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Layoffs in DPW Corporate

Layoffs in DPW Corporate
Vibrant deer antler institution
  03/06/09
please check to make sure they are not actually doing Bachel...
flesh know-it-all death wish
  03/06/09
I didn't get the whole story, but he said that multiple conf...
Vibrant deer antler institution
  03/06/09
make sure to put up dropcloths to protect yourself from the ...
flesh know-it-all death wish
  03/06/09
my secretary said they are actually casting for season 2 of ...
Effete cream wrinkle
  03/08/09
I wouldn't be surprised. Corporate has been really slow eve...
arousing location kitty
  03/06/09
nonsense. The capital market is recovering and their deal f...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/06/09
Didn't they do a ton of layoffs during one of the past downt...
dun exciting love of her life
  03/08/09
...
Emerald Violent New Version
  03/09/09
Their profits were the worst among the prestigious NYC locks...
Amber indian lodge
  03/06/09
That's because DPW is not as leveraged as others. If there ...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/06/09
Makes sense, but DPW IS laying off people... I wish it wasn...
translucent cracking spot
  03/06/09
"Though reputationally they are supposed to be the clas...
odious topaz cuckold
  03/07/09
If I were a staff weenie at a big firm, I would rent out all...
Shimmering sanctuary dog poop
  03/06/09
180.5
180 Shitlib
  03/06/09
lolol
Medicated histrionic puppy space
  03/06/09
this would be awesome.
Effete cream wrinkle
  03/06/09
tyft.
Aqua azn tanning salon
  03/07/09
It is true, I can confirm this. From the sound of it, it'...
translucent cracking spot
  03/06/09
I haven't heard anything. I knew they forced some people ou...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/06/09
Yup, heard about that too. I am thinking there will just ...
translucent cracking spot
  03/06/09
Conference Rooms Booked for Monday
Vibrant deer antler institution
  03/07/09
I can see them firing some staff - but have a hard time beli...
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/07/09
Wow. I assumed they were going to do more stealth layoffs, ...
arousing location kitty
  03/07/09
What partner mentor would be this stupid?
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/07/09
Evidently they're really close. But to answer your question...
arousing location kitty
  03/07/09
40-50? You sure? I know there are going to be layoffs, but...
Vibrant deer antler institution
  03/07/09
...
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/07/09
Nope. 40-50 attorneys in the NY office. Don't have anythin...
arousing location kitty
  03/07/09
...
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/07/09
...
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
40-50? That's pretty high. But they have a huge incoming 1...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/07/09
I suppose numbers that high might make sense if they are pri...
Vibrant deer antler institution
  03/07/09
I guess if they plan to lay off people, they will delay the ...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/07/09
ROFLSKATES
Effete cream wrinkle
  03/07/09
quinn remains?
Narrow-minded parlor famous landscape painting
  03/07/09
We're all doomed.
Beady-eyed library sweet tailpipe
  03/07/09
domino effect of this would be huge.
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/07/09
This looks true based on 2 big things: 1. Annual partners me...
diverse alcoholic international law enforcement agency filthpig
  03/07/09
Wouldn't shock me if they are trying to clear out some room ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/07/09
There are a ton of 2nd years so I was thinking more that the...
diverse alcoholic international law enforcement agency filthpig
  03/07/09
No way PW gets involved in this. Their profits and hours hav...
Effete cream wrinkle
  03/07/09
I'm just going to stop going into work. If any other major ...
Amber indian lodge
  03/07/09
...
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
I'm sure the cuts will be pretty even along class years, but...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/07/09
fill in the blanks for me plz...why would these things sugge...
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
Just circumstantial evidence. That's all.
diverse alcoholic international law enforcement agency filthpig
  03/07/09
i do think the rep hit woudl be big, and vault would pay the...
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
Not if all the firms follow suit. BLOODBATH would be puttin...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/07/09
Legal Holocaust is the term I would use.
Effete cream wrinkle
  03/07/09
Even "Holocaust" doesn't quite capture the gravity...
mahogany motley nowag pozpig
  03/08/09
fine, but other firms wouldn't need to folow
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
Why not? because they have a dramatically different firm st...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/07/09
less leverage
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
you're in for a surprise if you think skadden / csm / s&...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/07/09
yeah i guess ur right
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
But they have a lot MOAR profits.
Amber indian lodge
  03/07/09
I more than anyone hope you are right, but I have a hard tim...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/07/09
ideally there won't be any such layoffs anywhere..this isn't...
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
I could see a Cravath or STB following the very next day and...
Amber indian lodge
  03/07/09
Yeah what was up with those Kirkland rumors?
Vibrant deer antler institution
  03/07/09
Skadden as well. No way they won't take this opportunity to...
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/08/09
We were saying that about Cravath at bonus time. Won't happe...
flesh know-it-all death wish
  03/07/09
Well, that was in part because everyone followed (except for...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/07/09
there were rumours of DPW stealth layoffs for a while. they...
azure patrolman
  03/07/09
such as?
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
just staff cuts; corp assoc may get a salary freeze but no f...
talented filthy rigpig
  03/07/09
how could they only freeze corp? this is bs
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
they'll balance it out with bigger bonuses for corp in the w...
talented filthy rigpig
  03/07/09
wat r u basing on?
electric market pisswyrm
  03/07/09
That's not what I'm hearing.
arousing location kitty
  03/07/09
Not sure how they would freeze salaries when they already in...
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/08/09
DPW has already had stealth “performance layoffs” 10X their ...
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/07/09
FLAME lol that the two sources are "firebrand" ...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/07/09
Could be a flamer, but there are definitely layoffs happenin...
stirring factory reset button
  03/07/09
DPW's head count per their website as of Today, March 7, 2009.
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/07/09
this shows a decently low leverage for a larger NYC firm. N...
Hairless theatre
  03/09/09
This is complete bs. There will not be layoffs Monday. Any...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Keep telling yourself that. DPW has been doing stealth layof...
mint home
  03/08/09
The people aren't nice. DPW is just as brutal as any other ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
I never buy into the "conference room" nonsense. A...
mint home
  03/08/09
Possible. The whole point of the "stealth" layoff...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Were they really "performance" based in that these...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
It's generally a mix of "performance" and politics...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
That's pretty reasonable I would say. Happens in every econ...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
"particular firm's culture" lol, and I thought ...
mint home
  03/08/09
You don't think politics / culture fit (read that however yo...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Pleistocene, you're a DPW stooge. Way to drink the cool-aid...
stirring factory reset button
  03/08/09
Oh noes! Some cheesedick law student thinks I'm a DPW stooge...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Not a law student. Also, your complaints about this board b...
stirring factory reset button
  03/08/09
Are you friends with partners at DPW? How would the associa...
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/08/09
I'm a corporate associate at DPW and I went to a USNWR "...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
For someone who complained about "douchesacs" on t...
glassy infuriating personal credit line
  03/08/09
When fired upon, I return fire. If you go through the chron...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
lol. Sure thing hoss. You're a fucking douchebag, bigger t...
glassy infuriating personal credit line
  03/08/09
We're all douchebags, you clown.
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
i agree with what you've been saying on this thread, but you...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
Or maybe I'm just poking fun at the anonymous tough-guys who...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
$100 to the first person who can find me a 60 y o partner wh...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
plz stop posting, you're making DPW look bad
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
I think you over-estimate the importance of random crap on o...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
after reading your nutso posts, I'm really convinced about h...
Narrow-minded parlor famous landscape painting
  03/08/09
Good. I hope the net effect of my posts has been to discour...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Shouldn't you be ripping lines and headbutting secretaries w...
Narrow-minded parlor famous landscape painting
  03/08/09
Yeah, that's exactly how we roll at DPW. This is all rich c...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO FUCK WITH ME
Narrow-minded parlor famous landscape painting
  03/08/09
It was funnier, much, much funnier, when Bob Odenkirk did it...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
The reason all these firms “performance” layoffs are bullshi...
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
that's kinda the point. Less work=less hours=worse performan...
electric market pisswyrm
  03/08/09
Yeah, but that’s the definition of economic layoff.
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
Typical bullshit rhetoric that junior associates can't do an...
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
I take it you haven’t worked with too many first year associ...
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
There are of course first years who kick ass, but they are f...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
are your initials cm?
talented filthy rigpig
  03/08/09
Dood, this guy is being very helpful - don't try to out him.
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
tomorrow, he'll need help finding the file he saved his resu...
talented filthy rigpig
  03/08/09
??
electric market pisswyrm
  03/08/09
If Hazelrah can get laid off, so can anyone.
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
My initials are "bite my shiny metal ass."
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
this hasn't really been a law school "admissions" ...
Gaped stock car
  03/08/09
Hm. Okay. Well, there are a lot of first - fifth years her...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
BUT THE PEOPLE AT DPW ARE SO NICE!!1!1!!!one!!11one!!1
mint home
  03/08/09
This is probably mostly flame - with some truth mixed in. I...
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/08/09
I will have to agree with you. I can't believe that the par...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
Always? Didn’t they try to lead with their zero bonuses b...
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
they got absolutely murdered for that.
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/08/09
Agreed. And I would add that DPW fucked up its morale by ce...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
They have to pay less bonuses. They were not in a position ...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
At the time, the firm line was more or less "we are doi...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
I highly doubt that the TARP related work could fully make u...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
You are correct, of course. Meltdown-related work couldn't ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
They were also affected by the lackluster performance by Mor...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
Yeah, Citi is kicking ass. That's why their common closed a...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
I meant their investment banking unit. Of course, Citigroup...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
wasnt the TARP stuff just low-cost bullshit undertaken only ...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
No. They don't do the mundane TARP work. They represent pr...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
Somehow I doubt DPW is seeing huge dollars on the work being...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Well. The point is that if they are spending 150 billion do...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
so you think the gov't is going to pay $350/hr for 25 year o...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
The gov't didn't have much choice in picking DPW to deal wit...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
In that the other big firms were conflicted out? I think ...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
I think there was something floating around about STB cappin...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
I would have loved to see taxpayers' reaction to "premi...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
Exactly. There have already been half a dozen stories about...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
This may be a distinction without a difference at this point...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
Every firm capable of running a deal akin to the government ...
adventurous heaven
  03/08/09
yeah but the point is there's competition to get the work cu...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
Yes and no on the TARP stuff, but most likely yes it wasn't ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
The proximity of the annual meeting and the finance meeting ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
In theory - the layoffs are just in NY - so they could have ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
...
house-broken scourge upon the earth selfie
  10/10/11
lol are there going to be layoff rumors now every time senio...
Domesticated Henna Mad Cow Disease Halford
  03/08/09
PWN PWN PWN MOAR PROFITS
irradiated public bath
  03/08/09
I am a corporate associate at DPW and have been laid off rec...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
give some detail about DPW so someone like Pleistocene can c...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
Not sure what might convince him/her, but I can say that &qu...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
ty. sorry about your job man. what do you think you'll do ne...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
Thanks. Definitely can't hurt, but not sure it'll help much...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
I hope the economy will turn around faster so every one will...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
mmmmmmmm chicken vindaloo nomnomnom
Hot den stain
  03/08/09
The number is wrong. The incoming summer class is about 110...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
The email from Sharon Crane on 2/23 says there will be 119 s...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
This is correct... "from 19 different law schools."...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
