Wake Up Call: Meta Job Cuts Hit Legal Department, Report Says

Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel.

• The 11,000-plus jobs cut by Facebook parent Meta last week included a “bevy” of lawyers from its huge legal department, which had more than doubled in headcount since 2018. Recruiters said the ex-Meta lawyers should be able to “land softly,” but will have to show some flexibility. (Corporate Counsel)
• In two rounds of job cuts this fall, Silicon Valley firm Gunderson Dettmer Stough has laid off at least 30 associates, as the firm has faced a big drop in demand from emerging companies and venture capital. (American Lawyer)
• A UK High Court judge told Baker McKenzie client Associated Newspapers Ltd. that the firm’s estimated legal charges in its litigation are about 15% too high. Baker McKenzie’s partners are charging about 800 pounds ($941) per hour, compared with a guideline rate of 512 pounds per hour, and 215 pounds per hour charged by partners at the defendant’s law firm, this report says. (Roll On Friday)

Lawyers, Law Firms

• Buchalter Nemer said it opened a new office in Denver, Colorado, with six attorneys and other professional staff. The office is led by managing shareholder Robert Hinckley, a former state prosecutor who came to the firm from Wilson Elser as a trial attorney earlier this year with associate Sarah Andrzejczak. Also joining the office are Buchalter shareholders Scott Evans, a trail lawyer, and Steve Segal, a corporate and M&A attorney. Los Angeles-based shareholder Michael Williamson, firm-wide chair of Buchalter’s real estate and community development practice, joined the new office with banking and financial services of counsel Michael Flynn, the firm said. (Buchalter)
• DLA Piper is looking to recruit in Ireland, as the firm plans to double its headcount in the country to have 200 lawyers and business professionals, covering sectors including financial services, life sciences and technology. (The Independant)
• Naseem Sagati Aghili, the general counsel of private equity firm Ares Management Co., sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock last Thursday at an average $84.92 per share, for a total value of $1,273,800.00. That’s according to a report based on a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. (ETF Daily News)
• Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe partner Jeff Kayes died at age 47 while mountain biking in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday. (The Recorder)
• A Miami area judge was suspended for improperly putting her hands on a court employee she was confronting over his work. (Miami Herald)

Laterals, Moves, In-house

• Hogan Lovells recruited longtime FCC lawyer Charles Mathias, recently deputy chief in the Federal Communications Commission’s wireless telecommunications bureau, as senior counsel in Washington. (HoganLovells.com)
• Gibson Dunn hired public policy attorney Daniel Smith, former Judiciary Committee chief counsel to New Jersey Democratic US Senator Cory Booker, as of counsel in Washington. (Gibson Dunn)
• Blank Rome added real estate lawyer Daniel Lurie as of counsel in New York. He joins from Willkie Farr & Gallagher. (BlankRome.com)
• Barnes & Thornburg promoted 20 attorneys to partner; Bryan Cave promoted 21 lawyers to partner across 13 offices worldwide; Perkins Coie promoted 22 counsel to partner effective Jan. 1, 2023. (Perkins Coie)

Technology

• Law firms that, through technological blunders, make inadvertent disclosures of client information could face pressure from their insurers, possibly through higher rates. (Legaltech News)

Legal Education

• California’s overall bar examination passage rate declined slightly in July. (ABA Journal)