Dewey Lays Off 30 Administrative Staffers
Dewey & LeBoeuf announced today in a firmwide memo that 30 administrative staff members in its Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C., offices have been laid off.
The memo, obtained by Above the Law and confirmed as correct by Dewey & LeBoeuf to the ABA Journal said that “these changes are made necessary by an overall reduction in lawyer headcount.”
After a 10 percent reduction in the firm’s equity partner ranks, Dewey’s profits per equity partner increased 3.4 percent and revenue per lawyer increased 6.7 percent as gross revenue fell by 11.3 percent in 2009. In March 2009, Dewey cut 66 partners’ draws by up to 80 percent.
The memo also says that “last year … we took steps to manage our administrative staffing model.” In March of 2009, Dewey laid off about 100 staff members.