the matter is -- DLA merged with every small firm in every small town in the country and the world. They wanted to be "global." They thought clients would all of a sudden pay the over-inflated rates of the hack attorneys (attorneys that obviously couldn't charge the over-inflated rates before they had the mighty DLA logo on their business cards). NO QUALITY CONTROL AT ALL. It was a stupid idea in a good market. Self-destructive idea once the economy faultered. Clients aren't dumb -- they realized there are better places, with lower rates, or much better places with the same rates. Now the firm is stuck with a huge overhead and no (smart) clients to pay the bills. Any partner with a book of business (including the firm's former number 1 rainmaker (Amy Schulman)) is already gone or will probably be out the door soon, to a repectable firm that can support his or her business. Any decent associate with other options is out the door as well. And any client with any other contacts or options is giving their work to another firm. What's left? Horrible people with no options. In essence, a sinking ship. Good-bye DLA
76- You and your fraternity suck. Please discontinue posting immediately.
76- You and your fraternity suck. Please discontinue posting immediately.
116/117 - filling up a stapler is an indirect contribution, at best.
You mean the Porkulus aint workin?
The inevitable inflation will cause rate crashes - partners will want to increase billable rates to bring in the same PPP, but clients will want to pay with fewer dollars.
The USGovt technically defaulted months ago when it was necessary for the Fed to buy Treasury bonds. And they're buying bonds at an increasing rate.
Hey! Let's print more money for yet more social engineering - guaranteeing obviously trash loans worked out so well!
For all of you who voted for Obama - thanks a million!
135 may be the finest example I've ever seen of how dangerous a tiny bit of knowledge can be in a very simple mind. I really hope you are not an attorney. If so I pity your clients.
The problem with DLA Piper is that management has made all the wrong strategic choices in building up the firm, especially in the corporate area.
There are some very solid lawyers at DLA Piper, most of whom have been there for a while. Unfortunately, a good number of lateral partner hires over the past two years share the same traits: big guaranteed draws, no client work, and no team spirit. These hires were clearly not diligenced the way they should have been. Most of these people are on the 25th and 26th floors in NY which is no surprise to anyone connected to the firm. These poor decisions are draining the firm financially in an already difficult financial climate and have clearly created a rift in the partnership which is painfully obvious.
I would expect mass defections from partners who can move and are unhappy if and when the moment presents itself, such as some of the bankruptcy people.
135 - Nice description of Barack Obama.
You are, to put it charitably, a fucking moron.
136 - Nice description of Barack Obama.
You are, to put it charitably, a fucking moron.
All the CWT 2006 "pussy pass" associates have left the building...........
All the CWT 2006 "pussy pass" associates have left the building...........
123 - I'm sure Meg Sullivan will have some soothing words about the big lay-off. This firm is going down BIG-TIME. So much for 15-10/PH-50. What a joke!
120 - I'm glad someone is finally calling this fucker out. Barry B is the sleaziest pervert there is. He's always trying to bang the youngest, prettiest associates with his tiny little dick.
143: I heard that he was banging the now aspiring PHJW expose/screenwriter (former NY corporate/m&a associate). When he broke it off, she wound up in a mental institution for like 12 days. HR was involved, what a mess. And this sorry sack of shit is our "leader" in NY.
Will ATL please stop posting numbers that include staff? No one cares how much staff got laid off.
Rumours abound of Katten NYC layoffs coming .........
145 here. I see that 16 beat me to the punch. He/she is right. Any person with a good work ethic and not much else can be good staff. I'm not saying that attorneys could get as much work done without staff, but we could easily survive without them.
147 - Sure you'd survive but, your billables would crumble.
That is, of course, you're a master at padding your hours. Which, I'm sure, is far from the case. Right?
Funny how people claim not to need assistance....when it's fucking slow!
I challenge you 16 & 147 to not call a staffer for a week. F that, a day.
146, what kind of rumors?
146, what kind of rumors?
146, what kind of rumors?
146, what kind of rumors?
146, what about Chicago?
146, what about Chicago?
146, what about LA?
146, what about LA?
146, what about LA?
146, what about LA?
145, others: Staff layoffs are relevant in that when done disproportionately relative to attorneys they usually portend attorney layoffs to come. Staff go first and in greater numbers. This is how it has gone for the last 9-12 months.
My guess, if you total your average firm's various layoffs recently and the ratio of staff layoffs to attorney layoffs is more than about 3-to-1 or 4-to-1 (maybe even less than 3-1 depending on how many useless staff there were, usually a lot at firms so I'm going high), there are definitely more attorneys to be cut. Expect many layoffs in September for the end of that quarter, with three months severance (or less) firms can get all those people off the books by the end of calendar 2009.
