Hello, Above the Law community. I’m back from hiatus. I’m away for a whole week and what happens, law firms stop laying people off. Coincidence? Dear God I hope so.
I didn’t follow any legal or non-legal news during my absence, so I’ll be counting on you guys to bring me up to speed. But I’m not too concerned. I’m like Tiger Woods on Sunday with a 54-hole lead, I never lose.
It’s great to be back.
Archive for August 2009
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Posted in:
Exercise, Federal Judges, Rudeness, SCOTUS, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court
Good thing the Supreme Court has its own gym!
By David Lat
When Justice Sonia Sotomayor needs to work off all the rice, beans and pork she’s consumed, she hits the gym.
Alas, it appears that Her Honor’s Equinox gym membership was canceled, after she apparently refused to show identification when trying to enter the premises. We’re with Justice Sotomayor on this: she’s a frickin’ federal judge, the closest thing this nation has to an aristocracy. Showing ID is for little people!
Sure, Barack Obama showed his birth certificate identification when he visited Equinox health clubs during the campaign. But he’s Article II — ick, having to run for election, how déclassé — and Justice Sotomayor is Article III, fabulous and life-tenured.
Luckily, the SCOTUS has its own gym — replete with a basketball court, aka “the highest court in the land.” And Justice Sotomayor won’t have to worry about being recognized at One First Street (where even the law clerks are recognized on sight by the Supreme Court police).
Sotomayor v. Equinox Fitness: The Case of the Canceled Membership [New York magazine]
(Gavel bang: commenter.)
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Posted in:
Admin, Advertising, Announcements, Fabulosity, Parties, This Is an Ad
An ATL Event: Rooftop Gathering with Applied Discovery
By Above the LawIf you’ll be in New York on Monday, August 24, you might be interested in this event, brought to you by Above the Law and our friends at Applied Discovery:
SPACE IS LIMITED. To request an invitation, please email InviteRequest@breakingmedia.com. Please include your name, employer, and job title in your response. If we can accommodate you, we will send you a confirmation by email.
Thanks! We hope to see you on the 24th.
Ed. note: Above the Law has teamed up with Law Shucks. Law Shucks has done excellent work translating all of the layoff news into user-friendly charts and graphs: the Layoff Tracker.
Hallelujah!
We’ve come so close recently, but we can finally call it.
For the first time this year, we have gone an entire week without a layoff reported at any major law firm.
By popular demand, we’ll first address the broader US economy, where the news isn’t quite as good. Initial jobless claims rose unexpectedly, to 558,000, last week. Curiously, what seems like good news might not be: the total number of unemployed dropped to the lowest level since April. Once again, that’s more likely the result of people no longer qualifying as "unemployed" under the BLS definition. In the worst case, people whose right to receive benefits has expired (i.e., they’ve been unemployed for more than 12-18 months) don’t count. There is also a substantial contingent of disaffected workers, those who have simply given up searching, who also don’t count.
Perhaps the better indicator of BigLaw’s clients’ health is the S&P 500, which was relatively flat for the week and held at the psychologically important 1,000 level.
After the jump, a celebration of the week without layoffs. 
Continue reading “This Week In Layoffs: 08.15.09″
* Courtesy of Marin, news you can use: Top Five Ergonomic Problems at Large Law Firms. [Technolawyer]
* Will the next White House beer summit bring together Justice Scalia and Judge Reinhardt? [Litination]
* The 19-year-old law student, Kate McLaughlin, doesn’t need your crappy advice, thank you very much. [WSJ Law Blog]
* Breaking up is hard to do — especially if your boyfriend has nude pictures of you. [Chicago Sun-Times]
* If you’re a law student going through OCI, check out PLC’s free Interview Resource Center, which includes an Interview Survival Guide, a Global 50 search tool (info on firms not available elsewhere,) and the “What’s Market” tool (so you can know what you’re talking about in interviews). [Practical Law Company]
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Posted in:
DLA Piper, Health Care / Medicine, Politics
Musical Chairs: Dick Armey Out at DLA Piper
By David LatA Friday afternoon in August — the perfect time for a resignation. As first reported by Politico:
Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) is resigning from DLA Piper law firm amid a wave of negative attention his grassroots organization, Freedom Works, has drawn for helping to organize protesters at health care town hall meetings with members of Congress.
