I have never heard of this TTT firm.

The ship be sinking. Abandon ship! Abandon ship!

This is not an axe, although the result is the same.

Truly Third Tier Toilet

smoke two joints in time of peace, and two in time of war
smoke two joints before I smoke two joints, and then . . .

god, that firm sucks.

what the hell is Philadelphia going to do with us?

morgan lewis and ballard = no summer program
wolf block is dead
dechert is bleeding

where am i going to work after graduation?

What about the layoffs at K&L Gates??? Elie, for once get off your fat ass and report.

drinker
pepper
reed smith?
cozen?

the mid-sized regional firms (Archer, Flaster, etc.) are doing really well. you'd be wise to look at them.

The effect of Obama's lack of leadership and myopic vision on economic recovery has claimed another victim in the non-peer firm of Dechert. I am sure the departed 25 personnel would exchange the empty promises of hope and change for their jobs back.

I have a hard science degree. I'm considering law school to get into patent law. Would that be a wise move considering the market? Seems like a lot of the pain is on the corporate transactional side of things.

Or should I just take the patent bar first and see if that lands me a job before jumping in.

Dechert's stealthiness when it comes to layoffs HAS been well documented in these pages.

REPORT DEBE'f'in'VOISE

I've learned that the new Paul Hastings layoff list does include staff. Nothing on numbers or offices yet.

"We also understand that the vast majority of cuts affected lawyers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year lawyers"

Elie.

Harvard. Debevoise.

Really?

Guys used to torture each other at my highschool all . . . wait, is that an ad for Foxwoods?

Partner Emeritus

Who's worse, the bumbling dumbfuck of a President who's 8 year FUBAR helped create this mess (and certainly did nothing to stem it), or the liar your peers elected after him? The person to blame is yourself (or anyone else you know that votes for one of the two major, corrupt political parties).

While patent has usually been considered the most secure area of law, every patent person I know from my schol has gotten their offer rescinded. Be a technology specialist and let a firm pay for your law degree if they have a job for you. Also, if you want to go big in any way, go Finnegan, Kenyon or maybe a general firm like Kirkland - Fish is a sinking shit hole and others that have been players are floundering as well.

Elie, just out of curiosity, has it ever once crossed your mind to review and edit your posts? After all this time, I'm still undecided as to whether you are exceptionally unprofessional, or exceptionally inept. Or both.

can we start a counter on how many typos Mystal makes? I'll start.

Mystal.Typos = 1

Mintz Levin just fired a senior associate after she shit all over a partner's desk and then stole his wallet.

19 = complete retard..."go Finnegan" Puhlease!

Sad news...i worked with some good attorneys at Dechert. I hope things get better in the fall.

We also understand that the vast majority of cuts affected lawyers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year lawyers.

_____________________________________

Wow.

13 minutes in, multiple references to the typo, it's still there.

Gangbusters, Elie.

12...take the patent bar and try to get a job as a patent agent. see how you like that for a few years. if you still want to go to law school, the firm will usually pay for it. do NOT simply pack up and go to law school without knowing what you're getting in to.

what degree (BS, MS, PhD)? what scientific area?

When I see a laid off 1st year associate, I think of my immigrant grandparents.

ALITO SECURE

This is terrible news for the U. Penn State -- Philadelphia.

Laying off lots of attorneys and staff but still participating in OCI. Stay classy Decherttt

nothing new at the firm...their way of life is shadiness and backdoor douchebaggery

23 - Do you have a reason to dislike Finnegan? Do tell...

19-I wouldn't advise Kenyon, unless you want to do patent prosecution for seven years and then be told you aren't partnership material so step off.

not enough litigation work

no partnership w/out litigation work

no partnership for you!

um, how does everybody know that Elie is black?

"The effect of Obama's lack of leadership and myopic vision on economic recovery has claimed another victim in the non-peer firm of Dechert. I am sure the departed 25 personnel would exchange the empty promises of hope and change for their jobs back."