It's quite amazing that they haven't cut back their summer h...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
i'm sure the budget will be cut, as it will everywhere
electric market pisswyrm
  03/08/09
A few firms learned the summer hiring (er, overhiring) lesso...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
It sounds like you (nyconsigliere) are getting a much worse ...
mahogany motley nowag pozpig
  03/08/09
This is why someone earlier in the thread pointed out the ir...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
I think it would be bad for morale of everyone to be there w...
mahogany motley nowag pozpig
  03/08/09
They usually let staffing, etc. know. Option 2 is incredibl...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
We certainly got a worse deal than Latham. I still show up ...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
No severance = no incentive to keep mum. Tell them they of a...
chrome church building
  03/08/09
One would think, right? Except they can just as easily curt...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
That's right; threaten your employer as they are trying to g...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Good luck. I hope you can find a new job soon.
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
In a different market--one in which a DPW associate could ea...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Any particular patterns you've noticed in terms of who they'...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
I think they are targeting the slower corporate departments ...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
Wow. 2nd years?? Class of '07? That is news to me.
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
It's true. I don't find it all that surprising given that &...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
God, that is fucking brutal.
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
what's an above the line assignment?
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
Their 1st and 2nd years in corporate do 3 rotations and then...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
The 2nd years don't just pick one group. They are asked to ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
I was pretty amazed that 2nd years were getting cut as well....
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
Sorry if you've mentioned this already - but what year are y...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
Rather not give a specific year, but I'm somewhere around ju...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
Fucking blows dood. I'm sure many more of us will be joinin...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
its not like anyone's in a position to pick where they go ri...
electric market pisswyrm
  03/08/09
Actually, the top students at the top schools will still hav...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
You think CSM, S&C, STB and everyone else aren't doing, ...
electric market pisswyrm
  03/08/09
At least some of the other firms hired smaller summer classe...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
eveyrone and their brother had an offer at CSM this year. du...
electric market pisswyrm
  03/08/09
I thought someone said it was like 80, while DPW's was 120? ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
CSM has 100 SAs this year
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/09/09
Jesus wtf are these kids going to do. Last summer was bad e...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/09/09
Same shit they did during summer of 2002--go to lunch and wr...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
They may all do the same thing, but they may also not. Parti...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
That's very unfortunante
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
I am sorry too. The situation totally sucks and is due to c...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
CORRECT
insecure school cafeteria milk
  03/09/09
Like ptbarnum said, the day a V5 does public layoffs is the ...
chrome church building
  03/08/09
What saves the V5 from doing public layoffs is that the asso...
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
"V5 associates are so concerned with the reputation of ...
Charcoal tattoo
  03/08/09
Honestly, I could give a shit about my firm's reputation. I...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
They have no work in corporate now. But I think they'll just...
green rigor national security agency
  03/08/09
They still have work, but the capital market is still in sha...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
this is very bad news
azure patrolman
  03/08/09
got laid off from DPW as well
Charcoal tattoo
  03/08/09
I'm surprised BIGLAW associates haven't unionized. Power is...
Indigo nubile incel menage
  03/08/09
I am sorry to hear that. These days, big law firms are run ...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
Part of the point of being a lawyer as opposed to being a ba...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
"As it is, I don't think anyone is going to believe tha...
seedy stage
  03/08/09
You guys should send your dpw layoff stories to ATL. If it ...
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
it's crucial that scuzzy firms are exposed. there are a lot...
Indigo nubile incel menage
  03/08/09
seriously. i sent the email to tips@abovethelaw.com telling...
Mustard vigorous haunted graveyard
  03/08/09
it's useless to tell anecdotes about your friends, cuz then ...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
do you guys really think it will make any difference?
Charcoal tattoo
  03/08/09
the main difference it could have is reordering the prestige...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
i haven't seen anything to suggest to me that DPW is struggl...
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
their PPP/revenue drop was the most dramatic other than lath...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
who are you?
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
I was reminded of this: http://www.hoboes.com/html/FireBl...
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
It will only make a difference in that some firms are preten...
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
it doesn't matter what you call it. every firm knows that a...
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
Calling these layoffs performance based is very deceptive. ...
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
Yes, but every hiring firm will understand this. Obviously ...
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
Yet some firms are still claiming that these are routine per...
Useless Multi-billionaire
  03/08/09
This is precisely what happened to me too. I NEVER once got...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
You can judge the quality of work by the responsibility you ...
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
I was given more than my fair share of responsibilities. I ...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/08/09
How is DPW's capital market doing these days? I know their ...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
this is a pretty suboptimal way to stay informed about your ...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
well they could, but keep in mind: 1) businesses avoid ha...
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
there's a way to offer criticism (sometimes even harsh) w/o ...
mentally impaired zippy abode
  03/08/09
Yep, that's the way it's basically done, often a blindside. ...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
The review process at all these firms is such a joke. "...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
one factor i failed to mention above is that in ordinary tim...
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
It amazes me how firms can't change these things faster - ki...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
you say "they had the bad luck of being in the wrong pr...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
DPW has never had a structured finance (i.e. CDO) practice, ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Sorry - can you define some of these groups? FIG? IMG? ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
financial institutions and investment management
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
investment management - is that like '40 act?
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
Yeah '40 act, not sure if DPW has a hedge fund practice, pre...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
Hedge funds are pretty dead... no one is rasing money right ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
They could be representing folks who invested in Madoff or s...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
I've heard a lot of "madoff related work" - but WT...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
DPW has a pretty strong HF practice in the IMG group, which ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
I imagine there are going to be more rather than less weird ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
Probably. Hopefully for clients who can, like, pay and shit...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
A lot of things about the model don't make sense. Billable ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/09/09
Yeah, well, anyone want to place bets on whether the busines...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
Would be hilarious if you were a junior partner.
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/09/09
i take back my earlier criticism of you. your unfamiliarity ...
Twinkling thriller windowlicker
  03/08/09
No worries. I'm glad that most of the retarded flame bullsh...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
A-fucking-men brother/sister. I am so annoyed by the way ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Is the capital market group really dead slow now? I have no...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
Cap M has started to pick back up but nothing close to full ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
i'm literally lol. this cracks me up.
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
DPW = unsecured creditor in the pending Citi bankruptcy!
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
Citi is fine. Their stock getting battered has nothing to d...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
I was just joking around - but that's kinda like saying GM i...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
Well. The fact that the government decided to convert their...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
I don't think we are disagreeing here. But I'm just saying ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
Reminds me of this gem: http://bigpicture.typepad.com/com...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
By the way a bit of advice
Charcoal tattoo
  03/08/09
i disagree. timing is everything.
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
yeah, as soon as i find a new job, i'm buying gold coins and...
magical forum water buffalo
  03/08/09
I think the 401k contributions still make sense. You need m...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
protected?
Charcoal tattoo
  03/08/09
Well, i mean it is protected in bankruptcy. I know none of ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
Credit, and the lower stocks go, the more important it is to...
flesh know-it-all death wish
  03/09/09
noobs. i was laid-off before it was even cool
Clear Liquid Oxygen
  03/08/09
your firm had no reputation to worry about.
shivering hyperactive center
  03/08/09
so?
Clear Liquid Oxygen
  03/08/09
Hey, now. CWT was the first firm in the history of DPW to p...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Partners made a lot of money at CWT. Their business model m...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
But by doing that, they have to rely on their ability to att...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
Who the fuck cares? They made their money and it is in the ...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
of course. If they no longer care about their reputation an...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/08/09
I think that is the essential point that people generally mi...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
good point, but probably true only for the more senior partn...
shivering hyperactive center
  03/09/09
yea but how much is that really worth? So I need to go work...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/09/09
The whole point of working at firms like DPW is that they ha...
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/09/09
I have no real issue with CWT. I've been across them a few ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
...
Clear Liquid Oxygen
  03/08/09
ROFL. I heard on amlaw of at least one derivatives partne...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
He went to Latham and was the second ever in the history of ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Any idea why these guys left? Because they didn't like lock...
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/09/09
That partner stood to make much much more money at cwt than ...
Clear Liquid Oxygen
  03/09/09
Makes sense.
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/09/09
CWT defector did not fit in well at DPW and was widely hated...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
haha. Good story!
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/09/09
“I wouldn't say he got pushed, but partners were open about ...
Clear Liquid Oxygen
  03/09/09
Several partners actually came to my office and said "[...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
What's Huebner's reputation at DPW? Is he likable?
lascivious buff keepsake machete
  03/09/09
I don't know him well. He seems likable enough. Kind of a ...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
Bump this on April 1, 2009 and see what the attorney count is...
Charcoal tattoo
  03/08/09
This is a great idea. Someone should do this for all the to...
Amber indian lodge
  03/08/09
I bet the fucking partner number doesn't change.
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
Actually, a couple of partners have very quietly gone elsewh...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/08/09
Yea well that always happens, I'm sure.
adulterous titillating station background story
  03/08/09
So what's the safest practice that incoming associates shoul...
Emerald Violent New Version
  03/09/09
That's not how the summer program works. You don't get assi...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
And as for incoming associates, rank your preferred practice...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
bump. anything w/ layoffs today?
mentally impaired zippy abode
  03/09/09
No, no, a thousand times no. There aren't going to be layof...
racy ruby boltzmann
  03/09/09
One can hope things are business as usual, but I don't think...
floppy tantric sex offender
  03/09/09
why aren't more people talking to ATL and publicizing these ...
mentally impaired zippy abode
  03/09/09
Is it just me or is the lawyer search on DPW's site not working?
Charcoal tattoo
  03/09/09
prob. a glictch
electric market pisswyrm
  03/09/09
Wasn't working last night for me either
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/09/09
*keeps his hands warm by the FLAME*
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/09/09
stealth layoffs on ATL - doesn't look like any public layoff...
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/09/09
not much stealth when it's on ATL. They should be hated if ...
White resort ape
  03/09/09
agreed.
idiotic point genital piercing
  03/09/09
So between the info on here, the info on ATL, and DPW's resp...
mint home
  03/09/09
more rumblings of layoffs in corporate. can anyone confirm??...
Bearded coffee pot piazza
  10/19/10
wtf? I thought DPW was hiring fucking 3Ls for corporate/tax....
Hyperventilating black jew
  10/19/10
if anything's happening right now, it's just the usual perfo...
Contagious hateful tank pit
  10/20/10


