By Casey Sullivan
(Reuters) - The Washington, D.C., law firm Patton Boggs has
laid off an unknown number of lawyers and administrative staff,
according to two sources inside the firm with direct knowledge
of the matter and two sources outside the firm.
The firm, which has more than 550 attorneys in nine offices
worldwide, is known best for its lobbying and public policy work
in Washington and is expected to have a firm-wide meeting early
on Friday to discuss its current situation, according to a
Patton Boggs partner.
At the meeting, in which partners will be able to call in
via telephone, the leaders of the firm are expected to announce
details about the layoffs and other changes, the partner said.
"I think the firm is just right-sizing," said one partner,
who noted he wasn't worried about the firm's financial health.
The partner said the firm's management had briefed him about
layoffs in the litigation department, but added that they could
affect other areas of the business as well. They involved the
New Jersey, New York and Washington offices and were based on
the productivity of the lawyers, he said.
A Patton Boggs spokesman contacted on Thursday said: "We
have nothing formal to announce at this time. We'd be glad to
share any information when we do."
Thomas Boggs, the firm's chairman, did not immediately
respond to a request for comment.
It could not be determined how many lawyers, or which ones,
are affected by the layoffs, but one source with knowledge of
the matter said that the layoffs affect lawyers in both partner
and associate ranks.
The furloughs come as many law firms throughout the United
States have sought to lay off partners and junior associates as
the legal industry faces low demand and significant pricing
pressure from clients following the recession.
Other law firms have made similar downsizing moves recently.
The legal blog, "Above the Law", reported earlier on Thursday
that Stroock & Stroock & Lavan had planned to lay off an
unspecified number of legal secretaries.
A spokeswoman for Stroock & Stroock was not immediately
available for comment on Thursday.
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