Hilarious. Yeah, cracker. Arlen Specter's firm, which just hired a torture attorney from the previous administration, is a victim of Obama's economic policies.

Cracker.

If 35 can call someone a cracker and not get edited, will it be moderated if someone calls him a n............

Let the good times roll.
And by good times, I mean heads.

15: Keep us posted. We've noticed a lot of high level meetings in LA this month.

What's going on with Debevoise?

ABOVE THE LAW ARTICLES ARE ABOUT:

1) UNEMPLOYMENT
2) HOW MANY CRUMBS ARE ON ELIE MYSTAL'S FACE
3) MISCELLANEOUS NEWS LOOSELY INVOLVING THE "LAW"

IF ELIE GOES ON A DIET AND THE ECONOMY GETS BETTER, I'M AFRAID THIS SITE IS RIGHT IN THE SHITTER.

I guess its my own fault for not asking my secretary where she is from before pounding her in the ass.

Boston attorney covered in feces and missing a stapler

Class of 2011 is the lost generation.

Class of 2011 is the lost generation.

"open secret"?

Take this layoff as a blessing in disguise.

Why in sam **** did you want to be a biglaw associate to begin with? When you were a kid, I KNOW that you did not say, "When I grow up, I want to be a biglaw associate."

You want it for the money. You want it to pay off your loans. You want to use it as a springboard into more fulfilling legal careers.

Stop. Just stop. Take it from me. I was an associate and left biglaw several years ago after realizing that I was getting fatter, less energetic, weirder, etc.

You can make enough money to live a comfortable life and pay off your loans in another job (or another career).

What interests you about the law so much, anyway? If you like the law for what it is, then stay in the legal industry. But if you don't like the law or if you think you'd be happier in another career, then go for it.

You only live once, and while money is important, it's not everything. When you're lying on your deathbed, you're not going to wish you spent more time in the office or that you make another $10,000 or that you had another boat or whatnot.

Remember the important things in life: your family, your friends, your health, your happiness, and last, but not least, God.

God bless you and I wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Take this layoff as a blessing in disguise.

Why in sam **** did you want to be a biglaw associate to begin with? When you were a kid, I KNOW that you did not say, "When I grow up, I want to be a biglaw associate."

You want it for the money. You want it to pay off your loans. You want to use it as a springboard into more fulfilling legal careers.

Stop. Just stop. Take it from me. I was an associate and left biglaw several years ago after realizing that I was getting fatter, less energetic, weirder, etc.

You can make enough money to live a comfortable life and pay off your loans in another job (or another career).

What interests you about the law so much, anyway? If you like the law for what it is, then stay in the legal industry. But if you don't like the law or if you think you'd be happier in another career, then go for it.

You only live once, and while money is important, it's not everything. When you're lying on your deathbed, you're not going to wish you spent more time in the office or that you make another $10,000 or that you had another boat or whatnot.

Remember the important things in life: your family, your friends, your health, your happiness, and last, but not least, God.

God bless you and I wish you the best in your future endeavors.

If only the Republicans would stop blocking socialized medicine, this would all... Oh, wait. What the hell is Obama doing for the economy?

45 / 46: Quitter.

all laid off attorneys are white, not cool. Dechert acting stupidly.

Just because my girl friend's name is Shabeefa, does not mean you should automatically assume she is black.

It's such a relief that now that Bush is gone the world loves us again.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/23/AR2009072300299_pf.html

I have a hard science degree. I'm considering law school to get into patent law. Would that be a wise move considering the market? Seems like a lot of the pain is on the corporate transactional side of things.

Or should I just take the patent bar first and see if that lands me a job before jumping in."

12 don't waste your time, do something productive like engineering.

45 / 46: Got his ass kicked big time by BigLaw, begged to come back but they said no. So decided to turn on them instead. Typical BigLaw associate behavior.

Obama is going to spend money until we look like the Weimar Republic and have worthless currency.

A Shabeefa S'd my D once. She was most def. black.

I agree with posting all firms which feature layoffs -- big or small. Exposure is key.

