Large law firms have a track record of stepping up to the plate and providing aid when major disasters strike. For example, back in spring 2008, several leading law firms made sizable donations to support China earthquake relief efforts.
Last night, a major earthquake — the worst in the region in more than 200 years, with a magnitude of at least 7.0 — struck Haiti. The death toll could climb into the hundreds of thousands. For more details and analysis, read this post by Elie over at True / Slant. (Elie has family in Haiti.)
The earthquake just happened, but law firms are already taking action. From a tipster at Paul Hastings:
Who says law firms are all bad? I’m happy to see that whatever bonus money I may miss come March is going to a good cause at least. PH donated $100,000 to earthquake relief.
Is your firm taking similar action? Feel free to let us know, in the comments. You can also make a personal donation in support of Haiti earthquake relief via Doctors Without Borders, the organization that Paul Hastings is supporting, or via the Red Cross (disclosure: ATL advertiser).
UPDATE: You can also donate $10 to the Red Cross simply by texting the word “Haiti” to the number 90999. See here.
The full Paul Hastings memo, after the jump.
PAUL HASTINGS — MEMORANDUM — EMERGENCY HAITI EARTHQUAKE FUND
Date: January 13, 2010
To: All Paul Hastings
Subject: Paul Hastings Cares Foundation, Emergency Haiti Earthquake Fund
The tragic consequences of the Haiti earthquake are almost incomprehensible to us. Our hearts go out to the families and communities that have lost so much. To help the survivors, the Firm has created the Paul Hastings Cares Foundation, Haiti Earthquake Fund.
Through this Fund, we have made a donation of $100,000 to Doctors Without Borders – Haiti Earthquake Response. We chose this organization because its global scope and effectiveness will deliver to the victims in Haiti the immediate assistance they need by providing health care where the local medical infrastructure has been devastated.
We encourage those of you who would like to help in this situation to make a donation as well, under the auspices of our Fund.
Tax deductible contributions may be sent to:
Emergency Haiti Earthquake Fund
c/o Paul Hastings Cares Foundation
Tim Wright
Los Angeles Office
Haiti: It’s Not Fair [True / Slant]
Haiti Chief Says Thousands May Be Dead [New York Times]
$1.2 Million in Donations for Haiti, via Text Message [Bits / New York Times]
Doctors Without Borders [official website]
American Red Cross [official website]
Earlier: Humanitarian Crises in Asia: Law Firms Respond
Humanitarian Crises in Myanmar and China: What’s Your Firm Doing?
I am firsty, SO VERY FIRSTY :)
Note: not the worst earthquake in 200 yrs – worst *in the region* in 200 yrs.
Did they give them coat hangers?
Oh, that was wrong.
DLA Piper gave some $, but then they took a lot of it back. But then they said they would give it back to about 70% of the Haitians if those Haitians were “merit worthy.” Nobody knows what merit worthy means, or how it will be judged, but those Haitians best be billing a lot of hours . . . .
5 – EPIC FAIL. pl leave comedy routine for professionals.
kthxbye.
Damn it @3! – I was going to say that.
Except I was going to say, “what the hell does Haiti need with a shipment of leftover coat hangers?’
This is a far better cause than paying “deferred associates” $40K to sit on their asses for a year.
hasting did it purely for the joy of giving and not for the good PR.
Before you donate anything to the Haitians, please read what my great leader Pat Robertson has to say about the situation:
http://www.salon.com/news/haiti/index.html?story=/news/2010/01/13/haiti_robertson
5 FTW
5 was funny. 6 is a fucking loser.
What does Affirmative Walrus have to say about all this? We need the Walrus for guidance.
it’s all for show. Firms are giving away money to boost their reputation. What a better way to advertise themselves than using Google AdWords. Unless a firm is giving away few millions, I would not label the firm as generous firm.
12: Agreed.
Latham has donated 190 associates.
Where can I send my coat hangers?
11= 5.
Cosign 6.
FIRST.
GULC ‘09
Haiti should give back the money. After all, lawyers and law firms are evil. The money they donate comes from sucking the life out of clients, all for money. Lawyers giving money to Haiti is a little like Hitler giving the Jews some soap on the way to the showers.
