* 
The big issue for the week was Cahill. It’s fairly well established that there have been significant layoffs this week. We just can’t get a handle on a good number. While we applaud the manner in which they’ve handled the business, it’s frustrating that they’re staying off the radar. They’ve got about 160 associates in New York and the rumors speculate it’s 10%. Any suggestions on how we should handle layoffs for which no data are available?
* Another dilemma: Allen & Overy is letting go of 10 lawyers in Hong Kong. A&O meets our BigLaw criteria, and we’d probably include London numbers, but Hong Kong? Plus, these seem to be directly related to seven partners left for Latham & Watkins last year. For now, I’ve included it for a few reasons: it’s A&O, which like most other international firms, claims it’s “one law firm around the world” (sorry, White & Case); it’s attorney layoffs; and we already know we’re undercounting.
* Further to A&O, apparently we’re supposed to ignore this comment from the firm earlier in the week: “Like any business we cannot rule out the possibility of having to make targeted redundancies in particular practice groups or offices if there is a sustained downturn or if there are exceptional business reasons.” The rest of the Magic Circle firms claim they’re not going to follow Clifford Chance’s lead and don’t plan to lay anyone else off. Take that with a healthy serving of salt, though.
* Added Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, which has reportedly laid off up to 65 staff and attorneys. The firm had a previous round of 13 in June.
* Due to popular demand, we added Wildman Harrold to the Layoff Tracker. Based on the handful of emails we got, it was more an issue of people liking the name than the firm meeting our arbitrary criteria.
* In addition, this week we had: Foley Hoag (32), Seyfarth Shaw (25) and Dewey & LeBoeuf (8).
Update (1/16 3 pm) adding Blank Rome, for 12 more. This is the second round after letting nine go in June.
152 for the week.
300 for the month (and calendar 2009).
2,062 since 1/1/2008.
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