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Lawyerly Lairs: Latham Partner Gives His Wife a Fabulous Paris Pad for Her Birthday

Bryant Edwards Bryant B Edwards Paris pied a terre.JPGEarlier this year, Latham & Watkins laid off some 400 employees (190 associates and 250 staff). This caused many to wonder about how tough times were getting at Latham.

Well, don’t shed tears for LW partners just yet. From the New York Times:

If a tourist passing along the Rue du Cloître Notre-Dame just looks up, it is not hard to glimpse, through the open windows above, the rich colors of old master paintings that have been stretched across a ceiling in Linda and Bryant Edwards’s first-floor apartment.

And from the home itself, in an elegant Haussmann building dating to 1905, the family has its own view — of the garden behind Notre Dame Cathedral….

When her husband, 54, presented her with the apartment as a gift for her 40th birthday, Mrs. Edwards envisioned a kind of “Tale of Two Cities” life, split between Paris and what was then the couple’s home in London.

The generous husband in question, Bryant Edwards, is a partner at Latham & Watkins. Last year he moved to Dubai, where he serves as managing partner of the firm’s Middle East office. The Edwardses now use their Paris apartment as a pied-à-terre when they return to the Continent.

So, the question you’re all wondering: How much did this amazing apartment cost?

The price of the three-bedroom, two-bath residence isn’t disclosed in the NYT article — but we can guess. The apartment is 1,723 square feet, and real estate experts consulted by the Times mentioned ranges of either $1,460 - $2,000 or $1,728 - $2,660 a square foot (prices that would make even a Manhattanite blush).

Conservatively assuming that the Edwards apartment, which has been meticulously renovated, clocks in at around $2K a square, you’re looking at a $3.4 million apartment. That’s one heck of a birthday present! It puts the Birkin bag you got for your wife to shame.

The Edwards apartment is pretty sick. It’s luxuriously appointed, with the finest materials, and it’s filled with valuable art and antiquities. Read more about it in the article or spin through the slideshow (see links below).

A Renovation in Paris [New York Times]
Summer in Paris: Slideshow [New York Times]

Comments

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1 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 12:55 PM

Comment about Latham partner's kid who failed the bar in 3, 2, 1.....

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2 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 12:55 PM

Gold!

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3 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 12:55 PM

Gold!

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4 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 12:57 PM

y'all been eating long enough now stop being greedy
keep it real Partner, give it to the needy
- logos

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5 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 12:58 PM

Why is this a story? Guy bought it with his own money. ATL, you fail.

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6 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:00 PM

Not cool to give so much info on the location. Those laid-off Latham stalkers are everywhere.

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7 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:01 PM

I would have expected this kind of story from Elie, but this is disappointing coming from Lat. What do the layoffs at Latham have to do with whether a partner purchases a new apartment with his own money?

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8 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:01 PM

Haha...rich people just don't give a damn.

Bank CEO get bonuses after a banking collapse,
Inside trading,
Ponzi schemes,
Millions on a pad after laying people off. The nerve

Latham troll, what say you about this?

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9 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:02 PM

Hey yo!~

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10 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:03 PM

Hope Karma gets even when they come trolling for associates, whenever that is.

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11 Posted by ChicagoAccountant | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:04 PM

Times are tough at Latham, but not too tough. It's totally relevant.

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12 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:05 PM

Anybody want to fuck me in the mouth for free?

Laid off Lathamite

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:06 PM

Funny how it is an embarassment to say you work for Latham these days. The whole thing just has this K-Mart feel to it...

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14 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:06 PM

With 16,000 children dying a day from hunger-related causes and close to one and a half a billion people living below the poverty line, these excesses are outrageous. I don't care how anyone argues the facts or tries to spin the situation, those excesses could be used to save lives.

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15 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:06 PM

Truly a non-story. What's the implication? That this guy should show restraint and live frugally due to firm layoffs? If he has the cash who cares what he does with it.

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16 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:10 PM

Everyone knows what a trolling comment is. But this is the first trolling post I've ever seen.

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17 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:10 PM

I looked at the slides. The apartment is rather tacky, like Versailles for a Big Law partner.

Oil paintings on the ceiling - who DOES that?

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18 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:10 PM

the point is that Latham partners have so much cash to blow on nice pads because they chose to fire so many associates INSTEAD of helping associates and taking a hit to partner returns.

Partners Pads > Associate Livelihoods

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19 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:11 PM

Most big law layoffs were due to partner greed, nothing more, Let them live in their pretentious bubble.