Poast new message in this thread



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 6:25 PM
Author: Vibrant deer antler institution
Subject: Layoffs in DPW Corporate

A close friend who works in Davis Polk's corporate department told me there may be layoffs next week. Anyone hearing the same?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11070893)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 6:25 PM
Author: flesh know-it-all death wish

please check to make sure they are not actually doing Bachelor tryouts

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11070897)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 6:42 PM
Author: Vibrant deer antler institution

I didn't get the whole story, but he said that multiple conference rooms were booked by senior partners...I'll get more later.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071020)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 6:43 PM
Author: flesh know-it-all death wish

make sure to put up dropcloths to protect yourself from the impending BLOODBATH

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071034)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 2:02 PM
Author: Effete cream wrinkle

my secretary said they are actually casting for season 2 of "beauty and the geek" in the conf rooms tomorrow

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082881)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 6:29 PM
Author: arousing location kitty

I wouldn't be surprised. Corporate has been really slow everywhere, and DPW's Corporate department feeds the rest of their practices.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11070927)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 8:37 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

nonsense. The capital market is recovering and their deal flow has been picking up. Even if there is pressure to do lay off, DPW will never be the first one among V5 to do so. They are always a market follower, not a leader.

Plus, they haven't shorten their summer program or delay their 1st years starting date. I don't see any sign of lay off at DPW right now.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071893)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 8:08 PM
Author: dun exciting love of her life

Didn't they do a ton of layoffs during one of the past downturns? DPW is notoriously cheap.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085953)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 10:33 AM
Author: Emerald Violent New Version



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11091655)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 7:14 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

Their profits were the worst among the prestigious NYC lockstep firms. Though reputationally they are supposed to be the classiest firm so am assuming will be all stealth and no formal layoffs.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071259)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 8:39 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

That's because DPW is not as leveraged as others. If there is any firm in V5 that will do layoffs, it should be either CSM or Skadden. Their leverages are much higher.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071911)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 8:42 PM
Author: translucent cracking spot

Makes sense, but DPW IS laying off people...

I wish it wasn't true...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071941)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 6:34 PM
Author: odious topaz cuckold

"Though reputationally they are supposed to be the classiest firm so am assuming will be all stealth and no formal layoffs."

Which, ironically, is the least classy way to do them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077968)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 7:15 PM
Author: Shimmering sanctuary dog poop

If I were a staff weenie at a big firm, I would rent out all the conference rooms on a friday just for the lulz

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071266)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 7:24 PM
Author: 180 Shitlib

180.5

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071311)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 8:40 PM
Author: Medicated histrionic puppy space

lolol

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071928)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 8:45 PM
Author: Effete cream wrinkle

this would be awesome.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071955)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 11:19 PM
Author: Aqua azn tanning salon

tyft.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11080009)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 8:41 PM
Author: translucent cracking spot

It is true, I can confirm this.

From the sound of it, it's no Latham. But there will be layoffs.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071936)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 8:46 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

I haven't heard anything. I knew they forced some people out two weeks ago through performance review. But I don't think they need a massive layoff now.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11071977)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 6th, 2009 8:55 PM
Author: translucent cracking spot

Yup, heard about that too.

I am thinking there will just be more stealth layoffs like that. Nothing massive, as I said (no Latham).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11072075)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 2:29 PM
Author: Vibrant deer antler institution
Subject: Conference Rooms Booked for Monday

Evidently at the end of the day on Friday, senior partners from DPW's New York office booked several conference rooms for Monday afternoon. I guess they are planning on using the weekend to put things together and the layoffs will begin on Monday.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076204)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 2:37 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

I can see them firing some staff - but have a hard time believing they are going to be the first V5 firm to have public layoffs of lawyers.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076254)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 2:39 PM
Author: arousing location kitty

Wow. I assumed they were going to do more stealth layoffs, but apparently I was wrong. Just talked to someone I trust at DPW, and she confirmed that the conference rooms were booked and that her partner mentor told her the layoffs were going to be 40-50.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076267)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 2:51 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

What partner mentor would be this stupid?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076326)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 2:53 PM
Author: arousing location kitty

Evidently they're really close. But to answer your question, pretty stupid I guess.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076340)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 2:55 PM
Author: Vibrant deer antler institution

40-50? You sure? I know there are going to be layoffs, but that sounds a bit high. I guess we'll see come Monday.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076347)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 3:05 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076396)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 3:08 PM
Author: arousing location kitty

Nope. 40-50 attorneys in the NY office. Don't have anything more, but I'm sure ATL will have something come Monday.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076412)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 3:10 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076427)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:01 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076810)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 6:13 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

40-50? That's pretty high. But they have a huge incoming 1st year class, too. Oddly enough, they haven't deferred their starting date.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077838)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 6:19 PM
Author: Vibrant deer antler institution

I suppose numbers that high might make sense if they are primarily laying off older associates.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077861)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 6:32 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

I guess if they plan to lay off people, they will delay the starting date as well. Either way, we are fucked.

What puzzled me is that they actually hired some 3Ls this year. Their summer class is about 110. If things were really this bad, what the hell were they thinking?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077950)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 3:02 PM
Author: Effete cream wrinkle

ROFLSKATES

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076380)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 2:40 PM
Author: Narrow-minded parlor famous landscape painting

quinn remains?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076277)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 3:11 PM
Author: Beady-eyed library sweet tailpipe

We're all doomed.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076431)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:10 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

domino effect of this would be huge.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076864)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:11 PM
Author: diverse alcoholic international law enforcement agency filthpig

This looks true based on 2 big things: 1. Annual partners meeting just happened and 2. Corporate 2nd years are picking a group to join April 1 after the third rotation ends.

-Nervous DPW corporate associate

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076867)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:22 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Wouldn't shock me if they are trying to clear out some room for juniors going "above the line." Essentially the problem is seniors haven't been leaving. But who knows. 50 sounds like a lot to me, and reputational shock of going first would be very bad.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076981)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:27 PM
Author: diverse alcoholic international law enforcement agency filthpig

There are a ton of 2nd years so I was thinking more that they would let go of the ones who were not wanted by any group.

40-50 is about 15-20% of NYC corporate associates, which is huge. I'm sure CSM, STB, PW, etc. would follow so I'm not sure how much of a reputational hit the firm would take.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077023)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:41 PM
Author: Effete cream wrinkle

No way PW gets involved in this. Their profits and hours have gone through the roof thanks to lit and bkrptcy.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077146)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:43 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

I'm just going to stop going into work. If any other major NYC firm follows DPW in doing this, it's all over, why bother.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077156)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:50 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077212)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:48 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I'm sure the cuts will be pretty even along class years, but I expect it will lean towards more senior associates, esp. laterals they hired at the last boom, as those people are more expensive.

Not cool either way for anyone in the V10.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077204)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:22 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

fill in the blanks for me plz...why would these things suggest its tru?

also, any layoffs in lit or just corp?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11076982)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:27 PM
Author: diverse alcoholic international law enforcement agency filthpig

Just circumstantial evidence. That's all.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077027)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:45 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

i do think the rep hit woudl be big, and vault would pay the firm back with a 20 point drop

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077173)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:50 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Not if all the firms follow suit. BLOODBATH would be putting it mildly.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077218)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:52 PM
Author: Effete cream wrinkle

Legal Holocaust is the term I would use.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077229)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 5:39 PM
Author: mahogany motley nowag pozpig

Even "Holocaust" doesn't quite capture the gravity of 40-50 DPW layoffs.

I would use the term "LEGAL GLOBAL NUCLEAR GENOCIDE"

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084620)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:52 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

fine, but other firms wouldn't need to folow

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077232)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:00 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Why not? because they have a dramatically different firm structure? better clients? better brand? less leverage? There may be 3 major vault firms that can make that claim.

This isn't like latham.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077292)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:12 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

less leverage

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077391)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:21 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

you're in for a surprise if you think skadden / csm / s&c and a trashcan full of other firms have less leverage than DPW.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077446)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:21 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

yeah i guess ur right

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077452)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:30 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

But they have a lot MOAR profits.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077498)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:32 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I more than anyone hope you are right, but I have a hard time believing this won't lead to a massive round of layoffs from other "peer" firms.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077514)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:37 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

ideally there won't be any such layoffs anywhere..this isn't a fait acompli yet

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077552)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:43 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

I could see a Cravath or STB following the very next day and then it's all over.

Hopefully this is like the Kirkland rumors which seem so far to have been overstated.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077609)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:46 PM
Author: Vibrant deer antler institution

Yeah what was up with those Kirkland rumors?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077624)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 1:44 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

Skadden as well. No way they won't take this opportunity to dump people.

But what about the Strooks of the world? You gotta think the chain-reaction here would be pretty brutal.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082773)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 4:59 PM
Author: flesh know-it-all death wish

We were saying that about Cravath at bonus time. Won't happen.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077289)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 5:01 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Well, that was in part because everyone followed (except for the dimwits at Skadden).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077305)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 6:26 PM
Author: azure patrolman

there were rumours of DPW stealth layoffs for a while. they have so many cap markets associates i guess they got hit harder than more diversified firms.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077904)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 6:37 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

such as?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11077990)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 6:52 PM
Author: talented filthy rigpig

just staff cuts; corp assoc may get a salary freeze but no firings of associates.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11078093)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 6:59 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

how could they only freeze corp?

this is bs

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11078166)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 7:00 PM
Author: talented filthy rigpig

they'll balance it out with bigger bonuses for corp in the winter OR freeze lit too.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11078177)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 7:32 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

wat r u basing on?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11078501)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 7:37 PM
Author: arousing location kitty

That's not what I'm hearing.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11078548)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 1:34 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

Not sure how they would freeze salaries when they already increased them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082715)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 7:05 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

DPW has already had stealth “performance layoffs” 10X their usual number. I guess this year performance was really bad at dpw.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11078224)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 7:40 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

FLAME

lol that the two sources are "firebrand" and "infamousglow". old school flame clues.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11078582)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 10:46 PM
Author: stirring factory reset button

Could be a flamer, but there are definitely layoffs happening next week. I don't think it's going to be 50 though.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11079776)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 7th, 2009 11:58 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete
Subject: DPW's head count per their website as of Today, March 7, 2009.

Partner: 166

Associate: 470

Counsel: 43

Senior Counsel: 27

Clerk: 96

Let's see if any change occurs in the next few days.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11080164)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 11:30 AM
Author: Hairless theatre

this shows a decently low leverage for a larger NYC firm. Nothing to worry about.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11091927)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:34 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

This is complete bs. There will not be layoffs Monday. Any DPW corporate associate spending time scanning law school admissions message boards for layoff news needs to re-evaluate his or her life choices and calm the f*ck down.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082006)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:37 AM
Author: mint home

Keep telling yourself that. DPW has been doing stealth layoffs for a few weeks now (just a few associates here and there, though), that's a fact.

Sorry that you work at a shiTTTY firm with SUCH NICE PEOPLE

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082016)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:57 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

The people aren't nice. DPW is just as brutal as any other firm, albeit with far fewer screamers. It's a different kind of passive-aggressive brutal that is far more psychologically torturous than being yelled at and so on.

It's no secret that there have been "performance based" / "stealth" layoffs going on at DPW. It's difficult to discern whether this is to keep pace with "normal attrition" or is an increase year-over-year because of economic conditions. Maybe you law school kids haven't noticed yet, but the economy is in the toilet and no firm is better positioned to be aware of that fact than DPW given the nature of the high profile matters DPW is working on right now.

