Nationwide (Stealth) Layoff Watch: Nixon Peabody
Back in February, Nixon Peabody laid off 56 employees. The firm was public about its decision to lay off people at the time.
But sources report that over the past few months Nixon has been conducting additional layoffs — only this time the firm is being very stealthy about the departures. Multiple sources state that the firm casts these reductions as performance-based, but the performance issues are simply low hours during the recession. One tipster puts it like this:
[S]tealth layoffs of associates are happening in a number of different including San Francisco … and D.C. A number of second and third years (since we have no first years yet) have been told to pack their bags. They are being called performance-based though the associates who have been let go have low hours because of lack of work. … Associates are terrified to report to work [lest] they get a call from human resources.
We also have reports of stealth layoffs in New York. And still other tipsters tell us that junior partners are being forced out as well.
This time, Nixon Peabody declined to comment about the layoffs.
But after the jump, we have information that might explain why Nixon is going the stealth route with these cuts.
It appears that Nixon is going above and beyond the normal practices in order to keep these layoffs quiet. A source reports:
We’re hearing that these associates are being told that they can’t send firm-wide goodbye emails. Unclear what the enforcement mechanism would be — if you send one anyway, do you lose your severance? — but it seemed worth pointing out.
Why is Nixon going to this level to silently push people out of the door? Here’s one of the theories we’ve heard this week:
Management is being very careful about these cuts, calling them “productivity” or performance-based, [since] the round of salary cuts that happened in May was billed to the associates as a measure to save associate jobs.
When Nixon cut salaries back in April, Nixon Peabody’s managing partner, Richard F. Langan, cited maintaining current staffing levels as one of the reasons for the cuts:
Nixon Peabody LLP has taken measures over the past several months to review its cost of doing business while keeping its commitment to providing extraordinary client service. To maintain staffing levels in the best interest of our clients, we have decided to reduce starting compensation levels for incoming associates and summer associates to $145,000 in major financial centers with related reductions in associate compensation throughout the firm’s U.S. operations.
Our associate sources report that they were explicitly told the salary cuts would save associate jobs.
Of course, that could be true. We don’t know how many associates and partners have been pushed out the door overall. If the salary cuts hadn’t been made, perhaps the firm would be laying off too many people to keep it relatively quiet.
As end of the year reviews start heating up, we’ll keep an eye out for other firms that are making “productivity layoffs.” Please email us with your tips. Thanks.
Earlier: Nationwide Layoff Watch: Nixon Peabody Lays off 20 Attorneys, 36 Staff
Salary Cut Watch: Nixon Peabody Can, So it Did
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Comments
busted
If you are fired from the Nixon firm, do they call it getting the John Dean treatment?
The salary cuts would save associate jobs just like the Obama stimulus would keep unemployment under 8%. But at least we now have world peace!
Yes We Can!
Looks like not EVERYONE is a winner at NP...
"Dear (name),
You are no longer a winner.
Sincerely,
Nixon Peabody"
Its sad because everyone used to be a winner at Nixon Peabody.
I lied, jobs and the credibility of the Nobel selection committee died.
I'm Barack Obama?
Mission Accomplished!
I was just watching Fox News and an analysist called "peace" a "buzz word."
-Fuckyoubabies
The problem with stealth layoffs is that I've got to enter stealthily in order to give associates their well deserved severance.
Nix Pea Pea is such a tired old firm.
"LEAST they get a call..."??!! I hope that person got laid off.
How long before they can the incoming first-years OR do they offer the newbies a Fenwick, Fox, or Bird?
I would have left that festering shithole when they made that juvenile community college marketing video. Anyone that fucking stupid not to realize how ridiculously bush-league and tacky this Mickey Mouse outfit is should have seen this coming. Letting go of jp's in this economy is the shittiest move ever and this wretched sweatshop will pay dearly in the not-so-distant future.
Dubya is funny every time.
OBAMA;
The David Dinkins of the good USA
Has David been mayor of new york since!!!!
