And today’s updates….
It appears that DLA Piper (UK) staff aren’t overjoyed with the package they are being offered.
Legal Week (UK) reports:
DLA Piper Layoff Debate Reveals Tensions Over Terms for Departing Staff
March 11, 2009
DLA Piper has sparked anger among its U.K. ranks as full details emerge of the firm’s redundancy package.
The details surfaced in leaked minutes from a Feb. 27 meeting with employee representatives involved in the firm’s redundancy consultation.
The firm, which saw the deadline for voluntary redundancy pass on Tuesday, launched its second U.K. redundancy consultation in February, with up to 30 fee earners and more than 100 support staff at risk.
The DLA package differs from some rival U.K. firms. Those volunteering for redundancy in the U.K. will be paid up to March 20 and will then receive their contractual notice period, plus one month’s pay. Those that have been with the firm for at least two years will also receive statutory redundancy equating to one week’s pay for each year’s service, capped at 350 pounds ($481) a week. Those not volunteering receive the same package minus the additional month’s pay.
In comparison, Linklaters, for example, is thought to be offering three weeks’ pay for every year with the firm, plus three months’ notice.
In the leaked minutes, employee representatives question also DLA’s actions in light of its Investor in People credentials, with one commenting: "There is a strong feeling that if the firm wishes to compete with the top 10 U.K. firms in the good times, the belief is it has to compete in bad times too and offer a similar package."
Full report at http://www.law.com/jsp/law/international/LawArticleIntl.jsp?id=1202428975508
Still in UK. It looks as though up to 100 of the White Case redundancies reported yesterday will be allocated to the London office.
The Lawyer (UK) reports
White & Case is expecting to cut between 80 and 95 legal and support staff jobs in London as part of a firmwide round of lay offs that will see 400 people lose their jobs.
As reported by TheLawyer.com yesterday, the US firm has announced that up to 200 legal and 200 administrative staff from offices throughout its international network are at risk of losing their jobs (9 March).
The London office has embarked on a redundancy consultation that is expected to last for approximately 30 days.
Full report at http://www.thelawyer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=137076&d=415&h=417&f=416
And Above The Law has the latest NYC White & Case news from New York
And the Lawyer is also reporting that UK firm Blake Lapthorn has laid off 20 people at the end of its second redundancy consultation.
Back to the US, west coast this time….
Chadbourne & Parke Lays Off 25 Associates and Counsel
The National Law Journal
New York-based Chadbourne & Parke let go of 25 attorneys on Tuesday, according to a spokesman for the law firm.
The cuts were made because of the economic downturn and will affect associates and counsel handling transactional work in its U.S. and overseas offices, according to the firm.
In addition, the law firm will delay the start date for its first-year associates until January 2010. It will pay those people a $13,000 "bar and expense" stipend, the spokesman said. The reductions will not affect Chadbourne & Parke’s summer associate class, he said, adding that the firm does not expect additional layoffs. The spokesman declined to disclose the details of severance packages.
Full story at http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202428950236
And DC Firm Venable announced yesterday that it is to cut 16 lawyers and 48 staff
Venable announced today that the firm will be laying off 16 lawyers, five paralegals, and 43 other staff members.
The cuts constitute 3 percent of the firm’s attorney ranks, 7 percent of its paralegals, and 8 percent of its staff. Information about how many people would be affected in the firm’s Washington office or whether the cuts will affect partners was not immediately available. The layoffs were first reported by
Full Story at http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2009/03/venable-to-cut-16-lawyers-48-staff.html
I’m sure we could find more for you but that’s probably enough bad news for a Thursday.