Wow this is the feel good story of the year- I am just so proud to live in a world where you have sensitive, generous international firms like Paul Hastings selflessly responding to natural disasters by donating about a $1 per dead body. Everyone at Paul Hastings should be patting themselves on the back when they leave work tonight. And god bless all those poor dead Haitians, because they gave all the wonderful people at Paul Hastings yet another reason to feel good about themselves.
Interesting the 6 would bash 5, but not offer anything funnier (or anything funny at all). I guess that’s the way on this board. Anyway, I agree with 11 and 12 — 5 was quite funny.
(Not 11 or 12, but someone who appreciates humor and thinks that 6 is probably a DLA partner or HR person.)
6=Frank Burch
18=Lee Miller
I also think 5 was funny. And I also think 6 is a bitter (and not funny) DLA Partner.
kthnxbye.
6- kthnxbye may be the biggest fag signature i have ever seen
Well done 21.
19 – Employed?
I agree with 25. I also agree that 5 was quite funny and 6 is QUITE QUITE GAY.
LOL
(Not 25)
5 was funny. 6 was played.
5 was mildly amusing and at least creative. Can’t say the same about 6. In a 10-word post, 6 managed to fall back on two of the most shopworn cliches still on the Internet: “EPIC FAIL” and “kthxbye.” As long as you’re going to criticize someone else’s post, at least come up with some original material of your own.
Not so fast! There is a clawback provision if the Haitians do not meet their budgets.
SeTTTh
So, like, right now for example. The Haitians need to come to America. But some people are all, “What about the strain on our resources?” Well, it’s like when I had this garden party for my father’s birthday, right? I put R.S.V.P. ‘cause it was a sit-down dinner. But some people came that, like, did not R.S.V.P. I was, like, totally buggin.’ I had to haul ass to the kitchen, redistribute the food and squish in extra place settings. But by the end of the day it was, like, the more the merrier. And so if the government could just get to the kitchen, rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Haitians. And in conclusion, may I please remind you it does not say R.S.V.P. on the Statue of Liberty. Thank you very much.
What Uncle Paulie didn’t tell you is that the Haitians are being forced to use the money to sublet PH NY’s 17th floor once the few remaining staffers are shit-canned in March.
31 – Nothing to worry about! The Hedgehog has plenty of bankruptcy work for them.
5’s comments were fairly funny. 6 is the utter failure: in trying to shoot down 5, all 6 did was call more attention to comments 6 obviously didn’t want anyone to read/believe. Poor form 6. Congrats 5.
31:
Seth: We better have Cheryl Saban look at that provision.
Greg
6 = Uncle Paul’s useless bdev tools.
I know several Paul Hastings partners socially – the donated money is counterfeit, guaranteed.
Nothing amusing or lighthearted about the situation in Haiti. Dildo attorneys.
36:
Greg: Cheryl says it looks fine. Just make sure they bill their entire budgets.
SeTTTh
40: Seth: Make sure Barry knows. I don’t want a dime being paid out unless they understand their obligations.
Greg
Meg! Meg! Make sure all the news outlets know!
SeTTTh
There goes my severance money!
PH NY Staffer.
38 – I know several Paul Hastings partners socially too, but I’m trying to quit.
21 – So the solution is to… not give money?
This better not affect my PPP!
Luc
46 Don’t worry Luc. It’s coming out of their transition agreements.
41: Don’t worry Greg. Natural attrition should address your concerns.
Pat Robertson is praying for the dissolution of Paul Hastings.
Uncle Paulie is a degenerate old cynic, handing pennies to the Hatians for favorable pr.
42 -
Seth: All the news organizations know. I also spoke to Lat and he guaranteed prominent coverage.
Meg
51: Good. That sack of shit should say something nice about us for a change.
SeTTTh
PAUL HASTINGS — MEMORANDUM — EMERGENCY HAITI EARTHQUAKE FUND
Date: January 13, 2010
To: All Paul Hastings
Subject: Paul Hastings Gives a Shit Foundation, Emergency Haiti Earthquake Fund
The tragic consequences of the Haiti earthquake are almost incomprehensible to our collective bean-counting mentality. Our hearts go out to the families and communities that have lost so much. To improve our terrible PR situation, the Firm has created the Paul Hastings Gives a Shit Foundation, Haiti Earthquake Fund.