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20 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:11 PM

the point is that Latham partners have so much cash to blow on nice pads because they chose to fire so many associates INSTEAD of helping associates and taking a hit to partner returns.

Partners Pads > Associate Livelihoods

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21 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:12 PM

4 = DMX!

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22 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:13 PM

5 and 15 are right, who cares it's his money that he already earned. this is really a non-story. at least give the man props, he has a wife 14 years younger than him, invests in some real estate that doubles up as a reason to have his wife away from him in a different country while he does some hookers and blow in dubai.

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23 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:14 PM

Flashy and tacky is right.

It's like a woman wearing a mink to a 7-11. Or a junior associate wearing a backpack. You just don't do these things.

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24 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:15 PM

this is a legal tabloid + a lawyer spent over 3 million on his wife for her birthday + firm laid off associates = story.

how could you say this isn't an ATL worthy story?

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25 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:15 PM

8 - Right on! Rich people (most of them) don't really give a damn as long as they remain rich. Our broke asses should learn a lesson from this. Get rich bitch! ...or die trying.

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26 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:16 PM

Unless the partner made 3.4 mil THIS YEAR, not sure what this has to do with anything. If he made 3.4 mil this year, then DAMN!

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27 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:16 PM

23 -- you're right, backpacks are too flashy.

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28 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:17 PM

He's a managing partner in Dubai. The dude is rich and has been long before layoffs. Non-story, Lat.

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29 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:17 PM

Finish up your soup, dear. There are children starving in Ethiopia.

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30 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:17 PM

Did anyone note the other NYTimes article yesterday that said that people laid off during a recession rarely, if ever, return to their previous income levels?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/us/04layoffs.html?_r=1&hp

Keep this in mind, laid off associates.

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31 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:20 PM

29 to EIC

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32 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:21 PM

Some of you already know this, but Partner Emeritus ("PE") no longer will be posting on this website. It is very complicated, but PE feels that this is something that he must do to pay for the sins of the "naifs" and "cretins" (his words) that have been frequenting this website and have failed to heed his many advisories. He frankly feels that he has done as much as he can at this point, and the chips now must fall as they may. PE has asked me to reassure the readers here that his recent days in Saratoga Springs have been long and bountiful, and his evenings sultry and mildly sensuous. PE apologizes for the informal nature of this notice, but this simply is the way that it must be. Thank you for your continued respect.

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33 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:21 PM

Pittsburgh gym shooting:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/05/pennsylvania.gym.shooting/index.html

Sodini was a systems analyst in the finance department of K&L Gates, a law firm with an office in Pittsburgh, said Mike Rick,

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34 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:22 PM

7 - Lat usually does the real estate voyeurism posts:

http://abovethelaw.com/lawyerly_lairs/

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35 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:22 PM

33, you're late to the party:

http://abovethelaw.com/2009/08/kl_gates_shooter_george_sodini.php

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36 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:26 PM

Above the Law's sister site is running pictures of topless women:

http://fashionista.com/2009/08/mid-day_snack_75.php

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37 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:27 PM

12-

I do.

Skadden Secure

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38 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:28 PM

It's a metaphor, 27

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39 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:28 PM

The CEO of Goldman Sachs was right in telling his employees not to be idiots and make "big ticket" purchases. Unfortunately, the greedy partners at Latham just didn't get the memo.

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40 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:29 PM

not to sound like sour grapes, but that has to be one of the worst locations for a home in paris. ile de la cite is exclusively a tourist area, not a real neighborhood. the edwards' neighbors are likely russian oligarchs and middle-eastern sheiks who share their stereotypical understanding of the city and inclination for extravagant displays of affluence.

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41 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:33 PM

"The Edwards placed a set of oil paintings, "The Rape of Proserpine and the Four Seasons," attributed to Augustinus Terwesten the Elder, on the ceiling of the reception room. The works can be visible from the street below when the room's tall windows are thrown open."

That's about as classy as a velvet elvis painting.

And 40 - that's the kind of snobbery I love. Keep it up!

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42 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:34 PM

what a hideous display--money can purchase loads of things but it cannot buy good taste

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43 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:36 PM

40,
Excellent use of the expression "sour grapes."

Signed,
Guy who demanded PE give me a proper usage of "sour grapes" and never received it.

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44 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:41 PM

The issue isn't that he bought it, it's that he (or maybe just his wife - she's the only one quoted in the article) advertised the purchase so conspicuously. Considering Latham's struggles and the way they've treated their associates and staff, bragging about your gaudy new home in the Times is a decidedly gauche move.