27,

B.S. in computer science from a university well known for quality engineering education. ('hard' computer science that qualifies me for the patent bar, I checked)

thanks for the advice, 27 and 19

anyone smell any juicy insides lately?

56 - I agree you are fat and ugly.

Love,
BigLaw Partner

Looks like Heller's former chairman, Matt Larabee, brought his good luck with him to Dechert.

45 / 46: What a beautiful sentiment. Now, go fuck yourself.

When will people realize that Islam is the answer

I lied, jobs died.

I'm Barack Obama?

Why do pompous idiots like 46 post such long comments? I wish ATL would impose a limit simply so I wouldn't have to scroll so far.

P.E. is a retard. Can he explain how the jobs would have been saved under McCain/Palin. What a joker.

How much work do you have sir? Because you are on this site everytime I am - maybe your firm is not as hot as you think.

All laid off Attorney's were not all white and let me say that Barton Winokur is single handedly destroying that firm. Him and his pals are looting that place . He raised the rates and they don't have any new clients. All the work they have is old work. What is gonna happen when that disappears? More layoffs! ABANDON SHIP!!! This is the same douche bag that made an associate bend his knees in a holiday video to make himself shorter than him. All the money in the world can't make you taller little man, you can regrow some hair but you'll always be a LITTLE MAN.

Comment removed by moderator.

62 is right. A much larger military mobilization would do wonders for the economy. It got us out of the great depression, it would get us out of this.

I dont mind being called a cracker. it's not as hurtful as some people think. I mean, who cares.

What bothers me is that racial minorities can call whites by an epithet but whites can't use them back on the minorities.

THAT's the racism here, not the label "cracker."

65 = successfully trolled. way to go 65.

Can we start a petition to gather signatures to get Elie fired? Surely ATL can replace him with someone who can, you know, actually write?

Hey, 11, I'm impressed that in six short months Obama could bring Dechert down. The dude has power.

68, are you saying we should invade peace-loving Muslim countries?

PE ran out of cash last night at Rick's Cabaret. They won't even run his Discover Card after all the declines. He should have been saving his dough over the last forty years. Now we will have to support him in his dotage.

I am a non-equity partner at a T-15 firm. Laying off first and second year lawyers is an absurd strategy if a firm is intending to be successful in the long term. First of all, firms don't have anything to offer but their talent. First and second year lawyers add no value to a firm, so nobody knows which ones are going to be any good a few years down the road. So when firms lay them off, they are probably firing some future great attorneys and rainmakers. It is as dumb a strategy as hiring ridiculous class sizes two years ago. Cutting way down on summer hiring is also an absurd strategy. as is deferring start dates. (Sticking your head in the sand doesn't making a problem go away). In four years, the economy will be ticking along and firms will have to fill their classes with subpar lateral talent. To make matters worse, the attrition rate will return when the economy bounces back, and even if firms can hire enough to fill their ranks, there will be no cohesive culture because their associates will all be laterals.

It is truly amazing how stupid law firms are being. Even in good years, smart businesses fire poor performers. Any smart law firm should take every class from third or fourth years on up and fire the bottom third of the class performance-wise. (They should include non-equity partners in this trimming strategy). If firms did this, they would be in an especially good position to get some truly good people at OCI this year, as there will certainly be plenty available.

My firm starts the rounds this week. If we don't hire at least 60 summers this year, I'll think we're total idiots.

PE has seen hard times since the price of Depends went up.

If you somehow thought Obamanomics was working, talk to someone who's not.

73 - Building war machines takes real man-power. It would create ten times as many jobs as Obama's paying people to put energy efficient light bulbs in schools.

75 - your lack of undestanding is why you are NON NON NON NON NON equity.

PE is my favorite ATL character. Keep up the good work.

79, I made non-equity two months ago after 6 years. I was the fastest person to do it at my firm since we started having non-equity partners. I have lunch with the chairman of the firm twice a week. I've been the highest paid person in my class every year since my third year. I think I'm doing okay. (Maybe not though).