Perhaps if the biglaw market hadn't jacked up the starting salary of a first year to 160k per plus bonus, the blows all the firms are taking now would be easier to take. 160k for some schmuck who does a crappier job than a second year legal assistant at organizing my closing documents is outrageous. And 100+ 160k mouths to feed is ugly, since only a few of those 100+ kids can find their ass with two hands and most create virtually no economic upside for the firms.

Anyway, DPW laying off 40-50 associates right after the annual partners' meeting, which includes a big cocktail party for associates and partners, is not going to happen. Besides, the "evidence" of the conference room reservations is nonsense. The only people with access to listings of WHO has reserved a particular conference room are the receptionists. It possible to see that conference room whatever has been reserved from thus time to such time, but the general online system doesn't give out the info of who has the room, for obvious reasons.

It's all bullshit, son.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082050)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:59 AM
Author: mint home

I never buy into the "conference room" nonsense. And I don't think DPW wold layoff 40-50 either. But I've said, and I'm going to say again, that when the dust settles, DPW would have laid off ("performance" or otherwise) 5x the people it normally does. I'm thinking 20 people or so in total (including those already gone).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082055)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:18 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Possible. The whole point of the "stealth" layoff approach is to make it difficult to tell who is being pushed out and who just happened to be pulled to something else at around the same time. So, maybe there will be 20 fewer midlevels and seniors on the roster in the next few months. Doubtless some of them will have been asked to leave. But putting an exact (or even rough) number on it is pretty difficult.

Very few of the big law firms are actually managed well (or even marginally OK). Since a lot of lawyers wind up being lawyers at least in part because of risk aversion and distaste (or fear) of being a "business person," we wind up with a whole slew of organizations that generate hundreds of millions of dollars per year in revenue but have no reasonably commensurate management. Surprise, surprise -- you wind up with shitty business decisions (e.g. 160k for a 24 year old law grad who is still figuring out how his dick works), terrible policies, non-legal administrative people running amok, ad astra, ad infinitum.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082076)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:20 AM
Author: Amber indian lodge

Were they really "performance" based in that these people were among the bottom 25% or so? Or were they more like concocted BS?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082080)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:42 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

It's generally a mix of "performance" and politics at all the firms. Partners are more likely to keep on a passably intelligent associate who bills consistently and doesn't otherwise rock the boat than a highly intelligent associate who doesn't get along with this or that prima donna partner or who otherwise doesn't "fit" with the particular firm's culture.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082139)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:43 AM
Author: Amber indian lodge

That's pretty reasonable I would say. Happens in every economy, just more so now.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082142)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:46 AM
Author: mint home

"particular firm's culture"

lol, and I thought you were serious all along. Nice flame.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082160)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:54 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

You don't think politics / culture fit (read that however you like -- but I mean getting along with the people you work with) is a real factor in keeping one's job? Huh?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082199)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:14 AM
Author: stirring factory reset button

Pleistocene, you're a DPW stooge. Way to drink the cool-aid. I'm sure you'll be fine when the layoffs happen, since clearly you are so busy these days.

Have you ever thought that the receptionists, who can see who reserved a room, might talk to associates. You're right, that's a ridiculous concept. You know why, because DPW's "nice" associates are too worried about losing their jobs.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082069)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:24 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Oh noes! Some cheesedick law student thinks I'm a DPW stooge! Whatever shall I do???

I seem to recall that I just said that people are not, in fact, nice at DPW. It's one thing to be friendly (i.e. "nice") with the receptionists. It's another to hang around the receptionists' desks mining them for who booked what conference room. I worked as support staff (true support, not legal assistant) at a DPW-esque law firm before I became a lawyer. I would not have passed that kind of information to an associate. Support staff are, generally, eternal. Associates come and go all the time. The receptionists aren't dumb. They know that giving out that kind of info will lead to trouble, and potentially trouble for them, all for "friendship" with "nice" associates. What. Ever.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082094)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 1:16 PM
Author: stirring factory reset button

Not a law student. Also, your complaints about this board being only used by law students and about admissions--which it isn't--are strange given that you purport to be a lawyer yourself.

I have several friendships with support staff members and they always let me know when something is going on. Although I admit if you were a support staff member, as you claim, I probably would have difficulty getting through your air of douchebaggery.

DPW-esque? Really? Is that what they are calling McDonalds now? If you did, in fact, work at a DPW-esque firm before law school, clearly you aren't now. Why? Because you went to a TTT law school, and ended up working in a TTT law firm.

Finally, I actually do work at a V5 law firm, and many of my friends work at DPW. The layoffs are happening; they are happening Monday; we don't know how bad they will be, so why don't we just all wait and see what happens.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082603)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 1:27 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

Are you friends with partners at DPW? How would the associates know anyway? My DPW contacts seem to have no clue.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082680)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 3:45 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

I'm a corporate associate at DPW and I went to a USNWR "top 5" law school. The DPW-esque firm I worked at was one of our so-called peer firms.

Strangely enough, I don't spend time hanging out on these kinds of boards because, well, because of douchesacs like you, which explains why I wasn't aware that a website that bills itself as about law admissions is really filled with associates bloviating and hurling calumnies and lies anonymously. You were the johnny-come-notly who showed up and started with the ad hominems and a lot of unsubstantiated bullshit about how there are layoffs surely in store on Monday.

I'll tell you what: if you are right, I'll meet you on the corner of 45th and Lex Monday at 5:30 and you can give me a shot to the gut. If you're wrong, why don't you show up, same place same time, and I'll stick my benchmade into your jugular? It should be an easy walk across the street from STB, a straight shot up on the 6 from S&C or CGSH, or a quick walk over from WLRK or CSM. Put your body where your mouth is, fucker, if you are so certain. Or cram it sideways with fishhooks.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083660)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 3:50 PM
Author: glassy infuriating personal credit line

For someone who complained about "douchesacs" on this site, you certainly have done a fair job portraying yourself as one.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083735)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:00 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

When fired upon, I return fire. If you go through the chronology of posts, you will notice that I didn't start with the douchebaggery. All I did was say that this is a bs rumor and people should chill out. This was met by cat calls about third tier toilets and so forth and so on and I responded accordingly.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083812)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:46 PM
Author: glassy infuriating personal credit line

lol. Sure thing hoss. You're a fucking douchebag, bigger than any DPW nay-sayer on the thread.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084189)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 5:05 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

We're all douchebags, you clown.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084299)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:00 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

i agree with what you've been saying on this thread, but you really come across as a weirdo in this post. "I'll stick my benchmade into your jugular"...what?

or maybe you're a 60 yo partner doing damage control?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083815)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:04 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Or maybe I'm just poking fun at the anonymous tough-guys who come on these sorts of boards and say retarded crap for lulz.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083846)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:06 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

$100 to the first person who can find me a 60 y o partner who knows what "lulz" means.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083865)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:20 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

plz stop posting, you're making DPW look bad

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083983)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:23 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

I think you over-estimate the importance of random crap on obscure message boards. No one cares. Anyone who would take any of this nonsense seriously is a tool.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084002)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:48 PM
Author: Narrow-minded parlor famous landscape painting

after reading your nutso posts, I'm really convinced about how different and NICE everyone at DPW is.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084198)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 5:10 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Good. I hope the net effect of my posts has been to discourage people from coming here. We don't need to add to our headcount, as is obvious from the subject under discussion.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084339)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 5:34 PM
Author: Narrow-minded parlor famous landscape painting

Shouldn't you be ripping lines and headbutting secretaries who don't provide you their blacklines on time?

YOU ARE SO FUCKING INTENZZZZZZZZZ

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084566)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 5:59 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Yeah, that's exactly how we roll at DPW. This is all rich coming from someone whose moniker is "king shit of fuck mountain."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084821)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 6:01 PM
Author: Narrow-minded parlor famous landscape painting

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO FUCK WITH ME

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084846)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 6:04 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

It was funnier, much, much funnier, when Bob Odenkirk did it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084863)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 12:08 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

The reason all these firms “performance” layoffs are bullshit is because they are primarily hitting the areas which have slowed the most.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082261)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 12:11 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

that's kinda the point. Less work=less hours=worse performance. Doesn't mean it's "fair" but what is/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082269)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 12:14 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

Yeah, but that’s the definition of economic layoff.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082283)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:41 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

Typical bullshit rhetoric that junior associates can't do anything. Yet firms bill them out at close to $400/hour and clients pay it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087419)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:48 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

I take it you haven’t worked with too many first year associates. In my experience the majority of first years fall in the category of “useless.” They are seen as more of a burden than anything else, at least for the first 6 or so months.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087522)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:11 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

There are of course first years who kick ass, but they are few and far between. A lot of first year time gets written off depending on how much a particular client complains about paying out the ass for what amounts to on-the-job training.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087837)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:22 PM
Author: talented filthy rigpig

are your initials cm?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087983)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:24 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Dood, this guy is being very helpful - don't try to out him.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088013)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:30 PM
Author: talented filthy rigpig

tomorrow, he'll need help finding the file he saved his resume under during oci.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088094)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:33 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

??

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088128)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:33 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

If Hazelrah can get laid off, so can anyone.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088129)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:40 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

My initials are "bite my shiny metal ass."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088221)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:53 AM
Author: Gaped stock car

this hasn't really been a law school "admissions" board in years.

the majority of people here are(/were) first through fifth years or so.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082194)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:56 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Hm. Okay. Well, there are a lot of first - fifth years here who give the impression of being know-nothing bozos (AKA clueless law students), then.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082212)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:37 AM
Author: mint home

BUT THE PEOPLE AT DPW ARE SO NICE!!1!1!!!one!!11one!!1

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082017)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 1:25 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

This is probably mostly flame - with some truth mixed in. It is very elaborate flame though, because the timing of doing layoffs now makes a lot of sense.

-DPW annual partners meeting last week

-DPW Finance meeting on saturday

-2nd year corp associates need to pick groups, seniors have not been leaving, so need to clear space

-need to avoid laying off associates during the summer program.

However,

-cannot tell who booked conference rooms unless you are in that department

-no way a partner would tell an associate about this, no matter how "close" they are

-doubtful that DPW would have formal layoffs and be the first V5 to layoff 50 lawyers. More likely they need to dump some dead wood seniors who aren't going to be partners and who won't be busy for a few years (and will then leave once the economy recovers anyway).

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082661)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 1:34 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

I will have to agree with you. I can't believe that the partner will be stupid enough to tell an associate about pending layoffs.

This doesn't make sense. They are always a follower, not a market leader, for good or bad.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082718)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 1:46 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

Always?

Didn’t they try to lead with their zero bonuses back in 2001/2?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082779)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 1:47 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

they got absolutely murdered for that.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11082787)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:11 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Agreed. And I would add that DPW fucked up its morale by cementing the half-Skadden bonuses immediately after CSM and STB. It would have been much more in keeping with post-2001 zero-bonus-disaster policy to wait until the market had truly settled before announcing. I got angry calls all through the first week of December from my friends at non-fucked firms (e.g. PW) saying "thanks to you assholes I'm going to get hosed, too."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083913)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:16 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

They have to pay less bonuses. They were not in a position to pay more. The ppp dropped by 17% and the partners were taking a hit, too. It would be weird to see the partners taking a big hit while the associates don't.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083951)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:21 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

At the time, the firm line was more or less "we are doing really well in this market," and that seemed borne out by all of the TARP / meltdown related work we have been doing. With the hindsight of the 17% drop in PPP (a drop off of 2007 numbers was to be expected because 2007 was an absurdly good year, but -17% to below $2M PPP was unexpected), which came out only a few weeks ago, it makes complete sense, I agree.