In an interview with POLITCO Armey said that he was concerned about the media scrutiny the health care protests were drawing to the firm he has been associated with since retiring from Congress.
“The firm is busy with its business, and shouldn’t be asked to take time out from their work, to defend themselves of spurious allegations,” Armey said. “No client of this firm is going to be free to mind its own business without harassment as long as I’m associated with it.”
This is the culmination of a controversy that was brewing over the past week.
Continue reading “Musical Chairs: Dick Armey Out at DLA Piper”
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Posted in:
Fordham School of Law, Job Searches, Law School Deans, Law Schools, Reed Smith, Rudeness
Additional Perspectives on Fordham Law v. Reed Smith
By David Lat
From two distinguished commentators: lawyer and law firm consultant Bruce MacEwen, of Adam Smith Esq., and Professor Daniel Filler, over at the Faculty Lounge.
Above the Law reader sentiment generally supported Fordham Law School and Dean William Michael Treanor. Interestingly enough, both MacEwen and Filler side with Reed Smith. MacEwen confesses to being mystified by Dean Treanor’s handling of the situation; Filler argues that Reed Smith’s late withdrawal from OCI was a minor infraction, and that Fordham’s “punishment” of the firm will only hurt students.
Check out their analyses via the links below.
In This Corner, AmLaw #16… [Adam Smith, Esq.]
Fordham Law v. Reed Smith, Or, How To Scare Away Firms From OCI [The Faculty Lounge]
Earlier: Fordham Law v. Big Law: Reed Smith’s Response
Fordham Law Lashes Out at Reed Smith Rudeness
On Monday, we brought you this photo, then asked you to suggest captions for it. Over 4000 votes were cast, and one caption won by the narrowest of margins…
“Firms run a risk of bad publicity when they lay off both labor lawyers and the print shop staff at the same time.”
The runner-up, and the backstory and law firm in question — a firm that has already been shamed once today — after the jump.
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Posted in:
Fashion
Dress for Success: What Should You Wear to Fall Recruiting Interviews?
By David Lat
With the arrival on-campus interviewing (OCI), inquiring minds want to know: How should I dress for my interviews?
Men have it easy. A dark suit, a white shirt, and a non-obnoxious necktie should fit the bill. If you have confidence in your fashion sense, you can be more adventurous. E.g., tastefully striped shirts; ties in cute patterns. For more thoughts on men’s fashion, see this earlier post.
Alas, the fairer sex has it harder. For advice on how women should dress in professional environments, read (and comment on) a pair of recent posts by our colleagues at Fashionista and our friends at Corporette.
Corporate Fashion? [Fashionista]
Corporette 101: The Old Mirror Trick [Corporette]
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Posted in:
AutoAdmit / Xoxohth, Harvard Law School, Weddings, Yale Law School
Legal Eagle Wedding Watch 8.10: Seoulmates
By Laurie Lin
LEWW loves summertime. We’re shining the spotlight on four law school graduates this week (well, three and an almost-graduate), and all four are from Yale or Harvard. All that prestige is perfect for a steamy Friday afternoon in August (and if it’s too elitist for you, here’s a cool lesbian-lawyer wedding).
Even better: One of our contestants is a plaintiff in a high-profile lawsuit involving anonymous internet comments! (So comment with care on this post.)
LEWW will be on vacation next week, but we’ll have June/July Couple of the Month polls for you. Regular weekly posting will resume with a double issue on Friday, August 28.
Here are this week’s three finalist couples:
1. Adina Yoffie and Matthew Feigin
2. Brittan Heller and Nathaniel Gleicher
3. Julie Cohen and Jared Strumwasser
Click on the link below for pictures and details on these fabulously credentialed newlyweds.
