Perkins Coie was one of the very first firms that Donald Trump issued a retaliatory executive order against, punishing its lawyers for the crime of representing the president’s perceived enemies: Democrats. In its suit against Trump, Perkins Coie noted that thanks to the executive order, its ability to operate as a legal-services business had been put under “direct and imminent threat.” Indeed, the firm — which brought in $1,259,320,000 gross revenue in 2024, putting it at No. 47 on the Am Law 100 — seemed worried that the order would hurt its bottom line. Although Trump’s EO was later found to be unconstitutional, we may now have some tangible fallout from the hit job, as multiple sources are reporting that Perkins Coie has conducted layoffs.
According to our sources, staff layoffs took place at the firm last week, and as noted on Fishbowl, members of Perkins Coie’s business professionals team have been hit the hardest.
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Tipsters tell Above the Law that 5% of the firm’s professional staff were let go, and that morale is at a “low point,” as some reportedly discovered that they were on the chopping block before official notices were sent out.
We reached out to the firm for comment on the layoffs, and received the following statement from a Perkins Coie spokesperson:
We recently implemented scheduled changes to our business professional workforce to better align with the firm’s operational needs. These changes, which reflect the firm’s long-term strategic goals and incorporate best practices from across the industry, affect approximately 5% of our business professional workforce. This decision was informed by a firmwide review over the last year and aligns with our commitment to client service and operational excellence.
Best of luck to those at Perkins Coie who recently lost their jobs.
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If your firm or organization is reducing the ranks of its lawyers or staff, whether through deferrals, 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. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477). Thank you for your assistance.
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Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.