Technically, there were layoffs at Haynes & Boone yesterday. But our cadre of Texas readers don’t need to start storing canned goods in their hats just yet. The Texas based firm made minor cuts to its New York office. A firm spokesperson released this statement to Above the Law:

We can confirm that Tuesday, Haynes and Boone terminated one associate, one of counsel and one staff in our New York City office.

These terminations resulted from the upcoming departure of two New York-based corporate partners who are leaving by mutual agreement. Affected attorneys and staff were recruited specifically to support the departing partners.

Just as importantly, the spokesperson adds:

At this time, we don’t expect any further attorney or staff layoffs in our New York office or in any of the firm’s other eleven national and international offices.

Haynes and Boone continues to look for good opportunities to strategically expand in New York and in other markets … We expect to add new partners to our NYC Finance and Bankruptcy groups soon to meet current market demands.

Add partners? Finance? Demand? Are we talking about the same “New York City?”

Though, if Haynes & Boone is looking to poach partners, maybe managing partner Terry Connor will get to scream “I drink your milkshake. I drink it up!” That would be fun.

Earlier: Law Firm Merger Mania: Haynes & Boone Signs Up for New California Adventures

Expanding during a recession? Hey the Empire State Building was constructed during the height of the Great Depression, and that worked out well.

Today, Texas readers demanded that we herald the merger of California IP boutique MacPherson, Kwok, Chen & Heid with Texas powerhouse Haynes & Boone.

We aim to please. According to the Haynes & Boone press release:

As part of its long-term growth strategy, Haynes and Boone, LLP is pleased to announce its addition of the 27 attorneys and professionals at MacPherson, Kwok, Chen & Heid, LLP, a leading intellectual property law firm with offices in San Jose and Orange County, Calif. With this addition, Haynes and Boone has almost 550 attorneys in 12 offices worldwide and becomes one of the few large Texas-based firms with offices in Silicon Valley and Orange County.

Perhaps the move into California will spell the end of Haynes & Boone’s war on office plants?

In any event, we’re happy to report some good news about a firm expanding and investing in its future, instead of trying to cope with the mistakes of the past.

Read the full press release after the jump.

As we noted in yesterday’s Morning Docket, even the New York Times has taken note of the salary freeze trend at law firms. The Times reached out to Above The Law’s own David Lat for the story:

Although many associates are angry about the freezes, others are relieved, said David Lat, founding editor of AboveTheLaw.com, a blog about law firms and the profession.

“There is this sense that firms didn’t act prudently during the boom and now they are getting religion, and that it’s better late than never,” Mr. Lat said. “Many associates we have spoken to think the freeze probably saved jobs.”

At the beginning of the month, we did a round-up of firms that have frozen 2009 salary rates at 2008 levels. That list was 16 firms long. Since then, quite a few other firms have announced freezes. Due to frequent requests, we’re updating the round-up list since the number of firms with freezes (that we know of) has more than doubled, to 33 32. Check out the as-comprehensive-as-we-can-make-it list, after the jump.

Recently announced salary freezes include “solid ice freezes” at Blank Rome and Townsend and Townsend and Crew; and “Slurpee freezes” at Bingham McCutchen, Fish & Richardson, and Texan firm Andrews Kurth.

Memorandums, as well as a new list of all firms with “solid ice” and “Slurpee” freezes, after the jump.

The Texas based law firm of Haynes and Boone moved their Dallas operations into a new “green” office today. Despite the laudable initiative, some lawyers and many support staffers have complained about the new “confines.” Apparently, personal space is at a premium in the new space. Administrative assistants are particularly annoyed, as they will be moved out of cubicles into an open floor plan, “fishbowl” situation.

In addition to the lack of privacy, Haynes and Boone issued new policies regarding how secretaries use the personal space they still have. Most of the new rules meet an accepted standard of “petty.”:

2. There will be a sufficient number of small plants that Gensler will place in appropriate areas around our floors. You may have one 8-inch potted plant in your office or on your desk—none on the ledges.

3. Please do not put any objects or plants on ledges or the tops of your cabinets. Two framed pictures and a small candy dish may be placed on your desk, but no beanie babies on desks.

You’re moving into new environmentally friendly offices, but you’re going to regulate the number and types of plants employees are allowed to have? That’s not directly contradictory, but it’s certainly annoying.

Additional regulations after the jump.

Several of you have drawn our attention to this news, from the Texas Lawyer:

Today, Haynes and Boone partners plan to tell the Dallas-based firm’s Texas associates their salary scale will increase, retroactive to Aug. 1, to the new market rate of $160,000 for first-year associates.

Haynes and Boone partner Terry Conner says the new salaries for second- and third-year associates will be $170,000; $180,000 for fourth-years; $190,000 for fifth-years; $200,000 for sixth-years; $205,000 for seventh-years; and $210,000 for eighth-year associates.

The firm plans to increase its associates’ bonuses and alter the basis on which those year-end packages are calculated.

Specifically, Conner says, Haynes and Boone will offer bonuses of as much as $5,000 to first-year associates and as much as $70,000 to eighth-year associates. As in the past Haynes and Boone management will require associate classes, as a group, to achieve certain billable-hour totals for bonuses to be distributed.

More details appear in the full article, by Miriam Rozen. It’s not clear if there will be a memo, but if there is, please send it to us by email. Thanks.

Haynes and Boone Latest to Hike Associate Salaries in Texas [Texas Lawyer]