Agree still should be clear in delineating lawyer versus staff layoffs in the headline, however, or make the staff layoffs a subheading.
146, what about the summers?
146, what about the summers?
146, what about the summers?
146, what about the summers?
146, what about those that worked July 3?
146, what about those that worked July 3?
146, what about those that worked July 3?
144 - That's some good dirt on PH..Look forward to the movie/book
This firm sucks. The memo says that: "While the firm's financial position remains strong. . . ." Really? Hate to say it, but DLA's financial position is obviously not "strong." Strong firms do not conduct massive lay-offs. Strong firms do not institute pay freezes and then up the ante and make everyone take pay cuts. Strong firms do not tell non-equity partners that all of a sudden they can all magically become full equity partners by just handing the firm a bunch of cash. (Wonder how many of those ppl are now seriously regretting the decision to give $150,000 of their hard earned dollars to this sinking firm.) Fact of the matter is -- DLA merged with every small firm in every small town in the country and the world. They wanted to be "global." They thought clients would all of a sudden pay the over-inflated rates of the hack attorneys (attorneys that obviously couldn't charge the over-inflated rates before they had the mighty DLA logo on their business cards). NO QUALITY CONTROL AT ALL. It was a stupid idea in a good market. Self-destructive idea once the economy faultered. Clients aren't dumb -- they realized there are better places, with lower rates, or much better places with the same rates. Now the firm is stuck with a huge overhead and no (smart) clients to pay the bills. Any partner with a book of business (including the firm's former number 1 rainmaker (Amy Schulman)) is already gone or will probably be out the door soon, to a repectable firm that can support his or her business. Any decent associate with other options is out the door as well. And any client with any other contacts or options is giving their work to another firm. What's left? Horrible people with no options. In essence, a sinking ship. Good-bye DLA
168 - It should be good. It will not be kind to Barry B. Apparently, the little prick has his vices.
170 As a former PHJW female associate, I can tell you a thing or two about the esteemed Barry. He kept putting me on his deals and asking me out to dinner. When I finally agreed to go, he came on to me during the dinner. I told him to fuck off. Needless to say, I was cut during the next round of "performance" reviews. This sleaze is a walking lawsuit.
I'm so glad I left this firm a few years back. I work for a much better firm in which people work together as a team. DLA has upper management problems and are the ones that need to get cut on layoffs. They are unproffesional and have no idea on how to even manage a company big or small . Team players is not even a word they practice. I'm sure if they laid off some of them they could save money by hiring someone who really knows how to run a company properly.
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I know two people who work for DLA. I went to law school with them both, and can say without any hesitation that both are as dumb as a box of rocks - one of them to the point that s/he was the class joke for his/her inability to put a coherent thought together (or one that wasn't bordering on being racist). I do not wish these people ill, but have seriously questioned DLA Piper's judgment and the quality of the firm and its services as a result of the firm's hiring these two individuals. If that is the kind of associate they are recruiting, then it this comes as no surprise... eventually, bad hiring comes back to bite you.
171: It is well known among PH's female associates that Barry B engages in this type of behavior (which is typical of Napoleonic types with little dicks and outsize egos). Back when I was a PH associate, there was a rumour that one of the temp atty agencies was procuring hookers for the little sleaze. He better hope his new wife doesn't find out.
you are all so pathetic, just because you have a law degree and speak English (you cannot spell English worth a damn) you think you're above everything, and anybody is beneath you. you are truly a pathetic bunch of two legged with a degree. by the way, did you buy that degree?
#82 is proof that "lowly staff" can make significant contributions if afforded the opportunity by the arrogant big-wigs running the firm (anybody remember "employee circles," which I'm sure were never used by law firms?). Folks who are fortunate enough to have attained a post-graduate degree shouldn't have to look down their noses at those who weren't in order to bolster their poor self-esteem. Yet, there's an awful lot of that going on in this blog. You would throw a less fortunate worker in your firm under the train to save your own sorry butt, wouldn't you? Sure you would - I've seen it done by attorneys to their secretaries several times in my career.
And so many of you have answers to the really complex questions! Why, then, don't you fix things? Put your big fat egos where your mouths are and show me what you're made of - really!
To those affected by the latest reduction (lawyers and staff alike), I am so sorry that you're having to go through this and I wish you the best.
