Law Firm Suddenly Shuts Down, Leaving Nearly 100 Jobless

Which firm will be closing all of its offices for good?

We mentioned it this summer, after several firms closed up shop in close succession, but it bears repeating because it’s happening again: “Law firms come and law firms go, but if they go suddenly and unexpectedly, they leave complete catastrophes in their wake.” Today, we have unfortunate news about another large firm that suddenly closed its doors, and this time, nearly 100 people are without jobs as a result of the firm’s failure.

The Law Offices of Elizabeth R. Wellborn, a Florida-based firm that represents banks and mortgage servicers in litigation related to creditors’ rights (i.e., foreclosures, bankruptcies, and loss mitigation), abruptly shuttered after 12 years in business. You may remember the name of this firm, because in 2012, about a dozen staffers were fired for wearing orange shirts reminiscent of Florida Department of Corrections inmate uniforms in protest of their poor treatment at work.

According to the Daily Business Review, the firm has been having problems for quite some time. Per its website (which is now defunct, save for the homepage), the firm at one time had 95 employees, but a lawyer who once worked with the firm heard from a former Wellborn employee that people had been getting consistently laid off recently.

“We are going to wind this down as quickly as possible,” Elizabeth Wellborn said, adding that the market is gravitating to larger firms. “Small businesses are being squeezed out. We were the largest female one in the country.”

Wellborn said under the advice of her attorneys that she could not give further details. She said she has notified the Florida Bar.

A WARN Act notice has not been filed with the state. Donna Ballman, the attorney who represented Wellborn’s “orange workers” through settlement, had this to say about the firm’s sudden closure: “The foreclosure crisis is over with, so a lot of foreclose firms are struggling. That’s the problem with a business model that focuses on a hot new area. You’re going to have to have a plan to transition from that area once it’s no longer hot.”

We wish the lawyers and legal professionals at the Law Offices of Elizabeth R. Wellborn the best of luck while they seek new job opportunities in the legal industry and beyond.

If your firm or organization is closing its doors or reducing the ranks of its lawyers or staff, whether through open layoffs, stealth layoffs, or voluntary buyouts, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Our vast network of tipsters is part of what makes Above the Law thrive — we’ll never ignore you. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477). Thank you!

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Foreclosure Law Firm Shuts Down in Deerfield Beach [Daily Business Review]

Earlier: The Plot Thickens: Some ‘Orange Workers’ May Have Been Protesting After All

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