Legal Marketing & PR

Black October for Layoffs in Law firms

By Larry Bodine, Esq.

The profession has demonstrated that that article "2009: Another Year of Economic Darkness for Law Firms" is based on fact. Law.com has even created "The Layoff List" as a running tally. (Also see below.)

There are plenty of ways using law firm marketing to respond to the economic downturn. and I'll be speaking about them at two events:

The Harold Levine Real Estate Institute
November 12, 2008 - 9 AM to Noon
UBS Tower
One North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606

TAGLAW: Professional Skills Course
Friday November 14, 2008 - 10:45 AM to Noon
Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront
St. Petersburg, Florida

Join me in Chicago or Florida to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just take a look at the layoffs that have hit major law firms this year, particularly in October:

• The demise of Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner, announced October 28, 2008. This was preceded by the firm's slashing 26 associates and 85 staff members in March.
• The dissolution of Heller Ehrman, announced in late September.
• Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal October layoff of 37 lawyers, 75 staff members, and 12 lay timekeepers. This follows Sonnenschein's dismissal of 124 employees, including 37 attorneys, six of whom were partners, in May.
• Jenner & Block’s firing of additional 10 partners in October, on top of its firing of other 10 partners in May.
• Katten Muchin Rosenman and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal layoff of 21 associates and counsel in October.
• Clifford Chance's dismissal of 20 lawyers in October.
• Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft cutting 96 attorneys in July.
• Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge layoff of approximately 10 associates in March.
• Ten U.S. partners and two dozen associates voluntarily leaving Thacher Proffitt & Wood starting in January after a severe slump in the structured finance practice.

Full post as published by Larry Bodine's LawMarketing Blog on November 03, 2008 (boomark / email).