BigLaw firm cuts 21 staff members, citing ‘excess capacity’ and ‘misalignment’

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BigLaw firm cuts 21 staff members, citing…

Layoffs BigLaw firm cuts 21 staff members, citing 'excess capacity' and 'misalignment'

By Debra Cassens Weiss

February 8, 2023, 9:57 am CST

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Davis Wright Tremaine has laid off 21 staff members, citing a need to “better align our capabilities and capacity with current and anticipated workflows.”

Above the Law, which was first with the news, published the full memo sent to all law firm employees.

“We have excess capacity in some areas and, with the way we work continuing to evolve, we have some redundancy and misalignment around the skills and capabilities we need to serve our clients,” wrote managing partner Scott MacCormack.

No lawyers were laid off, Law.com reports. Bloomberg Law also has coverage.

The laid-off staff members are receiving severance packages and outplacement services.

MacCormack’s memo said the firm remains poised for success this year and into the future.

“To that end, we will continue to recruit and invest in those areas that provide opportunities for sustained growth and success for the firm,” the memo said.

Bloomberg Law and Law.com pointed out that David Wright also laid off 39 furloughed staff members in September 2020.

Katherine Loanzon, managing director at Kinney Recruiting, told Bloomberg Law that corporate transaction work remains slow.

“As for staff layoffs, I would not be surprised to see more in the coming weeks and months from firms that haven’t seen an uptick in work,” Loanzon said.

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