Law Jobs Disappear In Purge At Mayer Brown

The moves by Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw to purge 45 partners demonstrates the new urgency and economics in running a profitable law practice. The purge of almost 10 per cent of the Chicago partners - almost Stalinist in scope - is unprecedented, particularly given the size of MBRW and its status as eighth on the American Lawyer law firm ranking, with partners taking a shade under $1 million each (profits per partner).

The firm's revenues topped $1 billion for the first time ever and they worked hard to minimize any suggestion of crisis. The fact is though, that the firm has lost lawyers to other law firms, particularly in New York, which has impacted revenues and morale alike.

Once again, another confirmation that nothing is forever and Big Law is as vulnerable as the rest of us to the shifting sands of law practice.