175- Does anyone know whether that little fucker Barry is stepping down from the NY chair position? If so, it would be the only smart thing PHJW has done in a while. They should also de-frock that cunt administrator who acts as his attack dog. What a fat, waddling bitch.
178: That is what we are hearing in NY. He will NOT be missed.
177: As one of the 100 "lowly staff" who were laid off yesterday, I thank you for your comments, with which I heartily agree. However, MANY of us (myself included) have post-graduate and even Ivy League degrees and are, overall, an incredibly talented, dedicated, thoughtful and diverse bunch. It's a shame that so many of the other comments reflect such a biased and self-satisfied attitude. But we will survive and thrive post-DLA, and wish only the best to those who remain.
180, I am a DLA lawyer. Thank you for your respectful comments and good wishes to those of us who remain. I truly admire your kindness even while you are in this tough situation. It's too bad that we had to say goodbye to a person like you. I wish you the best as well.
145/147: Keep telling yourself how superior you are to staff members and perhaps one day you'll believe it. I'd be willing to place a large wager that I know several staff members with IQs exceeding yours by 20 - 30 points. Your insecurity and low self-esteem belie your words.
This firm is an absolute joke. It is nothing but a facade. It is not a firm of 3700 attorneys as advertised. It is essentially a group of associated law firms. Profits/expenses are not shared firmwide. Document databases and other firm resources are likewise not shared firmwide. If you are in the New York office, you cannot access any documents, databases, or anything else relating to the "firm's" foreign offices. The "secondment program" is a joke and as a practical matter does not work because DLA is not a single firm. Its rates are silly in the secondary markets. The braintrust -- "Frank & Lee" -- are really doing a bang up job. This firm won't be around in two or three years.
Why can't you PHJW people just admit that you are talking about Barry A. Brooks? As a former PH corporate associate, I can tell you a thing or two about this unscrupulous little fuckin' bean counter...
I'm one of the staff that got let go last Wednesday from DLA. It had become a very depressing place to work -- especially since February '09. I'm very happy I'm no longer there to continue to watch the decline of a firm that was very respectable before the numerous mergers/takeovers. I wish my friends and co-workers the best.
Does anyone know which offices were the most affected by the cuts? Was anyone in the San Diego office cut?
Thanks!
Does anyone know which offices were the most affected by the cuts? Was anyone in the San Diego office cut?
Thanks!
ph is sinking
barry and mj are going down like the titanic
its a shame paul hastings has wonderful people there
i hear ph will let go around 20 percent of its employees in the middle of august
MJ the real cash cow
Rowe does not have anything on you
Is that how you purchased the new home and BMW?
I want in, i am living paycheck to paycheck?
Why is it, that Rim who is only a lowly coordinator invited to all of the management's function?
I have been a coordinator for the last 6 years
Barr comes to the rescue again
I hear that they are going to outsource office services and the records dept?
Scott and Tony better watch their back
Look what happened to Hui?
Barry was removed from the LA office for not keeping his little pecker in his pants
u got to admit, NY and LA are great places to pick up
ass
GO BarrY!
my idol
mj only protects her so called girl click
rim
jenn
jennifer ash has her head so far up mj ass it comes out of her mouth
hey mj i hear you bought that house with the petty cash that rim swindles every month for you,maybe you and rim should use that cash for plastic surgery
hey barry i sure hope you didnt hit that ,if you did maybe thats why your pee pee no longer grows
I dont understnd who the hell would want to give it to you
you are a ugly sonofabitch
now I fully understand why Mike was not allowed to do Rims review
Thats how she got the good raise and bonus for doing nothing but sit on sit lap during business hours
I SAID "Does anyone know which offices were the most affected by the cuts? Was anyone in the San Diego office cut?"
MJ
u should have learned your lesson at Epstein Becker
u got thrown out on yur fat ass for taking on the BOSS's secretary
Richard the crook can't help you now
But I bet he ca get a brand new computer and house
Not only do many hate you MJ
Seth is not fond of you
he tolerates you because of Barry
200- Once Barry is gone, bye, bye to the loathsome MJ. To be followed by her little ass-kissing pets, Rim and Jen. I heard that Jen actually set up MJ's Wi console. Hey ass-kissing librarian, have you no shame???
195 - Rim also gets a good bonus for "servicing" Barry. A few years ago, she actually stayed overnight at Barry's vacation mansion in Quogue. That's what I call an enterprising approach to her duties. What a ho'.
199
There are many, many people in the NY office who hate Mary Jane. Those people will party hard when her fat ass is cut. A curse on her and Barry.