Within the wake of Willkie Farr’s $100 professional bono payola cope with Donald Trump, attorneys have been fleeing the agency’s West Coast workplace in droves. So far, about 20 attorneys have decamped from the agency’s San Francisco workplace for Cooley. Confronted with an exodus, Willkie is now sending fairly combined messages to its workers. What will we imply by that? The agency has resorted to shedding workers members, whereas on the identical time providing beneficiant bonuses to summer time associates and seasoned associates. These aren’t summer time bonuses, thoughts you — these are extra of a “please don’t depart us” payout.
The American Lawyer has extra particulars on Willkie’s bonuses for some, layoffs for others technique:
A paralegal, a billing assistant, two secretaries and the San Francisco workplace supervisor have been affected by workers cuts that went into impact final week, in accordance with sources acquainted with the state of affairs, who requested anonymity to talk candidly about circumstances at Willkie. …
Whilst Willkie lower into its workers within the workplace, the agency started providing “beneficiant” retention bonuses to first-year and second-year summer time associates, in addition to associates within the Bay Space, sources mentioned. Bonuses for summer time associates—supplied in a bid to deliver them again for his or her 2L summer time or to return to the agency after legislation college—fell round $35,000, in accordance with sources with data of the gives.
Regardless of the bonuses, sources mentioned, at the very least two 2L summer time associates in San Francisco have as a substitute dedicated to affix the litigation staff at Cooley, whereas many of the 1L summer time associates from that workplace have opted to not spend their 2L summer time with Willkie and dedicated to work elsewhere, in a broad sign of disapproval of Willkie’s cope with the president.
Yikes! Even Willkie’s summer time associates are turning down straight money and heading to Cooley.
In a authorized market the place reputations can activate a dime — particularly when a agency makes a “grave mistake” like bending a knee to Trump — Willkie’s retention gambit could maintain some attorneys from leaping ship, but it surely’s unlikely to quiet the whispers about what’s actually occurring behind closed doorways.
We want the very best of luck to these at Willkie who not too long ago misplaced their jobs.
In case your agency or group is decreasing the ranks of its attorneys or workers, whether or not by way of deferrals, open layoffs, stealth layoffs, or voluntary buyouts, please don’t hesitate to tell us. Our huge community of tipsters is a part of what makes Above the Legislation thrive. You possibly can e-mail us or textual content us (646-820-8477). Thanks to your help.
Should you’d like to enroll in ATL’s Layoff Alerts, please scroll down and enter your e-mail deal with within the field under this publish. Should you beforehand signed up for the layoff alerts, you don’t must do something. You’ll obtain an e-mail notification inside minutes of every layoff announcement that we publish.
Willkie Cuts San Francisco Employees, Gives Retention Bonuses to Summers [American Lawyer]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Legislation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be at liberty to e-mail her with any suggestions, questions, feedback, or critiques. You possibly can observe her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join along with her on LinkedIn.