Continue reading “Legal Eagle Wedding Watch 8.10: Seoulmates”
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Posted in:
Canceled Summer Programs - 2010, Greenberg Traurig, McCarter & English, McGuire Woods, Start Dates, Summer Associates
Canceled Summer Program Watch – The ‘Mc’ Edition:
McCarter & English, McGuire Woods (selected offices)
By David Lat
The number of law firms canceling their 2010 summer associate programs continues to climb. Here are the latest additions to the growing list:
1. McCarter & English: Managing partner Eric Wiechmann confirmed to ATL that the firm will not be holding a summer associate program in 2010. In addition, he confirmed that incoming associates won’t be starting until December 1, 2009 (which, all things considered, is pretty good).
(Before some of you say you’ve never heard of McCarter, please note that it’s one of the largest firms in New Jersey — a sizable legal market. In addition to its main office in Newark, the firm also has offices in Boston, Hartford, Stamford, New York City, Philadelphia and Wilmington. Recently it made news by hiring Harley Lewin, a leading IP lawyer and trademark guardian, from Greenberg Traurig.)
2. McGuire Woods: This is a firm that needs no introduction. It’s quite sizable, with 900 lawyers across 18 offices worldwide, and it’s #61 on the Am Law 100 list.
A spokesperson for McGuire Woods confirmed what we’ve heard from various law student tipsters: the firm is “likely to reduce the number of offices in which we have our summer programs.” It has not, however, made a final decision on which offices won’t be hosting summers. (One reader predicts the firm won’t have summer associates outside of Richmond, Charlotte, and Chicago.)
But there’s some additional interesting backstory here.
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Posted in:
Baker & McKenzie, Blind Item, Clifford Chance, DLA Piper, Debevoise & Plimpton, Greenberg Traurig, Layoffs, Morgan Lewis, Proskauer Rose, Simpson Thacher, Skadden Arps, Sullivan & Cromwell, Weil Gotshal, White & Case
Blind Item Follow-Up: Morgan Lewis Also Denies Layoffs
(Plus a look at the Five O’Clock Club’s law firm clients.)
By David Lat
Based on a Washington Post article profiling the Five O’Clock Club, an outplacement and career coaching company, we constructed a Biglaw blind item:
Which New York law firm, having already completed two rounds of layoffs, has hired the Five O’Clock Club to help it carry out additional layoffs (in August, October, and November)?
After we ran the item, several firms came forward to declare they’re not the firm in question. And now they’re joined by one more: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.
A spokesperson for Morgan Lewis contacted ATL to say that it isn’t the firm with layoffs in the works. In fact, Morgan Lewis claims that it shouldn’t even be on the shortlist of contenders.
Read why — and check out the list of the Five O’Clock Club’s clients, including some very prestigious law firms that haven’t publicly admitted to layoffs — after the jump.
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Posted in:
Fabulosity, Fashion, Fashion Is Fun, Pictures, Sonia Sotomayor, Weirdness
A SCOTUS-Inspired Outfit
By David Lat
If an institution as stodgy as Harvard University can give rise to a fashion line, why can’t the Supreme Court of the United States?
What we’re wearing today, after the jump.
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Posted in:
Advertising, Job of the Week, Litigators, Shameless Plugs, Sponsored Content, This Is an Ad
Job of the Week: Seeking A New York Litigator
By Above the Law
Today’s job of the week, brought to you by Lateral Link, is at a prominent New York boutique. In addition to covering major international law firms, Lateral Link also works with smaller regional firms. If you are a legal employer seeking to hire a well-credentialed experienced attorney, please contact us.
Position: Senior Litigation Associate
Location: New York, NY
Description: A prominent general practice firm is seeking a senior associate for its litigation group. The work done by the litigation group focuses on general commercial litigation, specifically, corporate and securities matters, contests for corporate control and shareholder disputes and broker-dealer disputes. The department also handles contract, employment, intellectual property, bankruptcy, and real estate litigation, as well as health care regulation, administrative and white collar criminal matters. Position requires 5 to 7 years of litigation experience at a top firm, courtroom/deposition experience, and New York state bar admission.