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45 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:41 PM

I suppose ATL is trying to draw an analogy to Thain's rug and similar ridiculous expenditures by execs of failed companies, but the man bought an expensive house with his own money. We all know the partners live and sometimes vacation in nice houses. A non-story designed to rile up the Lath trolls.

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46 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:42 PM

32 -- PE will no longer be posting b/c he is on his bar trip.

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47 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:43 PM

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got a statue of David urinating Stalichnaya vodka.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Kozlowski

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48 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:44 PM

It is interesting to see how quickly the Socialist Obama mindset has taken over. A lawyers earns a lot of money and decides to spend it on a tacky apartment for his trophy wife. And the crime is what? That he is wealthy enough to do this? That his firm decided (for whatever reason) to lay off some associates? Apples and oranges people.

When did associates get a life time guarantee for a job? No one said "if you get through law school you are guaranteed a six figure job for life" and if they did, shame on you for believing it!

This is class envy at its best. Though some of you whiny NY associates should know that there are people in "fly over country" who are shocked and appalled at your lifestyle. Thousands a month for a Manhattan apartment! Millions for a condo - unbelievable!

The grass is always greener, unless you buy into all that socialist nonsense -then everyone's grass is a drab grey.

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49 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:44 PM

Lat, is pied-à-terre the opposite of pie in the sky?

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50 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:47 PM

40 is dead on. This pretentious troll might as well have bought an apartment in the "France" region of Epcot.

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51 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:50 PM

48, actually, this guy just happened to be born in a country where he actually had food to eat and access to education and medicine. then, he played the game to get to the top of the food chain (if you want to know more about the rules to the game and the behavior required, just scroll though the posts of the broken lives on this site), and now his wife is making all sorts of vulgar displays of wealth while thousands of people are getting laid off. on the other hand, I'm sure Marie Antoinette would agree with your logic

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52 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:51 PM

50 = golden

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53 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:52 PM

50 - LOL!

Hilarious!

I am sure the trophy wife has no idea

to be said in Long Island accent:

"come and see my place in Fraaaaaaaance....it's bee -you - ti - ful!

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54 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:52 PM

"It is interesting to see how quickly the Socialist Obama mindset has taken over."

What an idiotic comment. Class envy has existed since the founding of the nation. Before even. It's not as if it was invented in 1960s in San Francisco.

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55 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:52 PM

48: it's not socialism. just a summer afternoon, virtual watercooler gossip session. why so touchy?

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56 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:53 PM

Good for Edwards.

It's a shame that this post would make it sound like he bought the thing with the stolen salaries of those his firm laid off. Edwards is not even stateside, and given his current position, one must assume he's been doing pretty well since before 2008. So first you pin the individual as a scapegoat for the firm's (so-called) misdeeds, then you suggest that his gift was purchased with the proceeds from the (so-called) misdeeds. Do you know if he was in any way behind U.S. layoffs, and did you check his account balances before the firm acted? If not, I fail to see how this is remotely newsworthy. I'd normally blame the Times given the waste of paper it's become, but in this case the negative insinuations are ATL originals.

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57 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 1:58 PM

He bought the apartment TWO YEARS AGO! Back when first year salaries had jumped to 160, we dreamed of NY to 190, and this kind of purchase by a Big Law partner surely wouldn't have attracted any attention at all. Should only be a reminder of how much the world has changed ...

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58 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:00 PM

Apparently, he used one of Saddam's former interior decorators.

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59 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:02 PM

regardless of when he bought it, what a waste of money--it's got all the class of vegas and all the charm of a strip mall

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60 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:03 PM

51 and 54

Would you say (without knowing more of the facts) that Edwards acted "stupidly"? Who would make such a stupid comment........oh wait.............

And 54, sweetie, class envy is as old as the hills, not just the founding of this country. My point was that this is a non story - rich guy buys expensive house.

But in today's America, that seems to be a major crime. Never mind that the guy has probably worked hard the last 25 years of his life. According to the wordly associates who post to this site, he should use his money to pay thier inflated salaries.

And while I am not a socialist, I agree that spending that kind of money on a gift seems a little crazy - why not take that money and open an orphanage? But I digress, the point is that people should be allowed to spend their money as they see fit.

If you ask me, biglaw associate salaries are way out of whack. Where is the outrage there? How many of them would have taken a significant salary cut in order to save the jobs of others (including staff)?