Although not a peer firm, NP has cemented its image as an early adopter of my "hybrid tough love" model and I am very proud of NP's management for taking this bold step. Dick Longing should should be hailed as a true follower of my visionary plan for our legal profession.
Obama is the big black cock that is raping America.
"We invite you to explore our current openings as well as the rest of our website to learn more about Nixon Peabody—the best firm to work with and to work for."
I know for a fact Peabody conducted on campus interviews at a D.C. law school, and less than 24 hours later, emailed all students they had interviewed that they were not interested in pursuing them for summer employment. I smell bad times for Peabody.
"Dick Longing should should be hailed as a true follower of my visionary plan for our legal profession."
Freudian slip PE?
COME ON, Elie. Make an "Everyone is a winner" reference. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN EVEN READING THIS SITE?!
Any info on Boston office?
Is the rumor about chicks in Boston and their tendency to shart while dancing true?
18, thanks for cutting to the chase. But you could have spared us so much blathering about socialism, communism, affirmative action, birth-certificates ,etc., by pointing out that you oppose the President's policies because you once saw a black guy with a white girl who, like most women not available by mail-order, you could never get. Good talk.
@25=racist
Dubya is more annoying than funny. Though, I must admit, "Mission Accomplished" is slightly more tolerable than "How do you like me now?"
In reality, everyone would kill for a time warp back to 2006 or '07 or even the first half of '08. World's dislike of America be damned.
26=18-Bigoted, ignorant layabout. Otherwise known as a "Republican." And just because I can, FU, PE.
26=18=Bigoted, ignorant layabout. Otherwise known as a "Republican." I am simply quite amazed that a mental midget of your ilk has the intelligence to work a keyboard. And just because I can, FU, PEnis. Your schtick is old and tired, no doubt much like yourself. Time to retire...
Suck my ass, Mystal, you obese racist walrus!!!!
22
Haha, 14, poetically said.
The Thelen curse continues.
Any info on the Rochester office?
28 and 29 tell me one thing that OBAMA has done so far that is good. He is the same as BUSH but black. he has not keep any promise yet. The black people in Chicago are happy to see the back of him and his wife and do not want him back.
So please tell me what he has done that is good!!! Please!!! Less jobs, gang members think he is a joke, worse dollar yet, crime getting worse, more homeless, the rich are still getting richer and do you honestly think that this black man gives a sh-t about his own kind!! Really Go home and look in the mirror and ask yourself do this guy really care about me.
God help us if we are attacked. I was in 9/11 and I'm here because of my military training that saved my ass.
He has not been tested yet.
Even I cannot imagine being done in the butt by Obama.
Samwell
PE's wife - 7 years of sobriety. Way to go Margie.
Wow!!! The Ship is sinking at NP!!!
"This time, Nixon Peabody declined to comment about the layoffs." Maybe because they got exposed for the bunch of lying incompetents that they are.
I give this firm no more than a year of survival. Things be so bad the partners can't even get reimbursed for travel anymore.
The ship be sinking...
why no mention that to add insult to injury the NP idea of severance is one month or two months if you're lucky?
definitely not a winner.
True story: Had an interview with this jokers. They said, sorry, we hired somebody else. Ok, no problem. I understand I am not a god's gift to earth in this market. However, a month after their search, still nobody new on the website in that group. I smell bullshit search. Beware of this firm and bullshit interviews. Dont' waste you time with them.
True story: Had an interview with these jokers. They said, sorry, we hired somebody else. Ok, no problem. I understand I am not a god's gift to earth in this market. However, a month after their search, still nobody new on the website in that group. I smell bullshit search. Beware of this firm and bullshit interviews. Dont' waste you time with them.
(stealth) LAYOFFS?? LAYOFFS??!!
4 in SF. 1 had excellent work product, but little work. Another got mixed reviews and also little work. Don't know about the other 2.
Other offices?
18 + racist.
18 = racist.
34 = racist. One thing to disagree with Obama's policies, but why did you find it necessary to point out that he's black? Did you point out that Bush was white when you first mentioned him?