But the timing was still strange. They could very well have waited for the market to settle, which is what they have done post-2001, rather than taking part in setting the market, which is what they did by announcing when they did.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083987)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 4:29 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

I highly doubt that the TARP related work could fully make up the lack of capital market & M&A work. But I notice that the capital market work is starting picking up in recent weeks. Hopefully they will be better positioned than they were last year.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084030)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:34 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

You are correct, of course. Meltdown-related work couldn't make up for the lack of cap m and M&A deals in Q3 and Q4 08, but departments that had been pretty dead for a while (e.g. credit) had picked up as well. No one in a position to know let on that things were as bad as they were.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084075)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:50 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

They were also affected by the lackluster performance by Morgan Stanley on M&A last year. This year, MS and Citi are doing great partly due to the demise of their competitors so hopefully that will have positive effect on DPW.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084213)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:13 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Yeah, Citi is kicking ass. That's why their common closed at a shade over a dollar on Friday, with a market cap of $5.5B on assets of $2T.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084361)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:21 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

I meant their investment banking unit. Of course, Citigroup as a whole is finished.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084427)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:32 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

wasnt the TARP stuff just low-cost bullshit undertaken only for prestige? from a recruit's perspective it might actually indicate over-reliance on banking clients.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084058)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:37 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

No. They don't do the mundane TARP work. They represent private banks and NY fed.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084101)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:39 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Somehow I doubt DPW is seeing huge dollars on the work being done for Fed/Treasury.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084121)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:47 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

Well. The point is that if they are spending 150 billion dollars to bail out AIG, several millions of attorneys' fee seems trivial. The AIG transaction is so complex and the stakes are so high that the government cannot rely on its own lawyers to do the job.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084195)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:54 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

so you think the gov't is going to pay $350/hr for 25 year olds and $1000 for partners to do work that a dozen other firms with the same quality attorneys could easily do? lol keep dreaming.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084238)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:07 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

The gov't didn't have much choice in picking DPW to deal with AIG, but I doubt that they are paying normal rates given the political climate w/r/t the AIG bailout in particular.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084316)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:16 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

In that the other big firms were conflicted out?

I think STB capped their fees at 100k for some work they were doing for the government, I think the fee application was posted online somewhere, so this type of government work is more for prestige/influence than for $$$.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084383)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:20 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

I think there was something floating around about STB capping fees on something for the gov't at 350K, but that is not much of a difference from 100K relative to what fees normally are.

No, not conflicted out so far as I know. DPW was in the right place at the right time (so to speak), that's all.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084419)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:28 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

I would have loved to see taxpayers' reaction to "premium billing".

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084504)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:33 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Exactly. There have already been half a dozen stories about AIG blowing cash on stupid bullshit and senators getting all pissy about it. I'm sure someone at Treasury has their sphincter seriously puckered w/r/t legal fees.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084559)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:57 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

This may be a distinction without a difference at this point, but my understand was that AIG was paying DPW for the fed's legal bill.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087635)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 6:04 PM
Author: adventurous heaven

Every firm capable of running a deal akin to the government bailout of AIG would have fees at least as high as those you are suggesting.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084871)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 8:12 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

yeah but the point is there's competition to get the work cuz of the prestige

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085993)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:37 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Yes and no on the TARP stuff, but most likely yes it wasn't very profitable in the short term if profitable at all on any time scale. Most New York firms are over-reliant on financial institution clients in one way or another.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084110)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 3:57 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

The proximity of the annual meeting and the finance meeting are actually, or just as equally, reasons why this is not coming on Monday or any time in the immediate future. Let's suppose that such a decision were made in the last few days -- it takes a bureaucratic behemoth like DPW a lot longer than a couple of days to figure out who to get rid of and go through all of the related process. I agree that if management does something of this sort--and that is a very outsized if--it would likely be done before the summers show up, though doing it after the summers leave would be even better. It's not like the summers won't know about it and be demoralized if it happens sometime between now and when they show up.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083794)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:00 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

In theory - the layoffs are just in NY - so they could have started to process weeks ago with the NY partners.

Also, if the theory here is that juniors are not being adequately trained, seems to make sense to axe people now rather than wait for the summers to leave six months from now.

that being said, the summer thing is one of those "would be nice if we didn't have to do that" sort of thing - not required by any stretch.

I have no idea. I just know that the V10 as a whole will feel much less shy about dumping people if DPW does it - and that is bad for everyone.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087672)



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Date: October 10th, 2011 4:16 PM
Author: house-broken scourge upon the earth selfie



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#19142607)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:15 PM
Author: Domesticated Henna Mad Cow Disease Halford

lol are there going to be layoff rumors now every time senior partners book conference rooms at a biglaw firm?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11083942)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:37 PM
Author: irradiated public bath

PWN PWN PWN

MOAR PROFITS

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084109)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:43 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

I am a corporate associate at DPW and have been laid off recently. Word is that over 40 have already been laid off, and I'm sure more will be sent away. The way they do it is to give notice (3 months), so looking for immediate changes in headcount online isn't going to reveal anything. I believe they are staggering layoffs intentionally to avoid the appearance of a mass layoff, but they ARE happening.

A lot of people are doing absolutely nothing at DPW and a summer class of 120 is on their way (along with 120 more bodies come fall). Clearly, no one is leaving voluntarily, so it will be inevitable. Anyone who thinks everything is peachy at DPW is fooling himself.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084151)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:47 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

give some detail about DPW so someone like Pleistocene can confirm that you worked there

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084192)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:50 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

Not sure what might convince him/her, but I can say that "Taste of India" was the lunch menu this past Friday.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084208)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:52 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

ty. sorry about your job man. what do you think you'll do next? DPW on your resume can't hurt.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084223)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:04 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

Thanks. Definitely can't hurt, but not sure it'll help much either in this market.

Still trying to get used to the idea of job searching, but I think I'll have to cast a wide net and look at a lot of different options if I want to find a new job anytime soon.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084294)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:13 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

I hope the economy will turn around faster so every one will be happy again.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084360)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:36 PM
Author: Hot den stain

mmmmmmmm chicken vindaloo nomnomnom

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088163)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:53 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

The number is wrong. The incoming summer class is about 110.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084228)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 4:55 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

The email from Sharon Crane on 2/23 says there will be 119 summers (110 in NY and 9 in Menlo Park)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084241)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:04 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

This is correct... "from 19 different law schools."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084293)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:18 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

It's quite amazing that they haven't cut back their summer hiring. Both S&C and Cravath have smaller summer classes.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084401)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:24 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

i'm sure the budget will be cut, as it will everywhere

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084460)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:26 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

A few firms learned the summer hiring (er, overhiring) lesson from the 2001 cycle. Many firms wound up with over-sized summer classes in 2002 because they were unable or unwilling to change hiring targets in the immediate aftermath 9/11. DPW kept steaming towards the iceberg even after it was clear (by Sept 1 2008 at the latest) even to lowly associates such as yours truly that there would be fuck-all for the summers to do in 2009.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084485)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 6:10 PM
Author: mahogany motley nowag pozpig

It sounds like you (nyconsigliere) are getting a much worse deal than Lathem associates who get laid off, right?

They got 6 months pay, you are getting 3 months notice with probably the vague feeling you have to show up sometimes and/or finish up old assignments and keep up with e-mail. Also no formal recognition this is economic and not performance.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084912)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 6:16 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

This is why someone earlier in the thread pointed out the irony of "stealth" layoffs being less classy than straight-up economic layoffs, yet stealth layoffs is the approach of choice for "classy" firms. It's bullshit that DPW associates are getting this three month notice garbage in this market (who the hell is going to find a comparable job in 3 months??) while LW is paying 6 months and acknowledging that it's economic and not performance based. DPW has seriously broken faith and morale is suffering as a result.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084967)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 6:33 PM
Author: mahogany motley nowag pozpig

I think it would be bad for morale of everyone to be there with an office, secretary, web bio, and so on, and then have someone give ask you do to something and face the choice of (1) explaining that you don't have to do it because you have been laid off and are in the notice period (2) suck it up and do the work in the vain hope that they will reconsider the layoff or remember this later and possibly hire you back.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085115)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 6:36 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

They usually let staffing, etc. know. Option 2 is incredibly beta.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085143)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 7:04 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

We certainly got a worse deal than Latham. I still show up but was told that I wouldn't be getting any new assignments and was subtly told to keep mum about being laid off. They justify the 3 month notice by saying that you still have the semblance of having a job while looking for a new one (the partner even said "we're not the type of place that tells you to clean up your office the same day"). But agreed that this is BS. I am positive it will take longer than 3 months to get a new job. I think only the firm benefits from the notice system - again, a way to be stealth about it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085391)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 7:07 PM
Author: chrome church building

No severance = no incentive to keep mum. Tell them they of all people should appreciate what this might result it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085415)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 7:22 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

One would think, right? Except they can just as easily curtail your notice period.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085544)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 7:23 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

That's right; threaten your employer as they are trying to get rid of you anyway. That will go over well.

Everyone knows what's going on at DPW. Management is either aware of the firm being supremely fucked in a way that makes this change in "culture" necessary or hasn't thought through how bad this all is for morale. Either way, there's not much that can be done to change the situation.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085561)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 7:08 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

Good luck. I hope you can find a new job soon.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085429)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 7:20 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

In a different market--one in which a DPW associate could easily find a job in three months (i.e. the way it has been for a long, long time)--the "stealth" is a benefit to the associate because the associate gets to present him or herself to prospective employers as wanting to move sua sponte, not as being pushed out. This three month thing at DPW is new; in the past DPW has gone out of its way to make sure that people didn't leave without jobs to go to. In this shit-show market with all of the public layoffs and rumors of "stealth" layoffs everywhere else, DPW has apparently decided that it's every lawyer for him or herself. This is another way in which DPW has broken the faith and fucked up morale.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085529)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 5:17 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

Any particular patterns you've noticed in terms of who they've been asking (i.e. concentrated in certain departments or class years)?

I guess in a more normal economy, they'd be giving 6 months at the annual reviews and wouldn't do doing this many.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084390)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 7:55 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

I think they are targeting the slower corporate departments (cap markets, derivatives, M&A, credit) but haven't noticed any specific pattern in that regard. They are also sending away people of all class years (as junior as 2nd years and as senior as 6th years).