For more information on this position or to apply, please see position #5234 on Lateral Link, or contact Ryan Belville at rbelville@laterallink.com. Membership in Lateral Link is free and you can apply at www.laterallink.com.
Earlier: Prior Job of the Week listings
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Posted in:
Labor / Employment, Legal Ethics, Seyfarth Shaw
Seyfarth Lays Off a First-Year Associate — Then Gets Her New Firm Kicked Off a Case
By Kashmir Hill & David Lat
Ed. note: This post has been revised in a number of important respects after it was published. As a result, many reader comments have been superseded, because they refer to parts of the post that have been edited or deleted. Please refresh your browser to read the latest version. Thank you.
Sarah Getchell is having a rough 2009. The University of Michigan grad was a first year at Seyfarth Shaw, until being laid off in May (perhaps as part of this bunch).
She found new employment at a small labor law firm, Lichten & Liss-Riordan. But then Seyfarth used her hiring to get the new firm removed from a case — not very nice.
With royalties from Camp Wilder not the cash machine they once were, Jerry O’Connell has traded in the glamor of Samantha Who? cameos and a Crossing Jordan recurring role for something even less glamorous.
Reports Us Magazine: “Jerry O’Connell has gone back to [law] school, his rep confirms to Usmagazine.com.”
O’Connell’s new career path comes as no surprise to fans. A $160,000 six-figure salary upon graduation would mean a substantial pay increase from his cumulative prior earnings.
But where does an actor of O’Connell’s star power go for his J.D.?
* Dissents on the rise in capital cases. [New York Times via How Appealing]
* Controversy erupts over renaming a Dallas school for President Obama; renaming another Dallas school for Justice Sotomayor generates little debate. [CBS 11 via Drudge]
* Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, who attempted to assassinate President Ford 34 years ago, has been released from federal prison. [ABC News]
* So has Quarterback Michael Vick — who just signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. [ESPN]
* Elsewhere in celebrity justice, check out the search warrant used to raid the Vegas pharmacy this week in the Michael Jackson case. [Popsquire]
* Irony on the waterfront: commission charged with investigating mob-driven corruption rife with, you guessed it, corruption. [New York Times via City Room]
* Federal Aviation Administration suspends two air traffic employees involved in plane and helicopter crash. [AP via NJ.com]
* Speaking of labor issues and air traffic controllers, they’ve reached a contract with the Obama administration. [AP]
No, readers, we didn’t learn this on the Caltrain. From Sara Randazzo of the Daily Journal (subscription):
It’s going to be California dreaming for second-year law students hoping to work in the Golden State next summer. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman became the latest firm to curtail summer hiring, confirming Thursday it likely won’t host any summer associates in its West Coast offices in 2010.
Pillsbury was recently named a top law firm for women. But if you’re a woman in the class of 2011, getting a job at Pillsbury just got a lot harder.
The move wasn’t a surprise to some. Earlier this week, an ATL reader who bid on Pillsbury for OCI received this message from career services:
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is now focusing their recruiting on their East Coast offices and would like to know if you are interested in the NY or DC offices. In fact, it now looks like they may not have any summer programs in California. If you are considering the east coast, please email me immediately and specify the location(s) of interest (NY &/or DC).
According to the Daily Journal, Pillsbury plans to hire 15 to 17 summer associates to work in its New York, Washington, and Houston offices. This is a sharp drop from the 50 summer associates it hosted nationwide in 2009. (As for those summer associates, they’ll be hearing about offers by the end of August.)
So what’s behind the sharp reduction in summer associates?