Makes me wonder if you really disagree with Obama's policies, or if it's really the color of his skin that you take issue with.
The latest in a long series of piss-poor management decisions. NP is a disaster...
We're talkin' about stealth layoffs? Stealth layoffs?
Nixon is using the opportunity to upgrade associates to. Someone who was laid off at my firm went to the New York office as a lateral.
Top ten student at a T1 law school. No offered because I didn't kiss up to the associates on the hiring committee...
So, anyone know anything about Rochester here?
Here is some information on Rochester. It is a festering shithole full of fat ugly people. It is extremely cold and depressing just like the rest of that region. If you live and practice there, you are a failure. Hope that helps.
Face it - there is a new normal at law firms. Since associates do not leave firms anymore to take other jobs, the firms are going to move them out themselves. The problem of hring two years in advance of needs. All firms need to stop the insane current methods and hire a contract attorney when a work levels justify it.
How to avoid being laid off.... When you have your annual review, get on your knees and suck dick or eat pussy, whatever it takes, even it you have to take it up the ass, just do it. Your job is more important than your pride, so suck it and enjoy.
18: And it feels so good...
34: Illiterate uninformed racist. I'm guessing first generation Korean living in the US south?
Not only has Nixon been doing layoffs in just about every month since the last public announcement, all of the layoffs are not the traditional law firm way:
Traditional law firm: You are told you will be laid off but will be on payroll for a few months while you look for a job. That way you can still be employed when searching. You still have your voicemail and office too.
Nixon Peabody: Out of nowhere HR comes into your office, tells you that you are done, and you are to leave by the end of the day. You get severance and all that, but you are immediately officially unemployed so you don't have time to look for a job while still employed. In terms of goodbye emails, haven't heard that but know of people who aren't given enough time to do so (they are told they out late in the day with just enough time to pack up their office and thus no time for a goodbye e-mail)
Nixon Pee'd on everybody!
51 - what does "T1" mean? T14 means top 14. Does T1 mean Yale?
Wow, if Nixon Peabody goes down, what bad luck for all the people who came over when Thelen went under.
60: Bad luck for the associates, but some of the partners are to blame for the Nixon situation. It's not a stretch to say the Thelen grp, especially partners, are the ones who are bringing Nixon down.
Of course most of the blame has to go to Nixon for wanting to bring over the Thelen grp in the first place. It was a horrible time to take on such a large group.
You think Nixon was the only firm that did something stupid at the wrong time? Other firms took on groups and even acquired firms in the middle of an economic mess and then they laid off people shortly after. Unfortunately, it is the little people that get pissed on.
Poor management is to blame. It is sad.
Some of this must be performance-based since they are replacing some of these people with lateral hires.
"You think Nixon was the only firm that did something stupid at the wrong time? "
No, but then again Nixon was the only firm to bring on 100 Thelen attorneys. Nixon was the only firm that had serious merger talks with Thelen before the Thelen dissolution.
There's doing something stupid, and then there is getting your hands very dirty with Tainted Thelen. That's why the first level of blame goes to Nixon for acquiring a huge chunk of Thelen. The second level of blame goes to ex-Thelen partners now at Nixon, because they are bringing the firm down.
"Some of this must be performance-based since they are replacing some of these people with lateral hires."
Some is the key word. No laid off attorneys from Nixon's California offices have been replaced with lateral hires. The other thing is that it is not clear that the lateral hires on the East Coast replaced laid off attorneys of if they simply filled a new need of a specific partner.
Fox, Fenwick, or BIrd?
So were layoffs mostly in California and Rochester?
Heard major shit going down in NYC and Rochester
Heard major shit going down in NYC and Rochester
Heard major shit going down in NYC and Rochester
WHAT"S GOING DOWN???
Everyone's a bullshitter at ATL!
http://legalblogwatch.typepad.com/legal_blog_watch/2009/10/law-firm-layoffs-when-the-facts-obscure-the-news.html
68 - Confirmed