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61 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:04 PM

Again, it's not the purchase that's the problem, it's the display. Although, to be fair, the partner's only fault here may be in having a tacky and classless wife.

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62 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:06 PM

For whatever reason, the posters on this blog are completely missing the point of this awesome story.

No...this is not Elie-caliber reporting. This is the pure Lat stuff.

Look...the idea is that if this guy has 3.4 million dollars to splurge on a posh pad in Paris, he's not hurting for money. If he's not hurting for money, then why the hell did they lay off 20 bazillion people from Latham this year? It just goes to show the brazen insensitivity of those bastardly Latham partners (so the argument would go).

Now, the issue finally clear...well done Lat. This is provocative stuff.

So come out and have some fun, anti-Latham trolls!

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63 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:10 PM

the french are very private about wealth and about their homes. it's a huge faux pas to talk about salaries and most homes are modestly (but tastefully) decorated. ever wondered why all windows are shuttered in paris? one theory says it was supposed to prevent tax inspectors from peeking in to evaluate the owner's income. also, typical french hosts don't "give you the tour" when you go to their house. unless you're a relative, you will be forever confined to the living room.

moral of the story: conspicuous consumption and wide open windows exposing dubious ceiling paintings won't win you many friends in paris.

bon voyage.

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64 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:11 PM

seeing the incredible pictures of the dolled up pad, I think I understand why Europeans believe Americans have no class . . .

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65 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:12 PM

Rich guy buying house 2 years ago is "provocative"?
2 years ago all you weasly Big Law associates would have emulated this guy - "that's going to be me someday......while my secretary who works just as hard as me should continue to make less than $50,000 a year)"

is there any outrage when only staff gets laid off?

BTW, I am not staff, I am atty

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66 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:19 PM

65 = Idiot.

Really? You can't possibly imagine a reason why attorneys who pay upwards of 60k a year to get a highly specialized education, take on crazy workloads and stress, who have established themselves as highly intelligent people through high school, college, LSAT, law school, and bar exam might be earning more than the secretaries?

Not to disparage the staff...but, wow.

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67 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:20 PM

Anybody want to go on GChat and wack off with me?

D Lat

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68 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:26 PM

60, "sweetie," you're still making idiotic comments: "But in today's America, that seems to be a major crime." Here's a clue, no one is saying that this is a crime. You are. People are pointing out class envy, which, as you astutely note, is as "old as the hills." I'd point out specific examples from American history, but I'm sure they would go right over your pretty little head.

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69 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:29 PM

THIS GUY'S ONLY MISTAKE IS NOT FINDING A PLACE THAT WAS EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THIS

LATHAM PARTNER'S SON WHO FAILED THE BAR SECURE

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70 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:36 PM

This shit-bag's wife is also known as "Madame Deficit."

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71 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:45 PM

The point is that after one year of 10-30% reduction in PPP, after a several year exponential increase, these unbelievably greedy cocksuckers jump at the chance to shitcan 20-30% of the associateship.

Biglaw partners are worthless humans, worthless and should all rot in hell.

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72 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:47 PM

So did the money for this apartment come directly from the money they saved mass slaughtering junior associates after they inexplicably hired like crazy?

Latham LA laid off 1/3 of the first year class. Latham NY laid off 1/2 the first year class, 1/2 the second year class, and a 1/3 of the third year class.

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73 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:48 PM

This is honestly the lamest post I've ever seen on ATL. Obviously Elie never worked at a decent firm where *every* partner's house is in the millions and a huge percentage of them have multiple homes in the millions.

*Checks to make sure it isn't April 1st*

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74 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:48 PM

Hey, cut the guy a break. His son failed the bar.

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75 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:48 PM

Look him up on Google. He's from Millburn, NJ and may be a mormon (went to BYU) and gave money to Romney and Giuliani. I wonder if Kinney Recruiting works with him for those Dubai spots.

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76 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:49 PM

these real estate postings are always fun. keep up the good work, David!

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77 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:50 PM

Stay classy Latham.

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78 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:54 PM

How much did this apartment cost in terms of first year and junior associate corpses in the Latham graveyard?

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79 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:54 PM

No pictures of the wife in the story? How am I supposed to figure out if I would bang her?

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80 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:56 PM

74 you fool, that's not the guy with the bar failing son

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81 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 2:58 PM

This reminds me of the $400,000 retreat for AIG executives. I hope snl makes a skit about this douchebag.