I like the idea that someone proposed yesterday about offering to work for firms at a pay cut. This is simple supply and demand economics. If the market says that I cannot get a biglaw job at $160k, I will see if I can get one at $125k (or lower if necessary). Not much different than contractors bidding for a job. Everyone has to look out for themselves, right?

Maybe the USA should just expand and add Saudi Arabia as the 51st state.

77:

Obamanomics may be slow working because Bushonomics did such a fantastical job destroying America.

Thank you! Thank you! I'll be here all week.

25 more bodies to compete with for non-existent jobs.

Attention all Junior Ex-BIGLAW Assocates: Lease New York. There's nothing more for you here.

25 more bodies to compete with for non-existent jobs.

Attention all Junior Ex-BIGLAW Assocates: Leave New York. There's nothing more for you here.

25 more bodies to compete with for non-existent jobs.

Attention all Junior Ex-BIGLAW Assocates: Leave New York. There's nothing more for you here.

81 - good start on your resume! (which you may need)

45/46 - God should have been first on your list and pre-phrased with "most importantly"

Barton Winokur = Douche Bag

52, did you really tell 12 to be an engineer? That's pretty brutal, dude. Do you suffocate kittens in your free time?

Was that an American Red Cross ad? Jesus Christ!

I never had much use for lawyers, except for lawyers like Steve Bradbury, who told me it was okay to use "enhanced interrogation techniques" on "high value detainees." I admire that lawyer lingo, but I just called it my TTT program, Torture The Terrorists. I'm glad good ole Steve-O was able to get a job with this firm.

75, I disagree. It's a buyers market for associates. Get rid of them now, they can get them later when they need them. There's no longer any stigma associated with layoffs, so pare down expenses while you can. There'll be plenty of laid off attorneys who'll be happy to get a job next year.

75: Post of the Year!

75: Post of the Year!

Is that true, 66? Bart really made some tall associate bend at the knees so he wouldn't look short in a video? If so, that is hilarious. You have to post that video!

12 - don't bother. Lots of out of work Patent attorneys. Try something useful to society - like a telemarketer or a serial killer.

Barton Winokur for 2012!

there is a dinner tonight at the home of one of the Dechert NY partners - all associates, partners and summer associates are invited to attend. very classy. if any of the laid of attorneys RSVPed to attend, please still go. Take this opportunity to warn the summers to run, and actually maybe make the party somewhat eventful and fun.

12,

Do it. Patent work is holding up well compared to other areas of law, particularly in the litigation side.

100

I like the way that you think.

This is nothing but good news for JOHN MCCAIN!

You know, Law Shucks covers this kind of thing. I wonder if they could team up with the excellent coverage on Above the Law.

Like the reporter for the story here, I am shocked that these firms would wait until after the summers were gone to announce layoffs. Surely, they could have done this before the summers arrived so the summers would have something to do. And really, don't you think the law firms would cancel summer associate programs, or cut salaries rather than lay people off if they could. This must just be a way of enhancing partner profits!!

100

What a marvelous opportunity for those of you who have just received the Barton Winokur pill! Please be creative and make this a memorable evening!

"another round of layoffs were coming"

I believe that's at least 3 in this post alone.

Stealthiness when it comes to layoffs HAS - not have -been well documented in these pages.

It has been an open secret around the firm that another round of layoffs WAS - not were - coming.

Geez!

12 - if you are dim enough to seek advice from the ilk populating this blog, and not knowing who the heck the are and whether asking the nameless for advice is a good idea, then you are clearly lawyer material.

dipshit.

Is this the coat hanger firm?

12 - if you are dim enough to seek advice from the ilk populating this blog, and not knowing who the heck they are and whether asking the nameless for advice is a good idea, then you are clearly lawyer material.

dipshit.

PE and I are listening to the Thompson Twins right now.

More overpaid, unqualified lawyers being laid off brings a smile to my face!

What happened to litigation? Drying up or client's just paying 50% of old rates? Going to mid-sized firms? All of the above?

