Sidley Partner Takes Flamethrower To Bridges On The Way Out

Departure memos from partners can certainly ruffle some feathers, but generally it’s not the departing partner trying to start a ruckus. This time, however, an outgoing Sidley partner decided to tell all of his clients just what he thinks of his colleagues and burn every bridge imaginable as he leaves the building.

Obviously, there can be low-grade bad-mouthing whenever a partner leaves. When a partner accepts a lateral move, they will have to convince their clients to come along for the ride and sometimes that involves some nuanced downplaying of one’s former partners. But Sidley’s Steven Baik isn’t even trying to port his business with him… he’s joining a client! So why drop an anvil on the former firm?

Let’s consider Baik’s email to clients:

Hello Friend,

I address you as “friend” because I consider each of you a friend more so than a client.

That’s a sweet sentiment.

Unfortunately, private law firms have forgotten what an honest relationship is with a client.

Uh-oh.

I recall being chastised by a fellow partner when I had warned a client about a less than superior associate staffed on the client’s matter. As expected, that associate didn’t perform as hoped or expected. The client noted this to the partner, who also found out that I had warned the client.

That partner, rather than focusing on how best to serve the client and repair any damage to the relationship, inquired of me why I had warned the client.

Actually, I have a question for Baik: rather than focusing on how best to serve the client and prevent any damage to the relationship, why did you trash your firm to someone who — friend or not — was another partner’s client? This was the opportunity to tell the other partner, “I’m not confident in this associate… you may need to put in a little more supervision than you’re used to,” or to go directly to the associate and say, “This client is also a friend, so please loop me in when you circulate your drafts so I have an opportunity to comment.” It might mean more work for Baik without earning a cut, but if it’s all about friendships instead of the dollars, then it’s worth it.

All in all, I agree with Baik’s sentiment that Biglaw is plagued by too much focus on “compensation, realization, profits per partner, etc.” but the answer isn’t throwing an associate (and by extension a fellow partner) under the bus to keep in a client’s good graces. But the answer has to always begin with making the firm’s product the best it can be, not in preemptively offering warnings and excuses to the client.

Baik’s now going to work with PUBG, a video game company that specializes in offering players flamethrowers they can use to exact all sorts of damage to other players. Fitting.

One thing is for sure, PUBG’s probably not hiring Sidley any time soon.

Earlier: John Quinn Is NOT Happy About Selendy & Gay — And He Sent The Angry Reply All To Prove It

(Check out the whole email — minus his new contact info — on the next page.)

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Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.