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82 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:08 PM

The real story is that Latham's Dubai office is a mere toehold (and not to be confused with Abu Dhabi and Qatar offices) that are fabulously unprofitable. This guy is probably just stoked that he has some sort of ironclad, guaranteed contract with Latham to do BD work (ie dine and no wine) with sheiks and quasi-government investment arms in the Middle East.

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83 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:19 PM

68, darling, yes I understand why you would make more than a secretary, that was not my point (I am also one who did well in h.s., college, paid $$ for law school, etc). You whiny big Law associates are unbelievable! Your arrogance cannot be underestimated.

Are you one of the ones who went to law school to "help people"? Is that why you joined biglaw? I suppose you can still "help people" and work at biglaw, you're just helping rich people who can afford to hire biglaw.

You whiny numbnuts all went to law school (and worked stressful hours, etc.) in order to land a job at biglaw. You wanted a job at biglaw in order to make big bucks in order to buy the big houses, just like Mr. Edwards did.

Now, times have changed and your whiny assess have been thrown out on the street and you have finally found out, that maybe, just maybe, you're not as special and brilliant as your mommy and your teachers told you you were. Maybe you're just another sucker in the rat race of life.

Look at some of these posts- the streets are littered with the corpses of Latham associates.....?

Get a life, volunteer to truly help people, go feed the hungry, teach inner city kids. I know you have to pay back your student loans, whine whine whine.

My point is that 90% of associates are overprivilged a$$h#$@ who may be book smart, but have no idea how to interact with actual humans. You were lucky enough to ride the greed wave into a $160,000 a year job. Now, poof - it's all gone. What are you going to do? Sounds like most of you are content just to whine.

As fas as the staff is concerned, none of you give a rats a$$ when staff is laid off, or would volunteer to take a pay cut to save a staff member from being laid off. They're just not as special as you all are.

And thank you, I think my head is pretty too!


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84 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:27 PM

48 - It's gauche and nouveau riche. The real estate equivalent of walking around with a fat gold chain around your neck. That's the crime.

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85 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:31 PM

this just underscores that jones day partner's point

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86 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:38 PM

Sterile and prissy apartment. Money is definitely wasted on the wealthy and the hobby horses they pursue, but never actually understand.

How typical that they would seek out a place with a garden that others would just about die for, and then only visit it once or twice a year, and THEN probably never even look at the garden.

Yes, he bought it, he paid for it and its his, but you know and I know that that yardstick is not the measure of all things.

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87 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:45 PM

Lat, counting the stealths, Latham laid off WAY MORE THAN 190 associates. It's somewhere between 325 and 400.

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88 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:48 PM

I just looked at the pictures and I can see why you whiny laid off associates are so pissed off!

I think it's a beautiful place.

I may not have hung the paintings on my ceiling, but it has an effect.

this is my favorite whiny quote: "mass slaughtering junior associates"

man o man you people are out of touch with reality

the truth is none of you could care less about the "mass slaughtering" you are ticked off that (at this rate) you will never be able to rent an apartment like that, never mind live in it

a little sour grapes methinks

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89 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 3:53 PM

This is why I can't have nice things.

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90 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:01 PM

Why's this a rich people thing? I've met plenty of regular people who don't give a shit about anyone else.

Oh, I forgot--class warfare is trendy.

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!! OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!

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91 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:07 PM

What else is new! The majority of the partners in the SV office live in mansions and drive the most expensive luxury cars.

Class acts wouldn't you say.....

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92 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:11 PM

It's beginning to look like Latham laid off some associates.

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93 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:20 PM

His neighbor must be Count Demoney.

De MONET! De MONET!

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94 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:22 PM

How dare he! He made a ton of money, and saved a bunch of it, and now he's buying something very nice with it.

Hey, ATL editors, how about a story on how many millions - probably tens of millions - in taxes this guy has paid to the federal, state and local governments on behalf of the public good?

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95 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:33 PM

48, 60, 83, 90 - well said

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96 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:35 PM

Think he's still a Mormon? Think he's tithing 10 percent of his income to the Saints? How much do you think BIGLAW paid him for his soul?

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97 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:39 PM

There is no right to a job.

There is no right to a job that pays $160,000.

There is no right to make partner at a big law firm.

But thank goodness some folks are good enough at the law to be worth a partner's salary and can therefore provide jobs for some of the rest of us, lawyers and staff alike.

(What? He's grateful to his employer? Not cool, dude. Che Guevara, man, all the way.)

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98 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:45 PM

97 -

Lawyers don't get paid according to their intelligence and skill set.

They get paid according to their social network, their book of business.