Continue reading “Canceled Summer Program Watch: Pillsbury Winthrop (West Coast)”
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Posted in:
Admin, Announcements, Fabulosity, Parties
An ATL Event: Rooftop Gathering with Applied Discovery
By Above the LawIf you’ll be in New York on Monday, August 24, you might be interested in this event, brought to you by Above the Law and our friends at Applied Discovery:
SPACE IS LIMITED. To request an invitation, please email InviteRequest@breakingmedia.com. Please include your name, employer, and job title in your response. If we can accommodate you, we will send you a confirmation by email.
Thanks! We hope to see you on the 24th.
Ed. note: These non-sequiturs are brought to you by Karen, one of our awesome interns.
* The MPRE proves that you can, in fact, learn ethics from signing a paper and maybe filling in some bubbles. [Huffington Post]
* If U. Miami’s encouraged deferrals get pushed a bit further, deferring law school might not be a choice. [Plan B]
* Incoming associates deferred, current associates laid off, and law firm partners… sabbaticaled? [Concurring Opinions]
* Don’t let the imagery of bloody, clubbed baby seals stop you, dear tipsters. [Law and More]
* Yes, it’s The Enquirer; but they have earned some credibility on this issue, don’t you think? [The D.C. Write-Up]
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Posted in:
Advertising, Shameless Plugs, Sponsored Content, This Is an Ad
The BarMax Manifesto: “We Are Not Sheep”
By Above the Law
In 2009, a small group of Harvard Law School students noticed an absurd monopoly in the bar prep space, held by an unchallenged leader with a non-evolving product. In response, these students teamed up with Harvard Law alumni to launch BarMax on January 14, 2010.The mission: democratize bar prep by embracing new technologies to provide the very best bar exam review courses at a fraction of the cost normally associated with these courses.
Since then, with the encouragement of thousands of students and an unwavering commitment to their success, BarMax has established itself as a comprehensive alternative to the stagnant, over-priced status quo.
As we continue to expand, we do not want to lose sight of the basic premises that led us to create BarMax in the first place. If you are a law student who believes that there is something fundamentally wrong with being forced to take out yet another loan to pay for a $4,000 bar exam prep course, you are not alone.
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Posted in:
Advertising, Asia Chronicles, Shameless Plugs, Sponsored Content, This Is an Ad
The Asia Chronicles: In-House Openings at Hedge Funds In Hong Kong / State Of The Market / 7 New Kinney ’12 US Associate Placements In HK / China
By Kinney Recruiting
Ed. note: This post is authored by Evan Jowers and Robert Kinney of Kinney Recruiting, sponsor of the Asia Chronicles. Kinney has made more placements of U.S. associates and partners in Asia than any other firm in the past five years. You can reach them by email: asia@kinneyrecruiting.comHappy Chinese New Year! We were extremely busy the past few months, including most of our US based team working from our Hong Kong offices during November and December.
As a follow up from our recent post, which listed our 62 US associate and counsel placements in Asia last year (vast majority in HK / China), please note that thus far in January ’12, we have already made seven US associate and counsel placements in Asia. This is an especially impressive number, considering the biglaw lateral hiring market in Asia is down right now (see state of the market brief overview below). These new placements are of new hires in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, who were interviewing with their new firm for a month or more and they are spread out among different practice areas, including project finance, litigation, fund formation, M&A and cap markets. We are close on four additional new associate placements, in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai, that we expect to close soon. We do not discuss partner placements in these articles, but the pace of partner recruitment in Asia (a large part of our business) has continued.
Hedge Fund In-House Openings in Hong Kong
We are seeing a small run of new in-house openings in Hong Kong at hedge funds. We are currently filling three different in-house positions at three different hedge funds in Hong Kong, two of these searches we are handling on an exclusive basis. All three will most likely be filled by a US associate, with about 4 to 6 years of experience. Mandarin not required. Candidates from NYC and London will be considered, but at one of these funds the new hire will likely come from Hong Kong / China or Singapore (with HK being the strong preference).
Please feel free to reach out to us at asia@kinneyrecruiting.com if you are interested in these hedge fund openings. As you probably would expect, the competition for these spots will be fierce and the funds will be very selective when choosing which candidates to interview.
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Posted in:
Careers