Through this Fund, we have deducted money from future transition agreements to make a donation of $100,000 to Doctors Without Borders – Haiti Earthquake Response. We chose this organization because its global scope and effectiveness will deliver our PR message most effectively where our reputation has been devastated by recent unavoidable stealth events.
We encourage those of you who also give a shit to help us in ths PR cause to make a donation as well, under the auspices of our Fund.
Tax deductible contributions may be sent to:
Emergency Haiti Earthquake Fund
c/o Paul Hastings Gives a Shit Foundation
Tim Beancounter
Los Angeles Office
32 – Thank you for the “Clueless” reference. What a great movie!
“UPDATE: You can also donate $10 to the Red Cross simply by texting the word “Haiti” to the number 90999.”
http://bit.ly/8GC1th
I’m an associate at DLA, and I was laughing out loud at 5’s comment. 6 – go fuck yourself with a porcupine.
Paul Hastings is always first to step up to the plate when it comes to layoffs, good to know they act quickly when it comes to useless, self-aggrandizing PR as well…
Dewey & LeBoeuf also donated $100,000 total to the following relief organizations:
American Red Cross
Center of Hope (Haiti)
Doctors Without Borders
International Committee of the Red Cross
53- No thanks. I know Tim Beancounter. That money will probably wind up paying the mooring fees for his cabin cruiser.
Soon to be ex-PHNY associate here. So this explains it. I was wondering why the new transition agreements only have 50% of the severance compared to last March.
53 – That was a hilarious memo. I agee. It’s a PR ploy to put their name out there for more clients and smooth over the guilt of having to lay off, when they didn’t have to. Wonder when MLB will try to match their donation. Although they claim they had to lay off 216, they somehow found monies to have a Christmas party and to invite the laid-off associates. Alright MLB partners, let’s sell your jets, sell your $1.0 million dollar homes and donate to the Haiti, which is predominately black. Or better still, move them into your mansions.
K&E announced that it will match employee contributions up to an aggregate of $100,000. If I recall correctly, they donated $100,000 AND they matched employee contributions up to that amount for the 2008 earthquake in China. So, Haiti will get far less. Then again, I don’t think K&E plans to open an office in Haiti, so the Haitians should just be grateful they’re getting anything at all. Unfortunately, based on past performance, it probably won’t be much. Every year, K&E matches employee contributions in lieu of sending out Christmas cards. More than half of the money collected (usually somewhere around $17K to $20K) comes from the low-paid worker bees. Most associates and partners won’t even pony up a measly $25 or $50 even during the holidays. Bah humbug, and all that. That’s why I hate lawyers — they’re selfish pricks at every level.
Uncle Paulie has such a big heart! I also hear he’s hiring exclusively Haitians to work as caddies and “luxury personal assistants” at the next PHJW partners retreat. I hear it’s gonna be a good one, with more tee times offered, enhanced spa treatments (this year, you can choose to be flogged with eucalyptus leaves!) and “Master of the Universe” banquets.
Uncle Paulie! You shouldn’t have!
61: PHJW NY somehow found monies to have a Holiday party and to DIS-invite staff. Uncle Paulie! You shouldn’t have!
Tim Beancounter! I know that prick!
Terrific post, 53.
65: I would not brag about that.
So Paul Hastings really does give a shit! I’m getting all misty…
skadden is also giving 100K
63: Don’t forget to mention that those Haitians hired for the PHJW partners’ retreat will need to cover their own H1B visa expenses. Uncle Paulie’s charity can only be expected to go so far!
63: I suggest we have a better grade of Beluga Caviar this year. You know, the endangered stuff.
D Fleis.
63- In Scarsdale, they are still being referred to as “servants.”
Meg: Make sure the caviar for the retreat is from Caspian Sea sturgeon (no fucking this up). They are the most endangered and, naturally, the tastiest. And more tee times for the old golf playing goats!
Zach
63 Make sure Jackie’s invited.
Mike
On Riverside Drive, we refer to them as “valets.”
Zach
The old golf playing goats rule!
Uncle Paul = noblesse oblige.
Richter scale? Don’t think so.
74: LOL! Mike R. has the attention span of a grasshopper.