Doesn't look like anyone is safe. People who slaved away for years have gotten the boot.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085824)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 8:24 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Wow. 2nd years?? Class of '07? That is news to me.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086099)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 8:54 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

It's true. I don't find it all that surprising given that "above the line" assignments will be coming soon.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086378)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 8:57 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

God, that is fucking brutal.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086402)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 9:04 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

what's an above the line assignment?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086469)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 9:36 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

Their 1st and 2nd years in corporate do 3 rotations and then pick one group permanently around now. So it's a natural opportunity to get rid of a bunch of them e.g. there's only 5 spots in M&A and 50 second years choosing it as their first choice.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086742)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:34 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

The 2nd years don't just pick one group. They are asked to rank all of the groups within corporate that they are interested in joining (litigation and tax don't do a rotation system at all) after their third six-month rotation -- timed to end on April 1 of 2nd year. In the past it has generally been possible to do a fourth rotation if an associate desires to do so. It's not an elimination system. They'll all get placed above the line somewhere unless there is some insane doomsday scenario in the works, which is highly unlikely. I'm amazed that even one or two second years have been pushed. Mass layoffs of 2nd years would probably result in DPW being banned from on campus recruiting from a few schools at least unless a slew of other firms follow suit.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087327)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:57 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

I was pretty amazed that 2nd years were getting cut as well. It seems so wrong. But economically, getting rid of 1st - 3rd years makes the most sense IF they can get away with it by being super stealth.

Which brings up another point - I have told the career service office at my law school about my story and the situation at DPW. I would encourage anyone out there to also alert their law schools' office of career services about firms that are acting like this. I know some schools are keeping tabs on these things, but it may be hard for them to monitor stealth layoffs - but obviously, they should know.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087644)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:05 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Sorry if you've mentioned this already - but what year are you? junior/ midlevel / senior?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087749)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:11 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

Rather not give a specific year, but I'm somewhere around junior/mid

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087825)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:13 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Fucking blows dood. I'm sure many more of us will be joining you soon, if that makes you feel better.

BTW, do you still have to come into work? I totally would take my stuff home and never come back.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087869)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:17 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

its not like anyone's in a position to pick where they go right now...2Ls will gladly sign up and take offers anywhere next fall.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087912)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:24 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

Actually, the top students at the top schools will still have many offers (can't say the same for everyone else), and the top firms will compete to get these students. It's mostly these kids who will need this info when it comes time to chose between CSM, S&C, STB, DPW, etc this fall.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088018)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:26 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

You think CSM, S&C, STB and everyone else aren't doing, or won't be doing, the same thing as DPW? Give me a break. This is acrosstheboard, and is not something ppl should be surprised about. The economy is absoulte crap right now.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088058)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:29 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

At least some of the other firms hired smaller summer classes. Not sure wtf DPW was thinking on that front. Sign of very bad management.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088083)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:30 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

eveyrone and their brother had an offer at CSM this year. dunno about S&C/stb, but i'd think CSM's class went up actually

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088097)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:32 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I thought someone said it was like 80, while DPW's was 120? That's an enormous difference.

Also CSM has been much clearer about the shitty state of the economy and the firm's future (or, at least, the associates' future). Have to give them credit for that.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088117)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:04 AM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

CSM has 100 SAs this year

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088536)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:24 AM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Jesus wtf are these kids going to do. Last summer was bad enough already.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088878)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:35 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Same shit they did during summer of 2002--go to lunch and write emails about how they don't do any work and accidentally send them to distribution lists including partners. Law firm summer camp, as usual. The boondoggle of a lifetime. Only this time it will have the distinct feeling of the string quartet playing on the deck of the Titanic while the lifeboats are getting lowered.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11089043)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:41 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

They may all do the same thing, but they may also not. Particularly with respect to junior associates - I don't think all these firms are laying off or will lay off 1st and 2nd years (this would be most relevant to incoming associates).

I had offers everywhere when I went through OCI. If I could go back in time, I would have chosen any other firm. Latham would have been a good choice. At least they're being public about layoffs and offering a real severance package.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088227)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 9:37 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

That's very unfortunante

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086748)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 5:17 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

I am sorry too. The situation totally sucks and is due to crappy management more than any other factor. You are exactly right in that DPW will shed whomever it is going to (or has) shed without doing public layoffs unless something incredibly dramatic is going on behind the scenes. As I said, the people that know are too smart and too image-conscious to say, regardless of what some big-mouth low- or mid-level partner told his or her hypothetical associate mentee.

Good luck with the job search.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11084394)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 1:43 PM
Author: insecure school cafeteria milk
Subject: CORRECT

nyconsigliere is correct. Stealth layoffs happen at DPW. It hits a lot of laterals. Seems as if they try to keep their home grown as long as possible. 3 months notice, though you still have to work on current matters (i.e. billing 180 hours in January). It sucks. Great reviews, great feedback and suddenly it's "sorry, we don't think you will make partner here and therefore it's only fair to you that we let you go now!" fair my a**....!! Soup of the day was carrot/ginger buisque

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11092790)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 6:38 PM
Author: chrome church building

Like ptbarnum said, the day a V5 does public layoffs is the day I stop going to work. At that point it's over.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085159)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 7:46 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

What saves the V5 from doing public layoffs is that the associates there will always remain more tight lipped than those at lower ranked firms. This includes both associates who remain as well as those who were laid off. If cwt let go of 3 associates ATL would get 200 tips within the hour. V5 associates are so concerned with the reputation of their firm that nobody will say a word.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11085738)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:25 PM
Author: Charcoal tattoo

"V5 associates are so concerned with the reputation of their firm that nobody will say a word."

I think that's going to change, the way they are treating people.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087218)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:22 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Honestly, I could give a shit about my firm's reputation. If they fired me or one of my friends, I'd send blabber about it to anyone that would listen.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088002)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 9:04 PM
Author: green rigor national security agency

They have no work in corporate now. But I think they'll just up the number of stealths and not go for one big public rape

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086460)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:09 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

They still have work, but the capital market is still in shambles. The level of activity is only about 40% of what it was in 2007.

Basically, they can get rid of at least 40% of their associates in those practice groups.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087044)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 9:30 PM
Author: azure patrolman

this is very bad news

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086691)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 9:53 PM
Author: Charcoal tattoo
Subject: got laid off from DPW as well

I know of at least three people on the corporate side who have gotten the stealth layoff in the past few months, mostly (I think) because they had the bad luck of being in the wrong practice group.

If this had happened anytime in the past six years or so, I think they all would have had multiple offers at other firms and no one would have ever had to know, but the lateral market has absolutely dried up since late last year. No one is hiring, at least not people who have experience in the practice groups most likely to be let go (of course there are some firms -- including DPW, ha! -- looking for a few mid-level or higher bankruptcy, tax, or litigation associates). There is no way I am going to be able to get another law firm gig before I have to leave, which is coming up faster than I want to think about.

So the 3 months notice would normally be better than the immediate termination with severance, but in this economy it is worse. In fact, they would much rather have had the Latham deal, since aside from getting the six months, they don't have to keep going into the office to keep up appearances and since so many people got laid off from Latham at the same time, it seems like future employers will be more likely to accept it was entirely or substantially for economic reasons.

As it is, I don't think anyone is going to believe that someone left a BIGLAW firm voluntarily in the midst of the worst recession in decades. So the whole idea of "confidentiality" about the circumstances of our departure is a joke. Any firm that is laying people off right now must know that they are leaving those people to swing in the wind, but they don't give a shit, about their student loans, apartment leases or mortgages they can't get out of, all of the things we had felt were relatively secure. By the way, it really happens without warning, and I think that's the true meaning of "nice", is that you'll never hear any criticism of your work until it's too late...at least at some other firms people will tell you to your face if they have a problem with you instead of stabbing you in the back.

The same people who made the brilliant decision to hire these massive classes of summer associates over the past few years are now trying to preserve their $2M+ per year paychecks. Just as in any company, the people who make the decisions reap the benefits when they make good decisions and avoid all the consequences when they fuck up.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086889)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 9:58 PM
Author: Indigo nubile incel menage

I'm surprised BIGLAW associates haven't unionized. Power is unreasonably skewed toward partners.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086938)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:04 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

I am sorry to hear that. These days, big law firms are run just like investment banks. fat pay check + no employment security. Clearly, the pay check is not as fat as what those Ibankers are getting, the risk is almost as high as theirs. This is exactly why they will never be able to retain their associates when there is a boom. Once you know that you are easily expendable, who give a shit about the firm's well being.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11086994)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:18 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Part of the point of being a lawyer as opposed to being a banker is that you take less risk and less reward as a lawyer. As it turns out, it seems the risk profile of being a lawyer is not all that different than being a banker and we still get paid less and have to pay out the ass for law school.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087932)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:07 PM
Author: seedy stage

"As it is, I don't think anyone is going to believe that someone left a BIGLAW firm voluntarily in the midst of the worst recession in decades."

So you would think, but judging by ATL, lawyers and law students are not particularly attuned to reality, and firms (other than Latham and a few others) don't get much attention for these stealth layoffs. I read an ATL comment recently where the poster said (without a hint of sarcasm) that STB was definitely not doing stealth layoffs because "only" around 50 associates have left in the last few months.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087027)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:08 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

You guys should send your dpw layoff stories to ATL. If it gets posted the posts will get over 500 comments.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087038)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:11 PM
Author: Indigo nubile incel menage

it's crucial that scuzzy firms are exposed. there are a lot of firms doing horribly, crummy things under the radar. latham gets a lot of shit, but they seem to be the classiest firm out there. we need to work together to identify clearly the best and worst actors for incoming law-school classes.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087083)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:20 PM
Author: Mustard vigorous haunted graveyard

seriously. i sent the email to tips@abovethelaw.com telling them about a few friends who got laid off at both STB and DPW in the past few months...but do they run a story? nope.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087168)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:27 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

it's useless to tell anecdotes about your friends, cuz then they can't follow-up and get the specifics. these guys should tip ATL themselves.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087244)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:31 PM
Author: Charcoal tattoo
Subject: do you guys really think it will make any difference?

People will keep going to law school because they have nothing else to do and no fucking clue what they're getting into. People will keep going to "prestigious" firms because they are ranked high on Vault. Nobody thinks they are going to be the one who gets laid off. And it's going to be an employer's market for a long time.

I'm surpised that the firms are even trying to hide that they are laying people off. There will still be thousands of 2Ls beating down their door for the chance to work in BIGLAW.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087278)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:36 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

the main difference it could have is reordering the prestige rankings from the perspective of students/laterals.