Oceans Rise
Cities Fall
Quinn Remai......

Oh shit, scratch that.

Staff layoffs at Debevoise dammit

I am so screwed. Why did I ever want to work in Philadelphia?

Well, I can always interview as a 3L. Oh, wait....

can someone with access copy and paste Gina Passerella's Legal Intelligencer story just published about today's Dechert layoffs? it's subscription only. maybe it has more information.

To #84 - Perhaps we can blame the Cambridge (MA) cops for the layoffs at Dechert and Fulbright, and the failure of Obamanomics. They seem to be getting blamed for other things that are equally ridiculous.

Ah hahahahah! You got laid off!

Whatever are you going to do with no job, 150k in debt, and RUINED CAREER PROSPECTS?

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!

Good luck, suckers!

Latham is still the worst firm of the Financial Crisis and will be laying off all of its foreign associates. Dave Gordon is a douche bag. They lay off based on who is the biggest suckup and not based on work like most other firms. fuck you latham, die.

Does anybody know if they finally got rid of this secretary (as described in the Comments section of "Dechert Ices 72 Staff"):

The crazy, rolling on the floor and screaming person IS a secretary at Dechert... still. She was apparently not affected by this massive lay-off, nor was she let go when she should had been, back when we were still at 30 Rock. All of the attorneys I worked for then spoke to the administrative people, because they were worried for their safety and the safety of the other secretaries. Of course, admin did nothing about it.... except move her down the hall to sit by other secretaries.

In my opinion, and the opinion of anyone I've relayed this story too, it has to do with the fact that she's black, and that she'll threaten a law suit.

Well, she threatened another secretary, took 2 hr lunches, came in a hour late, always claimed to be busy yet would be snoring at her desk, showed up in housecoats and sweatsuits to work, and physically assaulted our supervisor.

**********

Anybody still at Dechert know?

i don't understand why they are still wining and dining the summer associates when they already know a lot of them are not getting offers.

To #116: Gina Passerella's Legal Intelligencer article on today's Dechert layoffs can apparently be accessed for free at: http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202432485931

YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF MEAN IDIOTS! You were probably playground bullies when you were younger. Idiots, idiots, IDIOTS.

I PAID $150,000 to go to law school. That is ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. More money than you can count.

And this is how I get repaid? THIS? What a crock of bullshit. I can't believe this.

All I wanted was to go to law school and get good grades. I worked my ass off day and night in college and studying for the LSAT and in law school and this is what I get in return?

On the fairness scale, this gets a flat out negative -10.

How long does Dechert's Charlotte office survive--they are barely hanging on.

OCEANS RISE

CITIES FALL

QUINN REMAINS (IN THE LIMITED SENSE THAT THEY HAVE NOT CONDUCTED LAYOFFS OR DEFERRALS TO THE EXTENT OF OTHER LARGE CALIFORNIA FIRMS)

#123: The revulsion I feel over your childish sense of entitlemetn makes it hard for me to feel sorry for you. What is it you think the world owes you?

#126: I thought #123 was satirical, not for real. But who knows ...

The ship be sinking...

LOL now means laid off lawyer....in internet parlance.

For those who don't believe it's happening, just look at these layoffs. SP500 companies are moving away from using NYC BigLaw to defend it's tort litigation in favor of using regional MidLaw firms. It's happening everywhere. The companies get better and more experienced attorneys working on their cases, along with much lower rates for everyone on the team. The savings are more than 50% across the board, frequently much higher. BigLaw has fucked over their clients for too many years, and now many of the senior partners in BigLaw are now the general counsels of many SP500 companies. As a result, they know first hand the total screw job their companies have been getting at the hands of BigLaw, and they know exactly what to do about it. The end is here, and you don't need to wait.

All we need is for a V20 firm to collapse Lehman style. Its a matter of time. Once one falls, then another, then another, then mergers, until you're left with a similar model to accounting firms. 4-8 massive law firms and everything else is shit.

