211 Search Results for: "howrey"

The troubled law firm of Howrey has previously been compared to a ship. If the comparison is accurate, then one has to wonder whether the ship be sinking. Look at how many sailors — officers, even — are abandoning ship. The latest news: eleven Howrey lawyers have left for Morgan Lewis & Bockius, in Chicago […]

In our last story on the trials and tribulations of Howrey, we expressed doubt that a full-on merger between Howrey and Winston & Strawn would take place. We suggested that Winston would probably wind up “picking up large chunks of Howrey, maybe even entire offices — just like Sonnenschein picked up 100 lawyers from Thacher […]

Developments are flying fast and furious out of Howrey. Yesterday we passed along reports that Howrey’s merger talks with Winston & Strawn were off. Today we’re hearing that they might be back on (or that they never stopped in the first place). According to the U.K.-based Legal Week (via the ABA Journal), the talks are […]

When we last wrote about goings-on at Howrey, the once-strong law firm that’s now experiencing troubled times, we mentioned the possibility of partner losses in the Chicago office. The firm pushed back on this, denying knowledge of any imminent defections in the Windy City. It now seems, however, that additional partner departures may be on […]

When asked for some 2011 predictions by the folks over at Hellerman Baretz, I had this to say (among other commentary): “Although business is generally picking up, some firms still haven’t managed to shake off the effects of the recession — and they are now seeing significant defections, as their partners leave for firms that […]

It looks like layoffs are making a comeback of sorts. If you are working as legal support staff in a Biglaw firm, you need to keep your head on a swivel. Last week, we reported on cuts for staff (in terms of bonuses) at Jones Day. Today Above the Law can report on cuts of […]

Last June, we reported that Howrey decided to make a big change to the law firm business model. The firm cut first year starting salaries to $100,000. In exchange, the first year program would involve a heavy emphasis on training. Associate billables would be capped at 700 hours and Howrey reduced the rates charged to […]

It’s been almost a year since a Biglaw firm dissolved, so don’t expect any more lights to be turned off because of the recession. But an article in Legal Week announces that Howrey is facing some difficult times: Howrey is set to cut up to 10% of its partnership over the coming months in the […]

Yesterday we reported on layoffs at Howrey. Our sources told us that 100 people were axed, but a Howrey spokesperson declined to give us firm numbers. It turns out that our sources were pretty accurate. The firm confirmed to AmLaw Daily today that it laid off 94 people: 29 associates and 65 staff, from 10 […]

Update: Howrey has confirmed that 94 people were laid off. More information here. Howrey LLP has been generating a lot of news recently. Last week, the firm got hit with a $30-million racial discrimination suit by a former Brussels-based associate. But the rumor mill there was already churning with other, more depressing news here in […]

The Great Recession just wouldn’t be as fun without the occasional employment discrimination lawsuit. The Blog of the Legal Times reports that Howrey is getting slapped with a discrimination lawsuit from one of its former associates who — surprise — hasn’t been able to find employment since the firm let her go: Kamisha Menns, a […]

In yesterday’s post regarding the tragedy that left a Howrey associate, Elizabeth Fontaine (pictured), and three of her family members dead, we promised to keep you posted on new developments. We now bring you this update, from the Orange County Register: Sheriff’s investigators believe they know how four people, including two young sisters, died in […]

Tragedy struck the Irvine, CA, and Houston offices of Howrey earlier this week. The ABA Journal reports: A Howrey intellectual property lawyer was found dead along with her daughters and mother Monday in an apparent murder-suicide. Associate Elizabeth Fontaine, her two daughters and her mother were killed on the same day that a California judge […]

Welcome to the future. Like Drinker Biddle did in May, Howrey is changing the nature of the first and second year associate experience. The firm is moving to more of an apprenticeship model. New Howrey associates will receive an emphasis on training and take a significant reduction in salary. The memo from Howrey explains some […]

The ATL inbox has been buzzing with layoff news about Howrey. Could it be that another firm that recently picked up a bunch of partners from a dissolved firm could be laying people off? Would former-Thelen chief Stephen O’Neal’s new firm cut associates so soon after his arrival? Today, a firm spokesperson told us: As […]

The Recorder is reporting that Howrey will take on 40 lawyers from Thelen’s prestigious San Francisco construction practice: The group — which Howrey characterized as “most of the construction practice” from Thelen — includes Thelen Chairman Stephen O’Neal, construction practice head John Heisse II, D.C. office managing partner Andrew Ness, San Francisco partner David Buoncristiani […]

Coming soon to a theater near you: Howrey LLP: The Movie? Late last week, several readers here in Washington reported unusual activity at the Howrey offices: “Howrey is doing a film shoot in the lobby of its DC office… Multiracial attorneys in suits everywhere… Looks serious.” “I was in the building where Howrey’s DC offices […]

As you may recall from our prior coverage, in posts titled Howrey Is Planning Something Weird and More About the Howrey Weirdness, the law firm of Howrey LLP was planning to ditch lockstep compensation for its associates — in favor of something weird (or innovative, or both). Starting in 2008, Howrey was going to employ […]

Back on Wednesday, we reported that Howrey LLP plans to chuck lockstep compensation for its associates. Starting in 2008, the firm will employ a “competency model,” in which it would “determine salary based on individual evaluations and various forms of progress indicators.” Today our scoop was picked up by The Recorder (and then by the […]

As associate salaries climb (further) into the stratosphere, will firms start experimenting with different compensation schemes? Is lockstep compensation for associates headed for the dustbin of history? As we mentioned yesterday, Thelen Reid just moved to a two-tier system. And now we’re hearing that Howrey LLP may have something odd up its sleeve. Today the […]