Try selling your just-so story to some TTT partner at BIGLAW. Then try peddling it with a HSY who chose a public interest path.

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99 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 4:52 PM

I am glad to that not everyone shares the "entitlement theory of life" that some new lawyers believe.

Just because you made good grades throughout your life, made it through and paid for law school, does not mean you are entitled to anything.

Our country is full of whiny entitlement minded young people. Probably the same people who think single payer insurance is a good idea.

It amazes me that these same people can't see the irony in their complaints. I would venture to guess that many of these laid off associates who are furious that a man bought an apartment in Paris for his wife went to law school in order to make enough money to buy expensive apartments in Paris.

Law firms are first and foremost a business. And, since we do not live in a Communist/Socialist society (yet), those people who start the businesses (read: partners) are entitled to the majority of the profit.

You are an employee. Just because you happen to be a lawyer does not make you any more special than a factory worker - you work for someone else.

You want the perks? Start your own business/firm. Then let's see how much you are willing to share your wealth.

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100 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:00 PM

99- Well said.

62- You're an idiot. Ummm, maybe the firm doesn't have enought work to go around in order to compensate way too many associates and that's what led to the layoffs. Not because the partners "are greedy." They're running a business, moron.

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101 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:03 PM

99 -

It seems like you subscribe to your own "entitlement theory of life," but where one's entitlement derives from one's position on the social/corporate hierarchy, one's being born into a functional family that fostered one's development, etc.

And a couple generations ago, law wasn't regarded as a business like any other. It was regarded as a profession and it would have been unseemly to dispose of people due to economic hiccups.

There's been a coarsening and erosion of that sensibility.

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102 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:08 PM

Did any associates donate to starving children in Ethiopia or anywhere else for that matter before you were laid off? I remember listening to you continually whine about your bonuses and your salaries and having to work before 9 a.m. and past 5 p.m. for years, not giving a thought about anyone but yourselves. So now that the shoe is on the other foot, you're complaining???

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103 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:09 PM

I think single payer insurance is a good idea.

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104 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:15 PM

102 is obviously not earning those big partner bucks for his brainpower. He's citing moral hypocrisy as moral justification.

Good work! Remind me never to retain you for work that requires an ounce of logical thinking or creativity.

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105 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:17 PM

Don't people joining big fims like Latham understand that Partners are motivated by one thing: money. That's why they are in Biglaw and not working for the local Public Defender, Greenpeace, or the Southern Poverty Law Center.

That's why they are able to pay you a handsome salary, because they care about one thing: money.

So you take a gamble when you go for a firm like Latham.....because while you may get a nice salary, you are being employed by people who will not think twice about cutting you if it means they will keep their draw at $3.2 million instead of $2.6 million.

That's the deal you made and the gamble you took. It's like jumping into a shark tank and professing hurt and dismay when you get bitten.

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106 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:20 PM

99, I am surprised you didn't mention ACORN, Bill Ayers, birth certificates etc.....

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107 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:30 PM

105 and the like

Latham NY cut 45% of associates, including half the first and second year classes. Clearly, they grossly overestimated their hiring needs and deserve to be called out for it. While they have a right to do it, people have a right to criticize them for their reckless stupidity.

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108 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:41 PM

88, seriously, what are you thinking. that place is as classy as homemade sin

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109 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:41 PM

104 - Duuuuhhhh - okay.

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110 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:42 PM

106 - go out and start your own firm and see how much you want to pay your employees after you bear all the burden of bringing in clients, dealing with regulations, paying rent, paying taxes, etc.

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111 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:44 PM

107, really? latham should be punished for not predicting the financial crisis? under that theory, almost everyone in the country should be punished. except you, of course. you're a victim.

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112 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 5:51 PM

111,

every firm is dealing with the same economy, yet Latham for the most part stands alone in making such extraordinary cuts.

plus, EVERYONE was predicting a housing bust and ensuing recession.

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113 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:00 PM

104 - doesn't matter what I cite - as you so aptly stated , I'M making the big partner bucks and you're not. Stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it.

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114 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:05 PM

113 - I bow down to you and your massive overcompensation.

PS I don't have a pipe. I can afford one. I just don't smoke.

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115 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:10 PM

"It's luxuriously appointed, with the finest materials, and it's filled with valuable art and antiquities."

I think Lat is channeling his internal Smoove B.

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116 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:14 PM

99 speaks truth to moron(s).

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117 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:14 PM

114 - Thank you. Whining again or covering up the fact that you don't get it?