130 -- big companies have not been using NYC firms for tort litigation for many, many years. The only real exception is Big Sheila at Skadden. The top litigation BigLaw firms really are not NYC based. Think K&E, Orrick, Dechert, King & Spalding, Quinn Emmanuel plus some boutiques (Bartlett Beck; Kecker Van Nest). That's the problem for NYC BigLaw -- when the transactional work is dead, there is not a robust litigation practice to keep up profitability. At real NYC firms (except Skadden and Paul Weiss), litigation is a support function.

130 -- big companies have not been using NYC firms for tort litigation for many, many years. The only real exception is Big Sheila at Skadden. The top litigation BigLaw firms really are not NYC based. Think K&E, Orrick, Dechert, King & Spalding, Quinn Emmanuel plus some boutiques (Bartlett Beck; Kecker Van Nest). That's the problem for NYC BigLaw -- when the transactional work is dead, there is not a robust litigation practice to keep up profitability. At real NYC firms (except Skadden and Paul Weiss), litigation is a support function.

I really hate CareerLink, and that new asian poster girl makes me want to vomit

For Penn people entering OCI, don't think you'll be immune. Dechert has recently laid off many Penn Law grads, including first and second years.

Class of 2011 is the lost generation.

End of month PHJW layoffs will affect primarily LA, NY, DC, ATL & SF. Staffers are included.

107,

Over half of the "ilk populating this blog" hold JDs and work in firms where they are paid over $150k per year. If you are dim enough to look past the value of that ear simply because of the humor and sarcasm that is rampant on any blog, then clearly you are a successful lawyer.

138,

I'd say "over half" is very generous. Its probably more like: 50% 1L/Rising 2Ls, 25% Rising 3Ls, 10% studying for the bar, 10% latham trolls, 5% big law first/second years. Otherwise, correct statement.

BART IS SHORT.

He always has been . . .

RICK JONES WEARS OUTDATED 80'S SHIRTS.

You are not Gordon Gekko, Rick, join the new Millennium.

131 - one a week (out of the v100) starting mid-october and running through mid march.

Eye of the hurricane my friends, not just in big law. Appreciate it while it lasts.

Big Eurinal banks are in far worse shape than US, and no big ben to print money (and the nazis have made it quite clear they are not bailing out dutch, austrian, spanish and italian banks ... well ok they maybe invade austria but that's it this time).

139,

What "you'd say" doesn't matter. I got what seems to be good advice from others who are not douchebags.

you are an asshole

Is Dechert accredited by the American Bar Association?

Is Dechert accredited by the American Bar Association?

124 - Why do you say that?

132,

Dechert may be nominally based in Philly but it in reality is a NY firm.

What's the word on severance for this round?

132,

Dechert may be nominally based in Philly but it in reality is a poor impression of an NY firm.

fixed that for you, 147.

Thanks 149

-147.

test

This is the firm that will probably completely implode by the end of the year. I surmise that they have a lot of debt. They bet very big on real estate and securitization. Now they are paying the piper.

152 where did you get that info? When I was there Dechert had very little debt.

8- marshall dennehey is looking for a first-year to do coverage work in their king of prussia office- pays $50k a year- law license and literacy is preferred but not required

You mean putting a "Hope" bumper sticker on my car hasn't saved the economy ?

Rick Jones!!! Now there is a douche bag's name I haven'd heard in some time. What a clown that guy is. Small time player who always thought he could play with the big boys. Kind of like that ass clown Lebovitz. All in all, I love seeing this firm slowly implode. And Bart. That guy is such an absolute douche bag that I have a hard time narrowing down my favorite story. As this is DecherTTT and they will have to lay off more people soon, I will save the really salacious stuff for the next round. No use wasting good material at 155.

personal foul on 156 - for using the sublime, yet at the same time more than slightly scuzzy insult, "douche bag" insult twice in a sinlge rant let alone in one paragraph. 10 yard penalty.

There was an article about two months ago in the NYT featuring Dechert's efforts to sublet its unused office space in NYC -- which it leased at the top of the market.