...unless of course all the peer firms do layoffs. i'm curious why DPW in particular is struggling. any ideas? overemphasis on cap markets and financial services clients? i thought of them as one of the more diverse biglaw firms, w/ strong tax/lit/bk groups, and not given to crazy hiring excesses like cravath.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087356)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:38 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

i haven't seen anything to suggest to me that DPW is struggling compared to peer firms.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087391)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:41 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

their PPP/revenue drop was the most dramatic other than latham and cravath, and they're the first truly elite firm confirmed to be doing stealth layoffs.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087418)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:41 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

who are you?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087427)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:04 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

I was reminded of this:

http://www.hoboes.com/html/FireBlade/Carroll/Alice/Wonder/alice5.html



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087724)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:39 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

It will only make a difference in that some firms are pretending to be above the fray while dropping associates in slow groups. They should be called out on this. If a firm is struggling economically they should fess up, and stop blaming layoffs on the “performance” of associates in slow practice areas.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087398)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:51 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

it doesn't matter what you call it. every firm knows that associates seeking a job ITE (except in unusual and typically apparent circumstances, e.g., moving to city of SO) were laid off for a combination of economic and performance reasons.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087566)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:56 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

Calling these layoffs performance based is very deceptive. Poor performance relative to what? You got to be a superstar to keep your job if you are in the structured finance department, but in litigation an average associate will keep his job. I don’t think it would be accurate to call an above average SF associate layoff “performance related”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087628)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:59 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

Yes, but every hiring firm will understand this. Obviously bankruptcy and IP Lit applicants are more suspect than SF applicants.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087660)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:04 PM
Author: Useless Multi-billionaire

Yet some firms are still claiming that these are routine performance layoffs, even though there is nothing routine about laying off an above average 3rd year SF associate.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087722)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:35 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

This is precisely what happened to me too. I NEVER once got a poor review or any complaints about my work. But their reason for telling me to leave was that everything about my work was bad. I was beyond shocked. When I asked them for specifics, they refused to say a single thing. I would say they handled the whole thing in an incredibly rude and unprofessional way. Behind closed doors, I don't think it would hurt them one bit to admit that it was economically motivated. But no, they insist on dumping a bunch of bs on you instead.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087331)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:37 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

You can judge the quality of work by the responsibility you were given compared with that of your peers.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087371)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:42 PM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

I was given more than my fair share of responsibilities. I was not oblivious to how I compared to other people. I know I was on par with my class, but I was in one of the groups that suffered a dramatic slowdown.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087439)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:58 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

How is DPW's capital market doing these days? I know their restructuring group is quite busy. I notice that they are handling several large note offerings lately. I wouldn't think that they are in such bad shape.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087649)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:42 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

this is a pretty suboptimal way to stay informed about your progress. especially when your supervisors can, you know, just fucking tell you how your work is.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087444)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:47 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

well they could, but keep in mind:

1) businesses avoid harsh criticism of their employees for morale reasons;

2) it's problematic to criticize the quality of associates' work product while billing clients for it; and

3) people--even BIGLAW partners--are human and usually prefer not to be mean, especially to people they see and work with every day.

if partners ripped associates apart all the time for their work then they'd go crying to ATL and XOXO about it.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087504)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:53 PM
Author: mentally impaired zippy abode

there's a way to offer criticism (sometimes even harsh) w/o demoralizing you or being mean/yelling.

it's preferable to having people say "good job" to your face and then talk shit about your work behind your back.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087601)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:05 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

Yep, that's the way it's basically done, often a blindside.

It's funny because I saw this stuff in 2006 and 2007 as well in more normal times.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087747)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:18 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

The review process at all these firms is such a joke. "Great job! Ahead of your class! Keep doing what you are doing!"

Six months later, some random HR woman you never met fires you because of performance.

BTW, who gave you the talk? Was it someone you worked for?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087930)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:21 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

one factor i failed to mention above is that in ordinary times most firms suffer undesirably high attrition. they have an incentive to delude people into believing they have partnership chances.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087980)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:35 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

It amazes me how firms can't change these things faster - kinda like summer class hiring.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088155)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:39 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

you say "they had the bad luck of being in the wrong practice group"

generally speaking, did most people who are in cap markets or credit or structured finance have these groups as their first choice? or was there competition for other groups and these people just got unlucky?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087400)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:09 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

DPW has never had a structured finance (i.e. CDO) practice, so it's nothing directly related to the total meltdown in that kind of work that slaughtered other firms that were doing a lot of that work. The derivatives group has been hit hard (the meat and potatoes of that group is converts and that market has essentially shut down) and it was at one point a competitive / prestigious group and had its pick of 2nd years going above the line. Cap M and Credit have had a much harder time getting people to go above the line for the last few years. Credit (which includes bankruptcy at DPW) and FIG have been pretty busy and have been pulling idle Cap M associates in to help out. The most sought-after group over the last few years has been IMG, but I get the impression that they remain fairly busy, though I could be wrong about that. M&A was generally the group where people got shoved if they didn't get IMG or Derivatives and didn't want Cap M or Credit. I get the impression that some of the smaller support groups (e.g. ERISA) are getting hit because a 2nd or 3rd year ERISA (enviro, IP, etc.) associate is easily fungible for a mid-level or senior, for the most part, given the nature of the work those groups do at DPW.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087798)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:21 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Sorry - can you define some of these groups? FIG? IMG?

And why have they had a hard time getting people to do cap m and credit? I think cap m is very boring but I thought it was one of DPW's premier practice areas.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087967)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:22 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

financial institutions and investment management

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087997)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:24 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

investment management - is that like '40 act?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088030)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:26 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

Yeah '40 act, not sure if DPW has a hedge fund practice, presumably that would be in Investment Management as well.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088050)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:28 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Hedge funds are pretty dead... no one is rasing money right now- not sure why they would still be busy. But i guess compared to the behemoth Cap Markets practice group "busy" is relative.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088076)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:31 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

They could be representing folks who invested in Madoff or something.

But yeah, if Capital Markets is their bread and butter, they are definitely going to get dinged big time, especially since they are so underwriter heavy. Plus, you don't really get paid if the deal doesn't close and it's pretty hard to roll over the time (which is one of the downsides of representing banks generally)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088103)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:37 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I've heard a lot of "madoff related work" - but WTF are you doing? If you invested in madoff, you're getting the 500k from the gov't and that is fucking it.

I could see needing to do work-outs with your creditors, but I see this more as a credit thing not a '40 act thing.

Yea not many cap markets deals closed last year. Such a waste of time.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088179)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:54 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

DPW has a pretty strong HF practice in the IMG group, which does advisers act and investment company act work. IMG also plays a support role in some of the weirder, bespoke deals that come in through other groups.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088384)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:56 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I imagine there are going to be more rather than less weird bespoke deals going forward...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088417)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:06 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Probably. Hopefully for clients who can, like, pay and shit. Not this "doing it for the prestige" nonsense. Part of the story we are all missing here, though, is that all of the firms fucked up by raising rates in 2007 and again in 2008. Now that all the financials are royally fucked, they are going to bitch to high heaven about the outlandishly jacked up rates, and rightfully so. The NY "biglaw" model is broken in a major way and the massive bloodletting is just the first taste of pain.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088567)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:23 AM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

A lot of things about the model don't make sense. Billable hours and lock-step compensation are the first two that come to mind.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088865)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 12:45 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Yeah, well, anyone want to place bets on whether the business wizards (AKA senior partners) that brought us all to this point are going to come up with a new model that works? An organization that has $500M+ in revenue with a business model that boils down to "buy wholesale, sell retail" and run by secretive management committees composed of three to five white dudes who got out of H/Y/S/C/NYU law back when you needed a 3.2 and a 162 LSAT to get in is a fucking joke. Non-law businesses with $50M in revenue are run by people who are actually managers and understand business. What do we have? Bonesmen and such like who made the right political moves with other retrograde white dudes back in the day, scored points by racking up billables largely by padding hours and being inefficient, and wouldn't know a business model if it bit them right on the pucker.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11089146)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 6:04 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Would be hilarious if you were a junior partner.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11095502)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:33 PM
Author: Twinkling thriller windowlicker

i take back my earlier criticism of you. your unfamiliarity and amateurism with xoxo flame/bullshit is actually a significant virtue. thanks for all the insights in this thread.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088133)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:12 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

No worries. I'm glad that most of the retarded flame bullshit has stopped. These forums would be a lot more interesting if people trolling for "lulz" or whatever the fuck would just go away.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088657)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:47 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

A-fucking-men brother/sister.

I am so annoyed by the way this has been handled -- this plus DPW being involved in so many of the unpopular bailouts (chiefly AIG and C) makes me feel like Ettinger et al took a gigantic dump on my resume. When I see the smug ass partners in the halls or peering into my office as they lope around the floor, it's all I can do to keep myself from pimp-slapping them. And you can bet your bottom dollar that a lot of our "nice" colleagues are secretly (or not so secretly) smug about dodging the stealth bullet and don't understand what a god damn auger job this band of bozos has done to all of us, whether stealthed or not.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087505)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:01 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

Is the capital market group really dead slow now? I have noticed that they have got their hands on several large note offering lately. How about the M&A group?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087682)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:21 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Cap M has started to pick back up but nothing close to full capacity. No idea on M&A. The one recent high-profile public M&A deal DPW handled was Citi's aborted attempt to buy Wachovia's commercial bank business. I wonder if we even got paid for that fucking disaster.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087966)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:22 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

i'm literally lol. this cracks me up.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087990)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:26 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

DPW = unsecured creditor in the pending Citi bankruptcy!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088053)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:42 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

Citi is fine. Their stock getting battered has nothing to do with their cash flow. Since the government has become the largest shareholder, it will not allow Citi to file bankruptcy.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088247)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:45 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I was just joking around - but that's kinda like saying GM is fine because Obama won't let them file, either. Doesn't mean they aren't royally fucked.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088277)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:51 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

Well. The fact that the government decided to convert their preferred shares into common shows that bankruptcy is not an option for them. It's like AIG. The whole point of bailing AIG out is to avoid the mess of bankruptcy. Bankruptcy = more uncertainty in the market = Dow below 5000

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088349)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:54 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I don't think we are disagreeing here. But I'm just saying this is, essentially, semantics. They they aren't going through the bankruptcy court for restructuring doesn't mean they aren't getting bankruptcy-style restructuring.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088376)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 12:15 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Reminds me of this gem:

http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/images/dow_36000_1.png

And DJIA below 5000 doesn't seem far-fetched to me, these days.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088732)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 10:21 PM
Author: Charcoal tattoo
Subject: By the way a bit of advice

If you are still working at a BIGLAW firm or on your way to one, I suggest you pay down your student loans and other debts as fast as you possibly can. I have a friend from the same law school class as me who was making the minimum payment on his loans, and using his income for his 401K and other investments instead. His philosophy was that the interest rates on his student loans were pretty low and he could get a better return investing in stocks. Plus he had a nice apartment in NYC and spent pretty freely, though not extravagantly, since he had limited free time and felt he deserved to enjoy it. He just got laid off earlier this year, can't find another job paying anything close to what he was making in BIGLAW, his investments are in the shitter, and his loan balances are still well over 100K. In short, he is fucked. But a year ago, that all seemed like the right thing to do.

I think for the rest of my life I'm going to be scarred by this, and act like my relatives who lived through the Great Depression, saving absolutely everything, spending nothing, and keeping gold coins buried in the backyard. Things can change so fast...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087174)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:31 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

i disagree. timing is everything.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087284)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 10:45 PM
Author: magical forum water buffalo

yeah, as soon as i find a new job, i'm buying gold coins and will be extremely miserly in the future, all horrifying my future children by re-using teabags and stuff.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087474)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:31 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I think the 401k contributions still make sense. You need money for retirement and that shit is protected.

Obv trying to play some rate arbitrage with stocks vs. private student loans is a bit rough right now. Muni bonds may still work though. Just takes a little research.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088109)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:37 PM
Author: Charcoal tattoo
Subject: protected?