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118 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:19 PM

113, if you're really a partner, you are the biggest loser in the world and a pathetic, pathetic, pathetic shell of a human being. if you have an ounce of respect, give your money to UNICEF and go work for the Peace Corp. Otherwise, you're a lost cause and any pathetic response you come back with is even more pathetic than what you've turned into. you epitomize the i've-lost-touch-with-reality attitude of pathetic partners who fire associates who've earned your money so you can keep living the high life. you pathetic loser

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119 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:25 PM

22, 58, 61and 77, you are all priceless. Keep up the good work.

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120 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:27 PM

oh 118 - you're so much fun to play with - BUT in all seriousness, you really ought to drag our your Roget's and come up with alternatives to the word "pathetic!"

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121 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:29 PM

118, why should I? you obviously wouldn't understand it. if that's the best response you have, you are indeed hopeless [or pathetic]

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122 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:33 PM

Always funny to see overpaid associates complaining about how partners are greedy and overpaid.

Partners own the business. Associates are employees and are no more entitled to the business profits than gas station employees are entitled to Exxon's dividends. If you don't like it, become the business owner.

-- not a partner

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123 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:34 PM

I don't really fault the man for spending his cash, and this may even turn out to be a shrewd investment for him.

Where someone used incredibly bad judgment, however, was to allow the NY Times to promote how much money he was paying for a second home (and yes I say he, because from the article it seemed that spending his money was her full-time job) so close to what Latham had gone through. Any intelligent person could have predicted exactly how this would be perceived, and unfortunately the proud owners placed a greater priority on the thrill of flaunting their new toy to the entire nation.

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124 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:36 PM

121 - While it's been fun, guess that's enough - you're not up to the challenge and WE really need to get back to work and make more money.

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125 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:38 PM

124, enjoy your money -- someday, if your lucky, you'll look back and realize how many lives you ruined. if not, at least you're offspring will be ashamed of you

126 Posted by Sheriff of Rock Ridge | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 6:50 PM

Can a brother get photos of the "tropy wife"? I plan to visit Paris soon, and since Pasty Partner is in Dubai all the time while she is not, I am wondering if she is worthy of the Sheriff Treatment? Perhaps we can do it in the living room under the painting?

And he will soon learn the words spoken in quiet hushed tones throughout America - Once you go Black, you never go back.

Ya'll be cool.

The Sheriff

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127 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 7:07 PM

99, I think single payer insurance is a good idea AND I think too many law grads feel entitled. DID I JUST BLOW YOUR MIND???

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128 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 8:27 PM

Quelle pute!

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129 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 8:32 PM

122 - You do understand that law firms sell associates labor and the bulk of firms' revenues are from associates' billables, right? Exxon doesn't sell the labor of its minimum wage gas clerks. You do understand the difference, don't you? Does this confuse you somewhere? Do I need to explain why these two things are not alike?

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130 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 8:43 PM

129 -

You do understand that law firms bear the burden of training associates, who know next to nothing when they first arrive, and that this training takes years? You do understand that firms have to write down associates' time regularly, right? You do understand that the firms have to bear the burdens of actually running the business, bringing in clients, getting clients to pay, staying in compliance with ABA and government regulations, yes? You do understand the difference between RUNNING a business and BEING EMPLOYED by a business, right?

I'm not sure you do.

- Not 122

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131 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 8:53 PM

What's new here -- staggeringly greedy GP's who would knife a baby in the eye for a .2% PPP raise if they could get away with it, matched with the whining GAs who desperately want to be them.

I suppose the whining GAs do have SOME point tho in ripping the GP's asinine claims about how much their firms are hurting. Those are more than a bit embarassing. "This year ... I might not get a gold-plated shark tank." I know, it must be unbearable.

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132 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 9:13 PM

131 -

That is the perfect (and hilarious) summation of the thread.

Comments are now closed.

- 132

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133 Posted by guest | Permalink Wednesday, August 5, 2009 11:56 PM

Breaking News!!! A guy who makes seven figures just purchased a 1700 square foot apartment!!!

Seriously?

134 Posted by Bob_Dell | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 1:22 AM

There's nothing to see here folks. Bryant earned his money long before this economic crisis. If you must insist on seeing opulence, just wait until my home in featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.

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135 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 4:34 AM

Seems like a non-issue. The apartment was bought a couple of years ago. ATL reported in 2007 that Lat 4th yr associates were making $210K, probably more than this guy made when he was a jr partner. So what if he invested in property? It's probably lost money. It's unrelated to the layoffs.