To all you assholes jumping on Paul Hastings. It would have been really easy for the firm to do nothing as many firms have done, but PHJW steeped up and put $100K on the table, not a paltry $25K as many firms have done.
This is a human tragedy of epic proportions, to make sophomoric jokes about coat hangers just goes to show why you were laid off. The coat hanger jokes are and have been stupid. The idiotic associate (Ms. Ohh) who was laid off after her incident screwed her own career with her e-mail rant. Her rant was even worse than “Eeeck Boy!”, at least he was a juvenile bar failing “lawyer” with money, she on the other hand could have salvaged her career if she had just taken her pink slip and severance and hit the pavement and looked for another job. Now her “career” possibilities begin and end with being a blogger. HA!!
80: Thanks Uncle Paul. We appreciate your “sagacious” observations. Face it cocksucker, Paul Hastings is a fucking TTT. This Haitian BS is just a pathetic attempt to reverse the terrible coverage PH richly deserves. Yes, SeTTTh, Greg, Tim Beancounter, Barry and MJ will all someday rot in hell for their nefarious ways. Are you listening first year future victims?
79: I respectfully disagree! Most species of grasshopper (new and old world) take a greater interest in others than Mike Rosella does. Thanks Mike! We appreciate the “drive-by.”
82: Jackie seems to hold his interest. Hmmmmm.
82: Actually, there are some species of grasshopper in certain parts of Patagonia that take a greater interest in others than Mike Rosella. The record now stands corrected.
I hope all you bitter laid of douche bags realize that Paul Hastings is not getting “bad press” from your sophomoric rants on ATL. Nobody could give two shits about your dumb comments. All you are doing is ensuring that no other firm will hire anybody who has been laid off from Paul Hastings, (similar to Latham) because they don’t want to risk hiring such bitter worthless losers to poison their offices. Good Job ruining what what was left of your miserable careers with your pathetic tantrums!
80/85: You appear to be quite invested in this discourse. Could you be a partner who’s gone over the dark side? Basically, if your firm treated its associates fairly (at least relative to the rest of the market) they wouldn’t feel the need to rant as such and it would be a win/win for you and for them because your firm does suffer from their disdain. It’s a small world and 25 year old recent law grads don’t stay 25 forever.
81 In a sad way, I agree. At first blush this looks like a kind, loving act. Or, even if it is not a kind act, but rather a fearful ass-covering act, at least it got PHJW to do something generous. But then I got to thinking about it and realized that all PHJW has done is rob from the severance packages of the future laid off to pay the people in Haiti (but really pay itself through tax deduction). PHJW has effectively forced its laid off associates and staffers to make a donation to Haiti (when they can’t afford it) without even giving them the tax break.
Way to go Paul Hastings. I’m watching what you’ll be doing this March and I’ve got some more zingers already drafted because you know I’ve got a silver tongue.
And, 80, don’t you ever rag on Shinyung Oh again. Seriously. Because if you do I will haul out the bigger guns. Not the biggest, but the bigger ones. I also know the code to the nuclear bomb, but the good guys don’t press that one. When you criticize existing and former colleagues, you shoot yourself in the foot implicitly. In this context, you also inspire rage in a certain former colleague who has tried to do right by you in spite of your greed and moronic blogging.
p.s. Shinyung Oh was an excellent attorney. She even appeared on the cover of your very own pro bono newsletter just about a year before you let her go: http://www.paulhastings.com/assets/publications/746.pdf?wt.mc_id=746.pdf
She actually did some good deeds such as restoring affordable housing in China Town. What did you do? Swap a tax deduction for some free ass-saving P.R.
So, basically, we’re gonna get pretty close to 500 again if you don’t bite your forked tongue. Do you want that? Let’s play ball.
Uncle Paul, why don’t you prove me wrong? Why don’t you dip into partner bonuses and keep the Transition Agreements/severance status quo this March? Why don’t you show that you understand that with great power, comes great responsibility and do something good that reflects a high level of responsibility? Something much more profound than merely throwing some small change at the problem and taking a tax deduction therefor, effectively robbing Peter (laid off associates and staffers) to pay Paul (devastated Haitians) and asking UNCLE SAM to pay you back for your sadly transparent gesture. If you do not prove me wrong, your karmic rebound will work against you.