Another shining example example of BART'S boneheaded real estate moves.

This guy used to teach a mini-course on negotiation, but the truth is the only thing he's a successful negotiator at is his own comp.

Dechert to 700 lawyers by 12/09 -- the way Bartboy wants it.

At an "art of negotiation" seminar I attended way back when on the Dechert london trip, Bart told the entire summer class how much he paid for his condo in aspen, and bragged about missing his kid's birthday because some middle eastern guy needed to fly him over to assist in some deal. He also said he couldn't imagine how anyone could ever want to spend anytime at home with their kids, which is obviously an abhorrent comment, but after meeting his son the comment doesn't seem quite so bad. It's really a shame, because there were a lot of good, talented lawyers at Dechert who have either been forced out or moved on because it has been ruined by this egomaniacal jerk.

Bart has always seemed nice to me. Perhaps a little egocentric, but some of these stories don't ring true. That said, it's terrible what Dechert is doing to many young attorneys, including a huge number of first-year attorneys whose careers are now in tatters.

Key word in 160's post is "seemed." The stories may be difficult to believe, but they are true. Bart is a lot of things, but a nice person he is not. That said, he would not be in the position he is if the majority of the Dechert partners didn't want him there. In other words, Bart was not alone in ruining Dechert.

Layoffs are sad and scary and bring unfortunate consequences onto good people and their families. I would think a blog such as ATL would be a great place for laid off attorneys and staff to vent and to share info and tips. From reviewing this comment section re: Dechert's layoffs, it is no wonder that you people were laid off. So much education seems to have been wasted on too many spoiled, full-of-themselves, classless brats, i.e., the majority of people who post here. If you're interested in really being a lawyer and making huge salaries you should use this down time to brush up (1) on your marketing skills (don't just expect a paycheck, learn how to boost revenues); (2) your social skills - your posts prove you lack any sort of empathy for anyone but yourselves, hardly a good lawyer would any of you make when it comes to client service and needs; (3) READ THE NEWSPAPERS and try to comprehend that no matter who was President of the US right now, the problems we all are facing happens to stem from a culture that embraced the "ME" generation and greed; and (4) wash your mouthes out with soap! If you have the moral and ethical standard to really be a terrific lawyer you would be spending your time doing non-profit and/or charity legal work in order to hon your skills. You would not be spending your days writing trash on a blog that any potential employer can easily access. If the comments in this section are an indication of who you really are, it is no wonder the group of you were the one's that were laid-off. You all sound like mud wrestlers, trailer-park trash and/or graduates of law schools found on the back of a matchbox cover. Do you think your past employer couldn't see through you?!

Anyone who writes something like "From reviewing this comment section re: Dechert's layoffs, it is no wonder that you people were laid off" is a total douche. I had a successful run at dechert, left for other opportunities, but know many of the people who have since been laid off. For the most part, they are all excellent lawyers and excellent people who made the bad choice of going to Dechert. Also, when you choose to do the "I am an asshole" post, at least review your grammar so you don't look like an idiot.

DECHERT DOUCHEBAG HALL OF SHAME:

Bart Winokur
Rick Jones
David Howard
Joe Heil
Peter Astleford
Rich Wild
Bob Helm
Rich Rizzo
Artie Newbold

Each of these scumsucking weasels would sell their own mother to collect more profits and move further up the AmLaw 100. They all can share a private jet to Hell.

Any I missed?

159 --- I heard the stupid sheik story 15 years ago.

164 -- Rizzo is just a tool. Heil wasn't a bad guy during his first tour of duty. Haven't talked to him in years. You've missed a number of other truly reprehensible characters. Look harder at the transactional practice for more scumsuckers and weasels.

160 -- you obviously never worked at Dechert. Actually the stuff posted on here is pretty tame compared to some of the stuff that has actually happened over the years.