My 401k account is worth 50% of WHAT I PUT IN! Granted, I won't be touching it for 40 years or whatever, but it's not even going to get back to even for a LOOOONG time.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088180)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:40 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Well, i mean it is protected in bankruptcy. I know none of us like to think like that, but in the worst case - fucked up the ass situation, you'll still have that money when you are an old man - and there is some value to that.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088218)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 7:19 PM
Author: flesh know-it-all death wish

Credit, and the lower stocks go, the more important it is to keep contributing - at some point there IS going to be a bottom here, even if the climb is very very slow to get back up to where it once was.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11096324)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:16 PM
Author: Clear Liquid Oxygen

noobs. i was laid-off before it was even cool

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087906)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:19 PM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

your firm had no reputation to worry about.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087938)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:22 PM
Author: Clear Liquid Oxygen

so?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11087987)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:31 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Hey, now. CWT was the first firm in the history of DPW to poach a partner. So, yeah, they are kind of awesome I guess. Or something.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088102)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:41 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Partners made a lot of money at CWT. Their business model made perfect sense if you look at it from the partner perspective. They cashed out at the right time. Not sure why more people don't realize this.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088225)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:46 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

But by doing that, they have to rely on their ability to attract lateral partners and supposedly they will not be able to attract any promising law students. Whenever their profits drop, they will resort to layoffs.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088299)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:50 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Who the fuck cares? They made their money and it is in the bank. They don't need promising law students - that's their whole business model- high leverage, churn out this product, profit, then fire everyone when the product is no longer needed. "Well fuckwad they destroyed their brand" - ok, but if the brand is dead, they can lateral out or just go enjoy their money. Those partners made about 2X what they should have made during those boom years. The associates got fucked - but that doesn't hurt them any. Worst case is likely that they go back to making what they should have been making anyway.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088337)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:53 PM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

of course. If they no longer care about their reputation anymore.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088372)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:55 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I think that is the essential point that people generally miss. If you had a choice of $2 million a year for 5 years + destroying your firm vs. $1 million a year for 5 years and not destroying your firm, I know which one I would take. And, of course, they didn't actually destroy their firm - just a bunch of their associates.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088404)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:02 AM
Author: shivering hyperactive center

good point, but probably true only for the more senior partners with established books of business. junior partners, especially in litigation, can't just lateral to another firm of similar quality when their firm collapses.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088496)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:04 AM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

yea but how much is that really worth? So I need to go work for some non-V50 firm. OK. but I have my money in the bank. And, most of these partners are still at CWT - still making pretty decent wages.

The people who got fucked were the associates.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088540)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:32 AM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

The whole point of working at firms like DPW is that they have a very consistent record of high profits. CWT's profit only went over the roof in the last 3 years. Now they are back to earth.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088994)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:48 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

I have no real issue with CWT. I've been across them a few times and they have been totally decent. I was just fucking around. Partners at DPW were all pissed about it because they had to change the firm's marketing materials for law students, which used to boast that no partner had ever left for another law firm.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088320)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:50 PM
Author: Clear Liquid Oxygen



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088343)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:52 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

ROFL.

I heard on amlaw of at least one derivatives partner who left in the last year. Didn't realize this was rare at all.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088355)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:59 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

He went to Latham and was the second ever in the history of DPW. That one was more amicable. His profile is still on the internal directory giving his departure date. The first partner to leave for another firm (CWT) got "unpersoned"--you search for him on the internal directory and it's as though he never fucking existed.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088447)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:01 AM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Any idea why these guys left? Because they didn't like lockstep and thought they could make more money? Doesn't sound like either got pushed out.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088481)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:03 AM
Author: Clear Liquid Oxygen

That partner stood to make much much more money at cwt than dpw.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088516)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:20 AM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Makes sense.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088813)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:30 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

CWT defector did not fit in well at DPW and was widely hated by almost all the other corporate partners, stood to make more money at CWT and be king of his own personal hill instead of another bitch-ass midlevel partner consigned to political oblivion because of internecine political bullshit. I wouldn't say he got pushed, but partners were open about being happy to see the back of him.

LW defector has a background in eastern Europe and wanted to expand there; DPW has no footprint there and LW does. LW was also desperate to start up a derivatives practice and threw a ton of money at him. He also wanted more control over his own destiny instead of being a mid-level partner in a mature derivatives practice with other big-swinging-dick partners. He purportedly agreed to a restrictive non-compete and didn't take associates with him (like the CWT defector did), which is why it was basically amicable.

When LW defector left, the management committee sent a firm-wide email saying he was leaving on good terms. When CWT defector announced he was leaving he was, as I said, unpersoned and immediately locked out of his office and consigned to a cubicle on one of the back-office lower floors of the building so that he could tie up his loose ends out of sight and without an official peep from management.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088968)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:34 AM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

haha. Good story!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11089028)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:37 AM
Author: Clear Liquid Oxygen

“I wouldn't say he got pushed, but partners were open about being happy to see the back of him.”

I don’t doubt that he was hated, but I highly doubt dpw being happy to see him go. This was dpw first partner poached ever. From what I understand they were pretty pissed about it.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11089061)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:51 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Several partners actually came to my office and said "[CWT defector] left; it's actually a good thing because [insert bullshit reason here]." You are correct in that it was mixed emotions--like Larry Wildman going off a cliff in my new Mazerati, har har har--but it's fair to say they were glad to see him go. Glad to see him go to another firm, particularly CWT, which partners at DPW generally consider to be beneath contempt, is another matter.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11089223)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:39 AM
Author: lascivious buff keepsake machete

What's Huebner's reputation at DPW? Is he likable?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11089078)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 12:58 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

I don't know him well. He seems likable enough. Kind of a douche, but few of his ilk aren't douches, and he is witty with his douchebaggery and knows how to tell a good story.

He is, however, without a doubt, a big-swinging-dick. Smart as fuck and works like a beast of burden. So, he kind of gets to be a douche in my book, at least to a certain extent. The real problem cases are the fuckbag partners who aren't all that smart or clever and yet are douches just the same. Those are the ones I'd like to pimp-slap when I see them in the hall or on the elevator. Or grab them by the lapels and yell "listen, you miserable waste of humanity, you're just another putz who was in the right place at the right time so take your smug bullshit and cram it" into their white-shoe ears.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11089328)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:35 PM
Author: Charcoal tattoo
Subject: Bump this on April 1, 2009 and see what the attorney count is...

Because I have a feeling a lot of people will be disappearing from the website around March 31.

Date: March 7th, 2009 11:58 PM

Author: swimlover

Subject: DPW's head count per their website as of Today, March 7, 2009.

Partner: 166

Associate: 470

Counsel: 43

Senior Counsel: 27

Clerk: 96

Let's see if any change occurs in the next few days.



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088153)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:37 PM
Author: Amber indian lodge

This is a great idea. Someone should do this for all the top firms, particulary for corporate associates. Let's see who's the "classiest" in pushing people out.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088176)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 8th, 2009 11:38 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

I bet the fucking partner number doesn't change.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088196)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:45 PM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

Actually, a couple of partners have very quietly gone elsewhere recently. But the scuttlebutt is that it's because they made partner and then stopped fucking working, not because they were responsible for the firm-wide clusterfuck.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088284)



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Date: March 8th, 2009 11:57 PM
Author: adulterous titillating station background story

Yea well that always happens, I'm sure.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11088429)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 10:43 AM
Author: Emerald Violent New Version

So what's the safest practice that incoming associates should choose? What about summer associates? Any advice on how not to get "no-offered". Should we all just pick bankruptcy and litigation?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11091718)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 11:13 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

That's not how the summer program works. You don't get assigned to a particular practice. Highly doubtful that DPW will change it's policy of making offers to absolutely everyone unless a particular summer does something retarded, like dropping the N-bomb at a summer lunch.

I suppose the offer policy could change given what's going on in the market, but if that is the case it's anyone's guess as to how they will decide to handle that. I really doubt that it will change though. They will want to project an image that everything is just fine and dandy.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11091849)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 11:15 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

And as for incoming associates, rank your preferred practices for rotations. They aren't abandoning the rotation system, so you have some time to figure out what you want to do and what seems "safe" when you get to the firm.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11091855)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 10:38 AM
Author: mentally impaired zippy abode

bump. anything w/ layoffs today?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11091686)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 11:10 AM
Author: racy ruby boltzmann

No, no, a thousand times no. There aren't going to be layoffs today. It would already be all over the firm and it is business as usual. Not a peep about layoffs or strange meetings in conference rooms.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11091836)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 11:43 AM
Author: floppy tantric sex offender

One can hope things are business as usual, but I don't think anyone can say for sure whether they are or are not happening.

Like I said, so far they've been super stealth about it. They tell you to keep your mouth shut. Also, the way it's done is that a partner you work for calls you into his office to deliver the bad news (no conference rooms involved). And it's also been happening at the end of the day.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11091984)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 12:10 PM
Author: mentally impaired zippy abode

why aren't more people talking to ATL and publicizing these stealth layoffs?

all firms conducting stealth layoffs should be publicly shamed and forced to pay 6 months severance.

it pisses me off my firm would likely never do a public layoff b/c management always says "we don't do layoffs" so they will just screw people over by giving them 3 months notice.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11092124)



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Date: March 9th, 2009 1:55 PM
Author: Charcoal tattoo
Subject: Is it just me or is the lawyer search on DPW's site not working?

As of this morning, I can't get any attorney names to come up on the website (www.dpw.com)

Is it just me? If not, that's pretty odd...

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11092855)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 1:57 PM
Author: electric market pisswyrm

prob. a glictch

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11092867)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 4:51 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

Wasn't working last night for me either

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11094560)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 4:56 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

*keeps his hands warm by the FLAME*

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11094645)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 5:13 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

stealth layoffs on ATL - doesn't look like any public layoffs though.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11094881)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 5:56 PM
Author: White resort ape

not much stealth when it's on ATL.

They should be hated if the no severance thing is true

http://abovethelaw.com/2009/03/davis_polk_wardwell_stealth_layoffs.php#more

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11095416)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 6:01 PM
Author: idiotic point genital piercing

agreed.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11095467)



Reply Favorite

Date: March 9th, 2009 7:17 PM
Author: mint home

So between the info on here, the info on ATL, and DPW's response, it's pretty much confirmed that:

1. They've been doing stealth layoffs

2. They've been giving the axed associates far inferior packages than the severance packages from Latham

Right?

What a fucking piece of shit firm.

Oh, BUT THE PEOPLE ARE SO NICE!!!1111!!1!1one!1

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#11096296)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 19th, 2010 10:28 PM
Author: Bearded coffee pot piazza

more rumblings of layoffs in corporate. can anyone confirm???

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#16335070)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 19th, 2010 11:27 PM
Author: Hyperventilating black jew

wtf? I thought DPW was hiring fucking 3Ls for corporate/tax.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#16335718)



Reply Favorite

Date: October 20th, 2010 12:10 AM
Author: Contagious hateful tank pit

if anything's happening right now, it's just the usual performance reviews

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=946450&forum_id=2#16336287)