#80 you shitbag. you obviously have never had to mourn the death of a child. you should be required to do community service for your comments about “ms. ohh” alone. i’m guessing that’s not your only misdeed in life though.
86-92 screenwriter strikes again!!! screenwriter please give up on the film dream. you need to be running for public office.
Thank you 94. It’s an apparently unknown word in Paul Hastings’ partnership’s vocabulary. It’s called integrity. I’m curious as to what will transpire this March. I personally am not afraid of their threats because I’m guessing I’m an even bigger threat. Except I’ve tried very hard to fight the good fight.
I’m just so angry with these people. Especially if my voice did nothing more than to rob my friends who are still employed at Paul Hastings in order to allow the government to pay Haiti on behalf of Paul Hastings (at least to the tune of 40-50%) as yet another deceitful PR move. As is abundantly apparent from hundreds if not thousands of bloggers who have had opportunity to anonymously write about the problems at Paul Hastings (whereas before it was all word of mouth), I have a very personal connection to this firm and these disputes. Very personal, in fact. I will tell you that it is taking every ounce of my character to bite my own tongue right now. However, if any of you would like to speak on my behalf, fire away. You cannot ban AboveTheLaw like you cannot ban a controversial book. It’s a free country.
I even implored these people directly to confront the problem head on. I suggested that they say, in essence, “There’s been some rumors circulating about a former PH associate here in the New York office. We’ve thought about what she had to say and we made some modifications to the severance package that some of you will be receiving. You can either take your severance as a lump sum now or you can remain an ‘inactive employee’ on our website and receive the severance over the span of three months. There are pros and cons associated with either course of action… We would also like to extend a free PLI membership for up to three months as well… We value your work here at Paul Hastings just as we valued that particular associate’s work. We hope to stay in contact with you and would like to support you in all of your future endeavors. We are always here to provide career counseling, put you in touch with people we know, provide outstanding references, answer any questions you have about unemployment benefits, pro bono resources, 401(k) matters, etc., etc. We hope that as the market turns around, we will be able to invite many of you back to our office as the nation’s economic health improves…” I told them to consider hosting an onsite (or offsite) career fair as well. I told them to explore health care coverage for everyone and extend the employee assistance program at least three months following dismissal because some people really should file for Chapter 7 and they’re not necessarily going to know how to get an affordable lawyer and what to do.
I asked them to treat the staff and the admin with the same level of respect because they are equally important to Paul Hastings’ success. I told them that they should highly consider having an inexpensive (and remorseful) happy hour for these people to makeup for their missing the holiday party. I told them that if there’s a career fair or a happy hour or anything to lift these people’s spirits, get someone to send them a real invitation and not an email and say that the event was generously (or even solely) sponsored by a particular partner who wants to pitch in and get some karma back. I suggested particularly wealthy partners, who could afford to buy a damn drink for a secretary, should do so. I told them not to kick everyone off the system overnight because they seriously needed to start being the good guy and not pick unnecessary fights. I told them they might even take a bold PR step (as many of the banks did) and say that a larger percentage of our partners are foregoing bonuses this year. I told them that, THAT is how they’re going to save their firm and if the rainmakers don’t understand that, then they can take their business with them and see how they fare and what the fate of their beloved firm is. I told them to remind those rainmakers that it’s a team effort and sometimes the brokest but smartest and most unlikely adversaries (me) can bring Goliath to its knees. I told them to them that the hardworking hopeful (and sometimes rebellious) students need to believe in this system because, really, the system itself is in jeopardy.
What did they do? Pulled this Haiti stunt. Like I said, Paul Hastings, if you want to keep at it, let’s go. It’s only gonna get worse.
And number 80, I have a very high IQ and abnormally astute deductive skills.
(Lawyers don’t judge me here…)
And that is why they had to hospitalize me due to a stress induced paranoid episode, which my outpatient psychiatrist likened to being a soldier in World War II who was under so much stress and who was watching his back so vigilantly that he started to see messages in everything around him. This particular doctor, who’s appeared on Oprah, said that the stress I was under was so profound that any healthy mind can break down beneath its weight. And that is why even the healthiest minds used to break for about two weeks and then recover back to normal in WWII. They wrote a book about in 1945. It was called “Men Under Stress.” And so, 80, with those astute deductive skills, I’m pretty sure I know who you are. Would you like me to bring your name into the discourse? I didn’t think so.