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136 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 7:21 AM

nevermind that Rue du Cloître Notre-Dame sucks. teeming with tourists constantly, shops selling worthless nicknack crap, impossible to get a car in or out of the area. Typical foreigner buying a location that in reality blows for living. Add on top of that that Haussmann buildings from the period are a dime a dozen in Paris along with every crap renovation that has been done on one since they started building them.

if they were true connaisseurs (and snobs) they'd have gone to Ile St. Louis.

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137 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 8:34 AM

What a gigantic turd. These douchebags canned about 30% of associates, including nearly half the associates in the NY, and this tool comes on here flaunting his extravagant, gaudy purchases.

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138 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 8:37 AM

134

That's our Bob!

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139 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 9:39 AM

Instead of whining about it, go and start networking with the investment banking heads of tommorrow and start developing potential leads and start writing articles with partners and coming up with a plan, and someday you to can pay someone to recreate a famous painting on your ceiling so that people looking up from the street can see it.

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140 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 9:41 AM

134

Just wait till your spread is criticized in the San Francisco Chronicle not as being rich or opulent but for presuming to be rich and opulent. People will point and laugh at you.

Compared to MSFT millionaires and other Silicon Valley wealth, you are a peon with no taste or class.

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141 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 12:44 PM

134 is also bald and fugly

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142 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 1:08 PM

130 - Law firms train associates? Since when?

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143 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 3:12 PM

GET OVER IT PEOPLE

BIG LAW IS DEAD

The law "profession" as we knew it is OVER. It's now a business, just like the medical field.

You are not guaranteed any job, at any salary, for any amount of time.

If it makes you feel any better, there are thousands of us out there just like you and law schools are churning out more lawyers every year.

Instead of whining about it, get off your duff and do something about it.

What was so exciting about working at Biglaw anyway?

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144 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 6:37 PM

115, you forgot to mention how Mr Edwards was going to hit Mrs Edwards doggy style.

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145 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 8:11 PM

This guy sounds like a shitbag.

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146 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 8:15 PM

143, the issue is not whether one deserves a job. the issue is whether a firm deserves criticism for hiring like crazy and then mass firing those they just hired - when EVERYONE was predicting recession.

and flaunting your new luxury apartment after you've destroyed hundreds of junior associates is just poor taste.

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147 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 8:19 PM

Latham laid off way more than 190 associates. They stealthed 10% of associates before doing the official mass shitbag layoffs.

Stay class Latham.

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148 Posted by guest | Permalink Thursday, August 6, 2009 11:13 PM

Keep trying 143, one day you may actually get it.

Agreed with those who cheer for Latham to stay classy with frenzied hirings, associate terminations and partners' coozs gushing to the Times.

And one of the commentors was dead-on. Tacky as all hell. Oil paintings on the ceiling? Who the fuck does that? Their taste is in their ass.

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149 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, August 7, 2009 7:54 AM

Everybody here says it is his money - how is this related to laid off associates? Well, since "his money" came from taking 80% of what associates earn (by instilling in associates an expectation or making partner or, at least, stable employment for their extremely hard work), it is not diffucult to see the connection between "his money" and layoffs.

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150 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, August 7, 2009 10:09 AM

142 -

I admit you have a point.

- 130

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151 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, August 7, 2009 9:35 PM

So a bunch of fancy-law-school lawyers who fully expected to make $200K per year out of lschool and have an uninterrupted track to partner got laid off, and now you're the new proletariat with fresh ideas about fairness and decency. Welcome to the real world, dickheads! If not for the recession not one of you would ever have looked back or down at where you are now. You're all lawyers, for chrissake! Any idea what the rest of us trying to run real businesses that really create wealth, jobs and innovation think about lawyers? Get a real job and shut up.

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152 Posted by guest | Permalink Sunday, August 9, 2009 3:46 PM

Amen, 151, amen, especially to your second to last line.

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153 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, August 10, 2009 5:23 PM

Sweet apartment. What a bunch of sour grapes. The only thing tasteless is some of the comments posted here. Perhaps if you could express yourself in a way that wasn't vulgar, what you said wouldn't sound so bitter and sad. Cheer up. Even those of us who were laid off by Latham got a nice fat severance, sure beats losing your job in most professions.

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154 Posted by guest | Permalink Saturday, September 5, 2009 2:13 PM

153

the severance for first year associates after taxes was 44k. that isn't a nice fat anything, especially considering that getting laid off as a first year destroys your career.

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