Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner laid off 47 legal secretaries and administrative staff across global offices, the law firm said Thursday, joining rivals in making cuts during a slowdown in demand.
The reductions affect 34 business staffers in the US and 13 across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, the firm said. The layoffs, which include no lawyers, came after an internal review of its business services staffing.
“All affected employees have been notified and will be provided comprehensive support packages, including competitive severance benefits, outplacement assistance and resources to facilitate their career transition,” the St. Louis-founded firm said in a statement.
Bryan Cave ended 2022 with more than 2,500 workers in 30 global offices, according to the American Lawyer. The firm reported revenue of $845.2 million last year, a decline of roughly 4%, according to AmLaw data. Profits per equity partner fell about 12% to $942,000.
A raft of large US and international law firms have implemented layoffs in recent months as transactions practices, which powered record years for many in 2021, see a significant dip in work. Dechert in early May laid off 5% of its global workforce, including 55 lawyers. The decision came after Cooley, Kirkland & Ellis, Gunderson Dettmer, Lowenstein Sandler, Shearman & Sterling and Stroock & Stroock & Lavan initiated layoffs of their own.
Bryan Cave last month announced an entrance in the Seattle market with a pair of product liability litigators. That month, it also poached Vedder Price attorney Rob Crea to lead its US fund formation practice.
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