But everyone else who’s listening, yes, indeed, the “book” is very, very interesting. If you remain employed at PHJW, you might convince your superiors that it do the right thing (for once) so the publication of such book becomes moot.
They fired me because I have “A Beautiful Mind”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS_d0Ayjw4o
Go ahead, Paul Hastings, obscure the truth some more. You’ll only make the story even more legendary.
But, selflessly, here as before, there is a more important topic. Haiti. If you can afford to do so, please send them your alms if you can and try not to begrudge PHJW potentially doing so on your behalf, no matter what their intentions. Thank you.
One more thing, because I know the ranting and raving and nay-saying and witch-hunting will commence in the morning. As was partially apparent on the Cerberus board, I see metaphors in the poetry of music lyrics, the subtext of film and theater, and Biblical symbolism that surrounds me. That coupled with inhumane sleep deprivation and work demands, and certain romantic mind games, I lost my mind for 9 days. They fired me for it. ATL feel free to delete these posts.
The robbing Peter to pay Paul reference is creepy. “How should God approve that you rob Peter, and give this robbery to Paul in the name of Christ.” Because Peter is being robbed to pay Uncle Paul. Uncle Paul is being reimbursed by the government.
101: ever seen the film the devil’s advocate? that’s probably what drove her mad. sorry screenwriter. i’ll generously add the caveat “for nine days.” corporate finance needs to happen. it’s a necessary evil. but what those in power do with that power is likely what prompted this mini-tirade, which is kind of angelic in its own way. we wish you well, screenwriter. no need to be a guardian anymore. we’ll take it from here.
102, kiss-kiss, but can you PLEASE stay off the computer for my sake. Not helpful. And I am not a guardian. I was merely making a few observations, thank you very much.
Do you know what? Heck, I’ll take it. Maybe I am a guardian. What do I know? I’m a merely mortal girl hanging in there too in this very short, sweet life of ours: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsFQcQKWgTQ
Never forget that. I could tell you scary nightmare stories about One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Instead I’m going to tell you to keep the faith and sleep well.
And, ATL, this one is highly self-indulgent so I actually encourage you to redact it but Jewel happens to be my most favorite artist. I have lived through “Girl, Interrupted” meets the Real World but I’ve also had some really cool experiences in BigLaw. In particular, there was this one time at band camp (wait, no, that was another time), it was this other time when I was working for Cravath London and I was drinking alone at the bar in Claridge’s Hotel in London and this British couple saw me sitting alone at the bar with my cosmo and my iPod and they approached me and said to me, “What are you listening to?” And I said, “Um, Jewel.” And they said, “That’s so weird because we were just remarking that you look like Jewel.” (This is not entirely uncanny. The music in the bar was another Jewel song, I just tuned it out to listen to my own iPod playlist.) And then they said, “We’re getting married here in the hotel tomorrow. Would you like to come to our wedding?” Unbelievable true story. I didn’t go. But it was nice of them. So, meanwhile, I’m busy writing my other stories and they are like John Forbes Nash Jr.’s “original idea” except there’s no revenge in them and I hope you will come see them when I eventually publish them and produce them under my unknown penname. But, in the meantime, here is Jewel, who I really, really adore and I hope you do to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCr1M5_THms&feature=related
I do privately hope, though, that some day I will win an award for my writing but that no one will know it was me. That I will have preserved my privacy so perfectly that only a handful of people who knew me in person will say, “Holy shit. That’s the SCREENWRITER.” Except if I did ever win an award, I wouldn’t actually go to the award ceremony just like Katharine Hepburn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNQAFm2OYXQ For two reasons. First, I always give my awards away. To anyone of you who has one of my deal toys, you know what I’m talking about. But, second, I kind of hate the Academy. “Why do you hate the Academy, K?” Because they’ve nominated best screenplay to people who’ve written films like Rosemary’s Baby. Look it up if you have a generational gap. The Mia Farrow character should’ve grabbed the inverted cross and stabbed the shit out of that baby as the denouement. Thankfully, sometimes some stories are banned with good reason.