Staff Layoff Watch: WilmerHale Lays Off 57 Staffers

We don’t have all of the details, but multiple sources report that WilmerHale is laying off 57 staffers today (secretaries and paralegals). We understand that the staff is being informed right now.

We don’t have information about what (if any) severance package is being offered to the departed staff. Our sources report that the layoffs will affect staff in Boston, D.C., and New York offices.

Spokespeople for WilmerHale did not respond to an immediate request comment. But we hope to have more information as people are informed of their job situation.

Good luck, WilmerHale friends.

UPDATE More from our tipsters, and a statement from the firm, after the jump.

Above the Law sources report some additional information about the Wilmer Hale layoffs today:

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* The people cut are being let go TODAY; they were called in this morning and then asked to clean out their desks and go home
* Most of the cuts were secretaries (this is unsurprising to those of us who’ve been paying attention, as the firm announced some sort of secretarial support audit or review to improve efficiency back in the summer).
* There is a severance package, but they wouldn’t tell us what it was.
* Partners losing secretaries were told last night.

Ouch, you’d think that at least secretaries of partners would be safe. We’ll keep you posted.

UPDATE: William Lee and William Perlstein, co-managing partners at WilmerHale, have released this official statement:

Following a careful review, we have decided to reduce the number of support staff in four of our offices. Our decision to realign overall staffing levels better positions us to respond to a changed business landscape and provide the highest quality legal services in a more cost-effective manner.

Earlier: Departures from WilmerHale: An Interesting Internal Memo
Nationwide Layoff Watch: Getting the Message Across to WilmerHale Associates

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