Take the bad comments about Dechert with a grain of salt. Over the past 10-15 years the firm has been transforming itself from one of the best firms in Philadelphia into an international firm with top 15 PPP. This transformation is the vision of senior management and has been imposed on the rest of the firm. The strategy involves casting off less profitable practice areas, deequitizing less profitable partners, hiring lateral rainmakers outside of Philadelphia and focusing on work where the firm can charge premium rates.

The upside is that the strategy has been an incredible success. The downside is that senior management has stepped on hundreds of toes. You can't totally transform a 100 year old firm in 10 years without pissing off a lot of people, especially when that transformation is accomplished with an iron fisted executive at the helm. Partners that were thrilled when the firm got rid of the dead weight to raise PPP to $1 million per year where less thrilled when they found their own heads on the chopping block as the firm eyed PPP of $2 million.

166 -- Your firm will implode in the next 10 years as the "visionary" senior management that has lined its pockets during the current reign retires. Your associate and non-equity junior partner ranks aren't what they once were in terms of talent (recruiting top students at the T7 schools fell off in the 90s and never recovered) and the sausage they grind out isn't of as high a quality as it used to be. Far too much of the client base is an institutional base that has been around for years (and hoarded by certain billing partners who fancy themselves as "rainmakers" or "finders", when they are really overpaid "minders"). Your culture is now held together by money, nothing more (hardly novel in the BigLaw world of 2009); but there isn't anything to hold that firm together any more other than your precious PPP. Hope you guys get it to $3m soon.

167,

I don't buy for a second that the non-equity junior partner ranks aren't what they once were. 20 years ago making partner basically meant staying at the firm for 8 years. Making the jump from partner to associate today is much harder. The rare lawyers who make it are exceptionally good. Junior partners in the old days may have had more of their own clients, but that was back when Dechert's rates were dramatically lower and the firm was competing with the local Philly firms for work. That's not the playing field today.

As for the "institutional" client base argument, I just don't buy it. Dechert certainly has its share of old and loyal clients, but I would be very suprised if half the firm's most significant clients today were clients 10 years ago. 10 years ago the New York and London offices were small satelites. Today those offices produce a huge percentage of firm revenue.

167:

YAWWWNNNNN. The "Bart is a great CEO, Bart should be paid like a great CEO, great CEO's make waves" arguments has been hashed, re-hashed, and re-re-hashed time and again. Your junior partners are worthless and couldn't carry the jock of junior NY (non Dechert) Big Law associates.

Want me to start outing them, Big Guy?

This firm won't exist in 10 years. Frankly, I would take the under on 7 if Vegas is making a book. It is a TTT, in a TTT city, and won't be able to keep pace with T-1 Firms in real cities.

BTW, for a Firm that is printing money, shouldn't equity partners have better things to do than resurrect a dead blog?

Sorry. Meant 168.

BTW, this is the same "visionary" senior management that bet so heavily on Rick Jones, Mac Dorris, and Joseph Forte. This is the same "visionary" senior management that is on its 4th or 5th(????) round of layoffs since Cadwalader dropped their 100+ bomb. In other words, the ship be sinking because Bart and team can't bring in the "premium" work any longer.

The irony here is that you are posting to defend brilliant senior management on a post devoted to your firm's LATEST round of layoffs. If recruiting hasn't tailed off (as you assert, but that is not the truth), but associate layoffs have increased dramatically, one would have to assume that the partners aren't carrying their weight to support these talented associates with sufficient workload. Hardly the stuff of giants. But, your logic is consistent with a junior level non-equity partner at a mid-tier firm in Philly. Either that, or some clown Dechert equity partner with too much time on their hands.

Instead of duking it out at the bottom, why don't we get this rolling at post 4 or 5 on your next round of layoffs? Deal???

Bottom line: Dechert has priced itself out of most markets. Clients will not pay big $$ for mediocre work, most of the good, competent people have either left or have been let go. Black Bart is running this firm into a ditch as he squeezes all the $$ he can out of Dechert before he walks away......DOUCHEBAG! Dechert used to be a great place to work.....now it just sucks!